The international organist Thomas Trotter will give a gala organ concert showcasing music from across the world on Tuesday 1 July (7pm) at Hereford Cathedral.
The award-winning organist has selected a programme entitled Voices of the World, which celebrates music from across the globe, shown especially in the final piece of the concert.
Composed by Iain Farrington for the 2023 Coronation of King Charles III in Westminster Abbey, Voices of the World was commissioned as a tribute to the musical diversity across the Commonwealth.
The piece features traditional melodies from many different countries, skilfully interwoven with jazz and other influences into a virtuoso work.
Opening the concert is J S Bach’s Toccata, Adagio & Fugue with its spectacular opening pedal solo, which would have stunned contemporary audiences.
Bach’s influence may also be heard in Dutch organist Bert Matter’s ‘Fantaisie on une jeune fillette’ an intriguing minimalist piece based upon a traditional folk song.
Trotter’s programme also pays a visit to London with Eric Coates’s Westminster, a cheerful march originally written for orchestra.
Taken from the London Suite, the piece will utilise a range of colour from the cathedral’s 4,000-pipe ‘Father’ Willis organ to bring to life aspects of the busy city. The concert will also feature Sigfrid Karg-Elert’s kaleidoscopic Homage to Handel and a charming melody by Rudolf Friml.
Thomas Trotter was appointed the City Organist of Birmingham in 1983 at the city’s Town Hall and is also Resident Organist of the magnificent Klais organ in Symphony Hall.
He was organ scholar at King’s College, Cambridge and studied with Marie-Claire Alain in Paris where he took the Prix de Virtuosité in her class. He has also recently been appointed Resident Organist of the Gulangyu Organ Arts Centre in China.
Peter Dyke, Assistant Director of Music at Hereford Cathedral, said: “Thomas is one of the leading organists of our time, and it is too long since we heard him in Hereford. His regular concerts in Birmingham give him a special link with this region, and I know his playing will be dazzling, colourful and supremely musical. We look forward to welcoming Thomas to our city to play our wonderful cathedral organ!”
Voices of the World will take place in Hereford Cathedral on Tuesday 1 July at 7pm. Tickets cost £12 (£5 for students) and are available to purchase from the cathedral website.
Book now – https://www.herefordcathedral.org/event/gala-organ-concert-thomas-trotter
