Choir & Organ

Choir & Organ shines a global spotlight on two distinctive fields of creativity, celebrating inventiveness and excellence in all their forms. We aim to inspire our readers through giving a platform to conductors, organists, composers, and choirs of every kind; and showcasing the imaginative craft of pipe organ building across the centuries, critiquing new organs and tackling ethics in restoring historic instruments.

Going places

CHOIR & ORGAN PARTNERSHIPS

Choir & Organ

CIOC SEMI-FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

SWEDISH CONDUCTING COMPETITION IS REBORN

IN BRIEF

abcd • INSPIRING CHORAL LEADERSHIP

ARMONICO CONSORT 20TH BIRTHDAY TOUR

SALISBURY CATHEDRAL GIRLS’ CHOIR CELEBRATES 30 YEARS

EVENTS

PAST LIVES

CITY OF DERRY INTERNATIONAL CHOIR FESTIVAL

PREMIERES [RP = REGIONAL PREMIERE]

RECITAL ROUND-UP

JENNIFER BATE MEMORIAL CONCERT

ENCOUNTERS • STEPHEN WILKINSON, CHORAL CONDUCTOR AND COMPOSER

‘A curious moment’ • When Covid struck, many who maintain organs found themselves at a loose end. Jonathan Ambrosino took the opportunity to eavesdrop on churches in his home region of Greater Boston

James O’Donnell • Organist and Master of the Choristers, Westminster Abbey

READERS’ OFFERS • Your chance to WIN CDs and sheet music

WHEN YOU BECOME A DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

The giant awakes • The renovation of York Minster’s famous organ has sought to recapture its late-romantic opulence. Chris Bragg assesses the result

Freestyle • The worst – and best – of international reviewing

Garden centre • Hospitalised with Covid, a former maths professor saw visions of a garden that, unknown to him, existed in real life. The diaries kept by medical staff have now been set to music by Richard Blackford in a new work to be premiered in October. David Wordsworth meets the composer

TOUR COMPANIES 2021 • Thinking of returning to the touring scene? These companies are poised to help, and two of them share how they have handled and come through the Covid pandemic

Halsbury Music

Rayburn Tours

Making something happen • Renowned worldwide for his choral works, Bob Chilcott is equally skilled at composing for children’s and community groups as for more experienced choirs. He talks to Stephen Pritchard about two new pieces to be premiered in October

A true individualist • The reputation of Jeanne Demessieux lies almost exclusively in her prodigious skills as an organist. D’Arcy Trinkwon argues that her compositions for the instrument deserve far greater exposure than they have received so far.

Oktoberfest • Founded the year after the end of the second world war, the Bavarian Radio Chorus has developed into an internationally acclaimed choir. Clare Stevens takes a look behind the scenes.

Work in progress • Paul Hale turns to current projects by Wood Pipe Organ Builders of Huddersfield and Henry Groves & Son of Nottingham

TRAVELLER’S JOY • Dubbed ‘God’s kitchen’, Sicily is ‘the clue to everything,’ wrote Goethe. Matthew Power tests the theory

SUBSCRIBE TODAY • Never miss an issue of Choir & Organ. There are three fantastic subscription options to choose from!

NEXT ISSUE • NOVEMBER 2021

ON RELEASE • NEW DISCS COMING OUT IN… OCTOBER 2021

REVIEWS

KEYBOARD CDS

EARLY MUSIC

CHORAL CDS

MIXTURE • Virtuosic demands in works by Szathmáry and Kabelác?, and a tribute to Captain Tom Moore

CHORAL MUSIC

ENCOUNTERS • RICHARD YARR, NIIOC FOUNDER