Robert Munns Organ Recital at Norwich Cathedral

On Monday 26th August 2013 I attended the Robert Munns Bank Holiday Organ Recital at Norwich Cathedral. The international concert organist performed a varied programme of contemporary organ music.

The programme consisted Suite de Premier Ton - Bedard, Varmeland the Beautiful - Cundick, Variations on a Norwegian Folk Tune - Slogedal, Two Choral Preludes - Bach, Variations on There is a Happy Land - Shearing, Paven and Alman - Jacques, A Pensive Ground - Steele, Dainty Dance - Self, Soliloquy - Hanson and  From Usbekistan, Toccata - Mushel.

Robert Munns is a former scholarship holder at the Royal Academy of Music and has had an extensive career as a concert organist, conductor and church musician. His many overseas tours have included performances, master classes and broadcasts on five continents that have attracted great acclaim. For many years he was organist to the Royal Philharmonic and has appeared as guest soloist with the London Philharmonic and BBC Scottish Orchestras.

This was a wonderful Organ Recital performed by Robert Munns which included lots of brilliant and interesting contemporary organ music. I enjoyed Robert Cundick's Varmeland the Beautiful where the spirit of this Swedish folk song is succinctly captured by the composer. Bjarne Slogedal's Variations on a Norwegian Folk Tune was used as a call signal by the Resistance during World War II.

McAllister and Jackson at Norwich Cathedral

On Monday 6th May 2013 I attended the Bank Holiday organ recital at Norwich Cathedral featuring Maureen McAllister and Robin Jackson, husband and wife organ duettists. They performed a varied recital to entertain us with music from Wilhelm Rudnick to Ralf Bolting.

The programme consisted of Fantaise on Ein' Feste Burg Op.33 - Rudnick, Five Renaissance Dances - Gervaise, Trilogie for Organ Duet - Bedard and Toccata Francaise sur le nom Helmut - Bolting.

Maureen McAllister studied at the Royal Academy of Music, Westminster Cathedral and in Siena. Her recital career has included BBC Radio 3 and most cathedrals and town halls in the country. Robin Jackson was a prize-winner at the Royal College of Music and at seventeen he was organist at Christ Church, Lancaster Gate, London. From 1980 to 2005 he was in charge of student music making at the University of Bath.

The duettists put on a splendid performance at Norwich Cathedral to warm us on a Bank Holiday Monday. It was very interesting to witness this recital with two organists, which I enjoyed especially as the recital included a varied programme of music. At the end of the recital we all gave Maureen McAllister and Robin Jackson a big round of applause which was richly deserved.