Julian Haggett Organ Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church

After my morning at Norwich Cathedral on Wednesday 1st January 2014 I made my way to the St. Peter Mancroft Church next to Norwich Marketplace for the Julian Haggett New Year's Day Organ Recital 2014 at 12 noon. As Organist at St. Peter Mancroft Julian Haggett provides voluntaries sensitive to the liturgical focus of services, ranging from 17th Century French and North European organ music of Tunder and Buxtehude to French 20th Century organ music by Alain and Messiaen.

The programme for this New Year's Day Organ Recital consisted of Piece d'Orgue BWV 572 - Bach, Noel avec variations - Langlais, Chorale Prelude In dulci jubilo Bux WV 197 - Buxtehude, Suisse Noel - Daquin, Chorale Prelude In dir ist Freude BWV 615 - Bach, Paean - Leighton and Toccata from Symphony V - Widor.

Two brilliant Organ Recitals on New Year's Day was a splendid start to the year. The highlight of the Recital at St. Peter Mancroft was the Widor Toccata from Symphony V which filled the church with the sound of beautiful music.

Viva Voce Singers Candlelit Family Christmas Concert

On Saturday 21st December 2013 I attended the Viva Voce Singers Candlelit Family Christmas Concert at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich. This concert was in aid of the Mancroft Advice Project. This performance was directed by Jody Butler and featured Organist Julian Haggett.

The Viva Voce Singers is a small and friendly Norwich based chamber choir of around twenty five singers and winner of the BBC Radio Norfolk Choir of the Year 2011 competition. The choir has a reputation for high quality performances around Norfolk.

The programme consisted of This is the truth sent from above - Trad. English arr. Vaughan Williams, Es ist ein Ros entsprungen - Brahms, A Christmas Carol - Zoltan Kodaly, Torches - John Joubert, I sing of a maiden from Make we joye - Peter Aston, Away in a manger - William Kirkpatrick arr. David Willcocks, The Queens came late - Norma Farber, A Christmas tree at Windsor - Eric Finney, Once in Royal David's City - H.J. Gauntlett arr. David Willcocks, A round of carols - Bryan Kelly, God rest ye merry, Gentlemen - Trad English arr. David Willcocks, A naughty boy tale - Peter Dixon, Messiah (Christmas Portions) - Mark Doty, A Shepherd's Carol - Britten, A boy was born - Peter Willis, The Lamb - John Tavener, Deck the Hall - Peter Aston, O come, all ye faithful - arr, Willcocks and A Merry Christmas - Trad. West Country carol arr. Arthur Warrell.

This concert was a wonderful celebration of Christmas which I greatly enjoyed along with the large audience in attendance. O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant. The Viva Voce Singers are a fantastic Choir who filled St. Peter Mancroft Church full of Christmas joy.

Preparing for Christmas at St. Peter Mancroft Church

On the afternoon of Saturday 7th December 2013 I attended the Mancroft Music Preparing for Christmas Autumn Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich which featured The Girls' Choir and Choral Scholars of St. Peter Mancroft, Julian Haggett and Harry Sullivan - Organ, Camilla Pay - Harp and Jody Butler - Director. The programme was entitled Preparing for Christmas as we were now in the season of Advent, when we prepare for the coming of the Lord at Christmas and ultimately the end of time.

The programme consisted of In dulci jubilo BuxWV 197 - Buxtehude, This is the truth sent from above - Traditional arr. Vaughan Williams, Jesus Christ the apple tree - Somerset folksong arr. Bullard, Let all mortal flesh keep silence - French Carol arr. Cleobury, Impromptu-Caprice - Pierne, Fum, fum, fum - Traditional Catalan arr. Llewellyn, Magnificat in G - Sumsion, Lift up your heads, O ye gates - Mathias, Of the Father's love begotten - Held and A Ceremony of Carols - Britten.

This was a wonderful Autumn Recital at St. Peter Mancroft with the highlight being Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols which as a tradition at the church, is performed each year to mark the start of Advent. There was a large audience in attendance at the last Mancroft Music Recital in the Autumn 2013 series.

Celebrating Benjamin Britten at St. Peter Mancroft Church

On Saturday 8th June 2013 I attended the Celebrating Benjamin Britten Summer Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich which was part of Familiar Fields, celebrating Benjamin Britten's life and music in Norfolk and Suffolk. The Choristers, Girls' Choir and Choral Scholars of St. Peter Mancroft along with Julian Haggett - organ/piano and Jody Butler - director performed a programme of Benjamin Britten songs.

The most celebrated British composer of the 20th century, Benjamin Britten was a giant of the world stage whose roots were firmly in East Anglia, his music inspired by its landscapes and sea. He was born in Lowestoft on 22nd November 1913, schooled at Greshams, Holt, gave numerous performances in Norwich and lived most of his life in Aldeburgh. Under the Familiar Fields banner, musical and artistic organisations across Norfolk and Suffolk have come together to promote events celebrating the centenary.

The programme consisted of Friday Afternoons, The Salley gardens, Little Sir William, Prelude and Fugue on a theme of Vittoria (Organ solo), The Ash Grove, O Waly, Waly and Three two-part songs. This was a wonderful celebration of Benjamin Britten which began with Friday Afternoons, which is a set of 12 songs composed by Benjamin Britten between 1933 and 1935. The simple songs, with witty piano accompaniments, are dedicated to Britten’s schoolmaster brother, Robert, and the boys of Clive House preparatory school, Prestatyn, a school in which choir practice and singing lessons regularly took place on a Friday afternoon.

The next two songs performed were were The Salley gardens which is a Irish tune with words by W.B. Yeats and Little Sir William, a Somerset folksong. Julian Haggett performed the organ solo before The Ash Grove, a welsh tune and O Waly, Waly a folksong from Somerset were sung. The recital finished with Three two-part songs which included The Ship of Rio which ends with a scampering of monkeys across the sand. This was a splendid event at St. Peter Mancroft Church which I greatly enjoyed.

The Crucifixion at St. Peter Mancroft Church

On Sunday 24th March 2013 I attended a liturgical performance of The Crucifixion by Sir John Stainer at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich. This performance on Palm Sunday was given by the St Peter's Singers directed by Jody Butler with Julian Haggett - organ, Joseph Denby - tenor and Edward Kay - bass.

The Crucifixion: A Meditation on the Sacred Passion of the Holy Redeemer is an oratorio composed by Sir John Stainer in 1887. It is scored for a SATB choir and organ, and features solos for bass and tenor. The text was written by W. J. Sparrow Simpson, the librettist of Stainer's two earlier oratorios, The Daughter of Jairus and Mary Magdalene. The work is dedicated "to my pupil and friend W. Hodge and the choir of Marylebone Church", who first performed it on February 24, 1887, the day after Ash Wednesday.

Modelled on the great passion settings of J.S. Bach, Stainer’s Crucifixion is amongst the most popular of all English choral works and vividly portrays the events of the Passion of Christ. This was a moving event at St. Peter Mancroft Church to mark the beginning of Holy Week.

Julian Haggett Organ Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church

After the New Year's Day Organ Recital at Norwich Cathedral on Tuesday 1st January 2013 I walked to the St. Peter Mancroft Church for the New Year Organ Recital from Julian Haggett who is the Organist at the church. He has toured on organ in Asia, Europe and the United Kingdom Recital venues.

The programme consisted of Prelude and Fugue D BWV 532 - Bach, Jesus accepte la souffrance (La Nativite du Seignuer) - Messiaen, Chorale Prelude In dulci jubilo BWV 729 - Bach, Jesus est bien Marie - Balbastre, Suisse Noel - Daquin, Chorale Preludes In dir ist Frelude BWV 615 - Bach, Wie Schon leuchtet der Morgenstern - Pachelbel, Les Mages (La Nativite du Seignuer) - Messiaen and Toccata from Symphony V in F minor - Widor.

This was another wonderful Organ Recital in Norwich to start the New Year in style. The varied programme of music from Julian Haggett ranged from Bach to the twentieth century organ music of Messiaen. It is always a splendid experience to listen to music in this historic Norwich church next to Norwich Marketplace.

Preparing for Christmas at St. Peter Mancroft

On Saturday 1st December 2012 I attended the Mancroft Music Autumn Recital Preparing for Christmas at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich. This event was part of Familiar Fields, celebrating Benjamin Britten's life and music in Norfolk and Suffolk. Performing were Julian Haggett - organ, Rhian Hanson - harp, Jody Butler - director. The Girls' Choir, Choral Scholars and Organ Scholars.

The programme consisted of Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist BuxWV 209 - Buxtehude, Creator of the stars of night - Mode iv melody arr. John Scott, Long ago prophets knew - Piae Cantiones arr. Malcolm Archer, How beautiful upon the mountains - John Stainer, Lift up your heads, O ye gates - William Mathias, Chancon dans la Nuit - Salzedo, Corpus Christi Carol - Britten, King Herod and the Cock - Britten, Praeludium in F - Lubeck, Nocturne from Suite for Organ - Clucas and A Ceremony of Carols - Britten.

This was a splendid concert at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich which took place the day before Advent Sunday, the beginning of the season of Advent, when we prepare for the coming of the Lord at Christmas, and ultimately the 'end of time'. The highlight was Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols which has become a tradition to be performed at St. Peter Mancroft to mark the start of Advent.

Big Screen Recital at St. Peter Mancroft

On Saturday 17th November 2012 I attended the Julian Haggett Big Screen Organ Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich as part of the Mancroft Music Recital Series. The Big Screen was sponsored by Merge Bar and Restaurant.

The programme consisted of Praeludium in g BuxWV 149 - Buxtehude, Nun komm der Heiland BWV 599, Gottes Sohn ist kommen BWV 600, Herr Christ der ein'ge Gottes-Sohn BWV 601, Lob sei dem allmachitigen Gott BWV 602 - Bach, Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott BuxWV 199 - Buxtehude, Nun komm der Heiden Heiland BWV 659, Wachet Auf! BWV 645 - Bach, Motet coloration: Dixit maria and angelum - Scheidemann and Prelude and Fugue BWV 543 - Bach.

Julian Haggett became a star of the big screen at St. Peter Mancroft Church as we were entertained with a recital of splendid organ music. Mancroft Music's Recitals are always a wonderful way for the people of Norwich to experience this historic city centre church along with beautiful music.

Celebrate at St. Peter Mancroft Church

On Saturday 30th June 2012 I attended the Julian Haggett Organ Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich in the Mancroft Music Summer Recital series. Celebrate was a recital marking the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. The music chosen included works by Walton and Elgar to mark this special year.

The programme consisted of Praeludium in F BuxWV 145 - Buxtehude, Crown Imperial - Walton, Nimrod - Elgar, Nun danket alle Gott BWV 657 - Bach, Chorale Prelude on Eventide - Parry, Chorale Prelude on Croft's 136th - Parry, Voluntary in A - Prelleur and Toccata from Symphony No.V - Widor.

This was a wonderful Summer Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church in Norwich City Centre with a programme of music which celebrated the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in splendid style. Julian Haggett put on a delightful performance with Crown Imperial and Nimrod especially putting us all in a Jubilee mood.

New Year's Day Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church

On Sunday 1st January 2012 there was no better way to welcome the new year then to attend the Mancroft Music New Year's Day Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich. This Organ Recital was given by Julian Haggett who is Organist at this historic Norwich Church.

The programme consisted of Praeludium in g No.1 - Tunder, Hymnus Rex Christe factor omnium (O Christ, our King, Creator, Lord) - Praetorius, Motet coloration Alleluja, laudem dicite deo nostro (Allejuia, declare praise to our God) - Scheidemann, Piece d'Orgue BWV 572 - Bach, Sonata No.II in d - Mendelssohn and 5 Chorale Variations on: Herr Jesus hat ein Gartchen - Peeters.

This was a wonderful celebration of Northern European Organ Music to bring in the new year. The Church looked beautiful with displays of colourful flowers as we were treated to a splendid programme that included Heinrich Scheidemann's Allejuia, declare praise to our God.

Julian Haggett Summer Recital

St. Peter Mancroft Church,
Norwich

On Saturday I attended the latest Mancroft Music Summer Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich. This time it was Organist Julian Haggett who gave us a wonderful performance which delighted everyone who attended.

Julian Haggett is the Organist at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich who has given recitals at Cathedrals and other venues around the country as well as across Europe. He is very familiar with the organ at this historic Norwich church.

The programme for the recital was Kyrie I: Plainchant, en Taille, Kyrie II: Fugue on the Juex d'Anches, Kyrie III: Recit de Cromorne, Kyrie IV: Dialogue on the Trompette et Cromorne, Kyrie V: Plainchant (Messe pour les Paroisses) - Couperin, Prelude & Fugue in C BWV 547 - Bach, Apparition de I'Eglise Eternelle, Sortie (Le vent de I'Esprit) (Messe de la Pentecote) - Messiaen and Litanies - Alain.

This was an enjoyable way to spend some time on a Summer afternoon in the Fine City of Norwich. There are two more Summer Recitals coming up at St. Peter Mancroft Church. 25th June - Elena Kiseleva - piano and 2nd July - Iain Quinn - organ.