Organ Recital at Eaton

On the afternoon of Sunday 7th October 2012 I attended the Neil Ricketts Organ Recital at St. Andrew's Church, Eaton, Norwich which was the latest concert in the Eaton Concert Series for the 2012/13 season. Neil Ricketts served as organist at St. Andrew's Church from 1998 to 2008. He is a freelance organist and accompanist who continues to conduct the Eaton Parishes Choir and Orchestra.

The programme consisted of Fantasia and Fugue in G minor BWV 542 - Bach, Trio Sonata No.5 BWV 529 - Bach, Sonate No.2 fur Orgel ED 2558 - Hindemith, Prelude and Fugue in C minor (Op 37 No.1) - Mendelssohn, Suite Gothique Op 25 - Boellmann, In Paradisum (from Douze Pieces Nouvelles) - Dubois, Bolero de Concert - Lefebure-Wely and Variations sur un Noel (Op 20) - Dupre.

This was a well though out concert with the first half being made up of German composers while after the interval we were given a programme of French composers. It was interesting to compare the different styles. Neil Ricketts played wonderfully and along with the interval apple juice this made for a splendid Sunday afternoon

Blue skies over Eaton

On Sunday 2nd September 2012 I attended The Jay Singers concert in the Eaton Concert Series at St. Andrew's Church, Eaton, Norwich. This was a wonderful afternoon to be in Eaton at the first concert in the 2012/13 Series. The Jay Singers were directed by Neil MacKenzie who was a founder member of The Sixteen. Piano accompaniment was provided by Neil Ricketts.

The programme consisted of Full fathom five (from The Tempest) - Shakespeare, Full fathom five - Charles Wood, Look, stranger - W H Auden, Just as the tide - Ralph Vaughan Williams, The Lover's ghost - Ralph Vaughan Williams, Neither out far nor in deep - Robert Frost, Break, break, break - Alfred, Lord Tennyson, There rolls the deep - Hubert Parry, The sea hath its pearls - Ciro Pinsuti, Walking Across the Atlantic - Billy Collins, Fear of Falling - Jehane Markham, Seal Lullaby - Eric Whitacre and Three Shakespeare songs - Ralph Vaughan Williams. There was an interval of 20 minutes and time for a refreshing apple juice before an exciting second half to the concert.

After the interval the programme consisted of Sea Fever - John Masefield, Cargoes - John Masefield, I love my love - Gustav Holst, Matelot - Noel Coward, arr Vlasto, Blue Skies - Irving Berlin, arr Woods, Not waving but drowning - Stevie Smith, The Last Swim - Michael Laskey, Meerfey - Robert Schumann, Der traumende See - Robert Schumann, In Meeres Mitten - Robert Schumann, The Owl and The Pussycat - Edward Lear, Shallow Brown - Percy Grainger and I'm seventeen come Sunday - Percy Grainger.

This was a splendid afternoon of music and poetry with the theme of the Sea as The Jay Singers took us on a journey to the seaside. It was brilliant to hear a couple of Percy Grainger songs along with a reading of The Owl and The Pussycat. A fun and enjoyable concert from The Jay Singers which proved to be the perfect opening to the 2012/13 Eaton Concert Series.

Singing fun at Eaton!

On Sunday 1st April 2012 I attended the final concert in the Eaton Concert Series 2011/12 season at St. Andrew's Church, Eaton, Norwich with Gerard Carey and Neil Ricketts bringing us The Great American Songbook. They were performing at very short notice and had to put together their programme just before the start of the concert.

Gerard Carey graduated from London's famous Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and is currently appearing with Broadway legend Tyne Daly in Terrence McNally's Master Class at London's Vaudeville Theatre. Neil Ricketts has accompanied and conducted various choral societies and choirs in numerous concerts over the past 25 years.

When October Goes is a ballad based on lyrics by Johnny Mercer with music by Barry Manilow which was sung brilliantly by Gerard Carey. Neil Ricketts treated us to a wonderful version of Gershwin's Summertime before the concert finished with Gerard Carey dressed in a kilt gave us a Scottish version of Andrew Lloyd Webber songs including Jesus Christ Superstar. This was a fun finish to this season's Eaton Concert Series.