Tom Etheridge Organ Recital at Norwich Cathedral

On Thursday 11th July 2013 I attended the Tom Etheridge Big Screen Lunchtime Organ Recital at Norwich Cathedral. There was a wonderful varied programme of organ music at this popular monthly event.

The programme consisted of Carillon from 24 Pieces en Style Libre Op.31 - Vierne, Deuxieme Fantaisie - Alain, Canonic Variations on Vom Himmel hoch BWV 769a - Bach, Hornpipe Humouresque - Rawsthorne, Chorale Prelude and Fugue on O Traurigkeit, O Herzeleid - Brahms and Dankpsalm Op.145 No.2 - Reger.

Tom Etheridge is the current Organ Scholar at Gloucester Cathedral where he accompanies and conducts the Cathedral and Youth Choirs. Tom began learning the organ at King's College School, Cambridge, where he was a Chorister in the College Choir, before going on to Eton College as a music and academic scholar.

This was a fantastic lunchtime at Norwich Cathedral with Tom Etheridge performed a wonderful Organ Recital which featured work by Vierne, Brahms, Alain and Bach. Noel Rawsthorne's Hornpipe Humouresque put smiles on all our faces.

New Year's Day Organ Recital at Norwich Cathedral

On Tuesday 1st January 2013 I attended the New Year's Day Organ Recital from Kris Thomsett at Norwich Cathedral which delivered some New Year cheer with a varied programme of organ favourites. The programme consisted of Carillon de Westminster - Vierne, Praeludium in C Bux137 - Buxtehude, Wachet Auf Ruft Uns Die Stimme BWV 645 - Bach, Dialogue Sur Les Mixtures - Langlais, Radetzky March - Johann Strauss, Toccata (Symphony No.5) - Widor and Hornpipe Humoresque - Rawsthorne.  Elgar's Nimod was added to the programme by Kris on the day.

Kris Thomsett is currently Organ Scholar of Norwich Cathedral, a post he will hold for the next three years whilst completing a degree in music at the University of East Anglia. Prior to coming to Norwich, Kris was Organ Scholar of Chelmsford Cathedral in Essex for his gap year. His role in Chelmsford, similar to that here, involved accompanying the daily services and regularly playing for the Cathedral Girls Choir.

Kris started the organ at the age of twelve, and at the age of fourteen was appointed Organ Scholar of All Saints parish church in Maidstone (Kent). After being there for just over a year, Kris then moved on to become Organ Scholar of the King's School in Rochester where he accompanied the schools' services in the Cathedral. Whilst there, Kris studied the organ with Roger Sayer. As well as playing the organ, Kris enjoys singing and has sung counter-tenor in Rochester, Chelmsford, and now Norwich, Cathedrals

This was a wonderful way to start the New Year as Norwich Cathedral was filled with wonderful organ music from the brilliant piece by Buxtehude to the traditional march from Johann Strauss. Kris Thomsett finished the recital with the jolly Hornpipe Humoresque which put lots of smiles on faces in the audience.