A virtual organ recital is one of the highlights of this year’s Summer Organ Festival at Ripon Cathedral.
In a series of seven recitals on Tuesday evenings in July and August the cathedral’s Director of Music Andrew Bryden will use the organ’s technology to play his recital while being out of the country!
This feat is made possible thanks to the organ’s mobile console which has a playback function, enabling an organist to pre-record the music to perfection, then let the organ carry out the performance at the touch of a button.
This performance, on July 31, will include a video screen so that Andrew can be seen playing, while everyone can hear the organ pipes sounding live.
Andrew said:
This year’s festival welcomes a distinguished array of organists to Ripon Cathedral and offers a rich variety of music. My virtual organ recital is a first for Ripon Cathedral and quite possibly beyond – I am excited to be part of this development though sad to be missing it at the same time!
Ripon Cathedral Organ has four manuals (keyboards) and boasts pipes dating back to 1695. Capable of the most delicate whisper and the most overwhelming roar, it will be put through its paces by a distinguished array of performers.
Each recital begins at 7.30pm, lasts an hour and is followed by a drinks reception in the South Transept.
International recitalist Jane Watts opens the series on July 10 while Francesca Massey, Sub-Organist of Durham Cathedral, concludes it on August 21; the John Sayer Organ Scholar of Ripon Cathedral, Alana Brook, features on July 24. This year’s line-up is completed by international recitalist Christopher Herrick, Jamie Hitel (Director of Music of Christ Church, Greenwich, USA) along with Andrew Bryden and Assistant Director of Music Tim Harper.
Andrew’s programme of J.S.Bach, Bridge, Howells and Alcock will also be released on DVD which will be on sale at the recital on July 31. Special features include a tour of the instrument.
Tickets for the recitals are £8 in advance from Ripon Cathedral Shop, £10 on the door and free for accompanied under 16s.
