Spring Concert 8pp final - Stephen Disley · CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF JOHN BIRCH SATURDAY 12 MARCH 2016 Spring Concert with John Rutter CBE SSpring_Concert_8pp_final.indd 1pring_Concert_8pp_final.indd

CELEBR AT ING THE L IFE OF JOHN B IRCHSATURDAY 12 MARCH 2016

Spring Concert

with John Rutter CBE

Spring_Concert_8pp_final.indd 1Spring_Concert_8pp_final.indd 1 04/03/2016 17:4804/03/2016 17:48

John Birch: “...always as immaculate in his playing as in his attire”


It has been huge fun to help plan this evening and to welcome back so many familiar faces in the process. It is extraordinary to realise that I am now almost a decade older than John was when I fi rst set foot on the Sussex campus in December 1976 on a wild, wet day, despondent at having failed to secure a choral scholarship at Selwyn Cambridge. The then organ scholar at Sussex (who sadly died in a tragic accident a few years later) and the then Chaplain, Duncan Forrester, offered me a choral scholarship on the basis of a rather wooden St Matthew Passion aria, and I never looked back.

Although I was supposed to be reading French, I spent all my time on music. John encouraged, cajoled, mentored and inspired me. He was duly and rightly withering about my organ playing but nonetheless made me organ scholar in my fi nal year. Many of us here this evening have reason to be eternally grateful to John Birch, and indeed to that other legend still happily with us, Laszlo Heltay, for the musical journeys we have since enjoyed to the highest standards. John remained a close friend of mine and Jill’s (whom I met and married here at Sussex) to the end. He was godfather to our son Will.

Roger Walkinton, Executive Producer of the Spring Concert

We pay tribute to John this evening and recognise the many strands of his musical life represented here tonight; from Chichester Festival Theatre where he was Music Adviser (Patricia Routledge), the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (he was their organist), John Rutter (who employed John as organist for many of his own recordings), the Royal College of Music (where Stephen Roberts still works, and where Stephen Disley was his pupil), the Academy of St Martin in the Fields (for whom he often played continuo), Chichester Cathedral Choir (a young chorister is singing with us this evening), to Temple Church and Brighton Festival Chorus... the list is endless. He was Curator Organist of the Royal Albert Hall, Accompanist to the Royal Choral Society, President of the Royal College of Organists, and so much more. Here at Sussex he helped design the organ for the new Meeting House 50 years ago, was University Organist, auditioned organ and choral scholars, and directed the Meeting House and University Chamber choirs.

All here tonight are helping to raise funds to endow music scholarships as their way of saying thank you for John’s gifts of music-making, his friendship and his lasting infl uence on their own musicianship.

A CELEBR AT ION OF THE L IFE OF JOHN B IRCH

“A soloist of distinction – happy to use his gifts as an ensemble musician, and supremely modest – both personally and professionally.

His taste in music and the arts was only revealed under persuasion, but what a galaxy of

sophistication he has left us.”

Sir Neville Marriner, Founder and Life President of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields


THE UNIVERSI T Y CHAMBER CHOIR

The University of Sussex Chamber Choir meet weekly during term time. The Choir is open to all students and staff from Sussex and Brighton Universities, everybody is welcome, and there are no auditions.

Every year the Choir performs in the University Candlelit Carol Service at Christmas, an event which always proves popular with the university community. The Choir also puts on a concert at the end of the spring term, usually a major classical work accompanied by a chamber ensemble.

OUR GR ATEFUL THANKS

Our grateful thanks to all the performers who have wholeheartedly volunteered their time for this event in tribute to John Birch, and to the following who have devoted themselves behind the scenes: Roger Walkinton; Janine Thorogood; Dr Phil Watten; Hannah Folkes; Charles Harrison and the Chichester Cathedral Choir; Professor Ed Hughes and his colleagues from The Music Department.

TONIGHT ’S PERFORMERS

John Rutter CBE (conductor)Patricia Routledge CBEStephen Roberts (baritone)Stephen Disley (organ)Stephen King (organ)D’Arcy Trinkwon (organ) recently appointed Organist to the University of SussexJonathan Keyte (treble) by kind permission of Chichester Cathedral choirUniversity Chamber Choir

Augmented by alumni singers and other friends:

Sopranos: Janet Barry, Sylvia Coward, Polly Hitchcock, Liz Kaye, Sue Mileham-Paine, Mary Potter, Hilary ToddAltos: Gill Kay, Philippa Dodds John, Georgina Drewe, Jill WalkintonTenors: Nicolas Chisholm, Wayne Jones, Rev Preb Dr Brian Leathard, Alan Sykes, Rev Dr Colin Thompson, Paul WallisBasses: Iestyn Henson, John Liggins, Tony Potter, Nick Straw, Roger Walkinton, Peter Williams

SPR ING CONCER T W ITH JOHN RUT TER CBE

“John Birch was the complete professional, always as immaculate in his playing as in his attire, full of life and fun, generous in his friendships and teaching,

relishing every opportunity to make music as if it was the most important of his life. A model of a life well

lived and an inspiring example to us all.”

John Rutter OBE, collaborator and friend of John Birch


7pm

WELCOME AND INTRODUCT ION by Professor Michael Farthing, Vice-Chancellor, University of Sussex

CHH PARRY: I WAS GL AD (CHO IR AND ORG AN) conducted by John Rutter with Stephen King on organ

SAMUEL WESLE Y: ORG AN DUE T IN C MA JOR (ONE MOVEMENT ) with Stephen Disley and Stephen King

PATR IC IA ROUTLEDGE CBE reads a passage of her choice

LEOŠ JANÁCEK : ORG AN SOLO FROM GL AGOL I T IC MASS with D’Arcy Trinkwon

G ABR IEL FAURÉ: REQUIEM, 1893 VERSION ED I TED BY JOHN RUT TER with Stephen Disley on organ and solos from Stephen Roberts

and Jonathan Keyte, Chichester Cathedral Chorister

HERBER T HOWELL S: PSALM PRELUDE SE T I I NO. 1 with Stephen King on organ

JOHN RUT TER: THE LORD BLESS YOU AND K EEP YOUconducted by John Rutter with Stephen Disley on organ

H Y MN: THE DAY THOU G AVEST LORD HAS ENDED

8.15pm

We invite you to join us for drinks and canapés

9.30pm

Carriages

PROGR AMME


STEPHEN ROBER TS

Stephen Roberts is one of Britain’s foremost concert and oratorio performers having collaborated with conductors such as Sir David Willcocks, Richard Hickox and Sir Simon Rattle.

STEPHEN D ISLE Y

Stephen Disley studied with John Birch at the Royal College of Music and London’s Temple Church. He performs frequently at the Royal Albert Hall and is Sub-Organist at Southwark Cathedral.

STEPHEN K ING

Stephen King studied at Trinity College of Music, and then was organ scholar at Sussex under John Birch. For 24 years he has combined a career in the NHS with being organist at Brentwood Cathedral.

D’ARCY TR INK WON

D’Arcy Trinkwon has performed at international festivals and concert series worldwide. Alongside his extensive career he is Organist of Worth Abbey, and Organist to the University of Sussex.

JOHN RUT TER CBE

John Rutter’s career has embraced choral, orchestral and instrumental pieces. His choral works, Requiem, Magnifi cat and Psalmfest have been performed many times around the world. Having also been Director of Music at Clare College, and founder of the Cambridge Singers, he now divides his time between composition and conducting. John Rutter’s record label, Collegium, has achieved wide acclaim over the years, showcasing his own work in addition to a wealth of traditional and sacred music.

PATR IC IA ROUTLEDGE CBE

Patricia Routledge is best known for her role as Hyacinth Bucket in the British sitcom Keeping up Appearances (1990–95), for which she was twice nominated for a BAFTA. She rose to prominence during the 1980s in monologues written by Alan Bennett and Victoria Wood; appearing in Bennett’s A Woman of No Importance (1982), as Kitty in Victoria Wood As Seen On TV (1985–86), and being nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress for Bennett’s Talking Heads: A Lady of Letters (1988). She also starred in the British television series Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (1996–98).

B IOGR APHIES


RESTOR ING THE ORG AN

The Grant, Degens and Bradbeer organ in the Meeting House is one of a small number of key instruments from the mid 1960s. It is an exciting and vivacious musical instrument, delivering far more than its modest size would suggest is possible.

The aim of the refurbishment by Clevedon Organs was to reinstate the instrument to full playing condition and restore the tone of its pipes to the standard to which they were fi rst voiced. The original console was restored, and a wireless console was added echoing the striking design and modernity of the organ when it was fi rst built. The Meeting House organ is one of only two wireless organs in the UK.

Paul Hale, Organ Consultant

THE MEE T ING HOUSE

Dedicated in October 1966, the Meeting House is an exquisite legacy of Sir Basil Spence’s architecture and design. The building has a long tradition of hosting a range of religious, spiritual, cultural and social activities. The ground fl oor includes a social area where students meet and enjoy lunch and the most reasonably priced coffee and tea on campus. The quiet room is reserved for study and refl ection. The beautiful chapel located above is especially striking when the sun shines through the multi-coloured windows, transforming the space into a veritable festival of colour.

The chaplaincy team based at the Meeting House comprises clergy and laity from diverse faith traditions. The chaplaincy’s motto, ‘Here for You’, signifi es the availability of both personnel and the building for the whole University community.

Chris McDermott, Lead Chaplain

OUR VENUE: THE MEE T ING HOUSE

For more information about John Birch, his work and his legacy, as well as full biographies of tonight’s performers, go to:

www.sussex.ac.uk/alumni/springconcert

Photo of John Birch (inside front cover) ©Lebrecht/Alamy


“John Birch introduced me to Handel’s operas, watercress soup and The Garrick.

A fine life, well lived.”

Nick Straw, pupil and friend

Help us to celebrate John Birch’s legacy by supporting music and music students at Sussex:www.sussex.ac.uk/alumni/johnbirch

University of SussexSussex House, Falmer

Brighton BN1 9RH

Development and Alumni Relations Offi ceT 01273 678258

E [email protected]/alumni


Documents

Spring Concert 8pp final - Stephen Disley · CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF JOHN BIRCH SATURDAY 12 MARCH 2016 Spring Concert with John Rutter CBE SSpring_Concert_8pp_final.indd 1pring_Concert_8pp_final.indd