DANIEL COOK COMBINES OLD AND NEW IN HIS VIRTUOSIC ORGAN RECITAL

Daniel Cook, Organist at Salisbury Cathedral, gives a virtuosic recital at the cathedral on Wednesday 19 May at 7.30pm performing a great mix of music by living composers and earlier masterpieces from the organ repertoire.

“This year we are running our organ recital series in collaboration with the John Armitage Memorial Trust whose remit is to support new music, so I have taken this opportunity to explore a cross-section of modern British music. I will play six brilliant pieces by living composers – five British including two women, and one French – all of which are new to me, and I hope the audience will be dazzled by the engaging rhythms, quirky colours, haunting melodies and technical brilliance of the writing. The composers are Judith Bingham, Jean Guillou, Francis Jackson, John McCabe, Paul Patterson and Judith Weir.

“The recital is framed by two major works from the French tradition, Guillou’s Toccata and Jongen’s Sonata Eroïca, one of the most demanding pieces in the organ repertoire. I have also included one of my favourite works by Bach, his iconic Passacaglia, BWV 582, and Grainger’s Handel in the Strand, well-known to all from the ‘Last Night of the Proms’.

“The Salisbury Willis organ is famous for its versatility, and it has been tremendous fun matching the more modern pieces to the glorious sounds of our great instrument. This recital promises to be a fascinating journey not only for me as performer but also for the audience.”

Tickets, £8.00, from Salisbury Playhouse box office, 01722 320333, or at the door.

All seven recitals in this year’s organ recital series are being recorded by the John Armitage Trust and highlights from each will be used to make a CD to promote the organ recital series, JAM and new organ music.