Michael Overbury – Forthcoming Performances

Event

Saturday 2nd March 2024

Derby Cathedral

7.30pm

Concert with the Cathedral Choir director Alexander Binns

harpsichord continuo with Sinfonia Viva directed by Sophie Rosa (solo violin)

Purcell Suite from Abdelazar

Vivaldi Violin Concerto in A minor RV 356

Duarte Sinfonia 2

Lotti Crucifixus

Pergolesi Stabat Mater

Saturday 9th March 2024

St Peter’s Church, Ruddington

1pm Registration, music scores provided

1.30pm choral rehearsal, including breaks and refreshments until 4.30pm

5.30pm evening performance

Come and Sing Stainer The Crucifixion

with Ruddington and District Choral Society and invited soloists conducted by Paul Hayward 

Michael Overbury organ

Further details from the Ruddington and District Choral Society website

Saturday 16th March 2024

St John’s Church, Carrington, Mansfield Rd, Nottingham

7.30pm

organ accompaniment with Sinfonia Choraleconductor Richard Roddis

Gjeilo Ubi Caritas

Mäntyjärvi Come away, death and Double double

Clara Schumann Gondoliera

Brahms Letztes Gluck

Hildegard von Bingen O Virtus Sapientiae

Palestrina O Magnum Mysterium

Fauré Cantique de Jean Racine 

Kodály Missa Brevis

Thursday 18th April 2024

St Swithun’s Parish Church, East Retford

1pm

Solo Organ Concert

Théodore Salomé (1834-96) Grand Choeur in G

He was the Choir Organist at the church of St Trinité, Paris for most of his life, playing for the funeral of Bizet, with a congregation of 4000 in attendance.

Louis Vierne (1870-1937) Ave Maria

The blind French composer held a number of prominent posts including that of organist at Notre-Dame, Paris from 1900 until his death. He was a great improviser.

J.S. Bach Prelude and Fugue in A minor BWV 543

Bach’s great A minor Prelude has a rhapsodic freedom; the opening rhetorical gestures return again at the end of the Fugue. Composition dates are 1708-13.

Gabriel Fauré Pavane op.50 (1887)

Fauré was an organist at St Sulpice and La Madeleine in Paris and Director of the Conservatoire. He is widely regarded as the greatest master of French Song. The Pavane is a beautiful and typical example of his quiet melodic genius.

Alejandro D. Consolación II Chorale

Currently organist at churches in Manila and in Makati city in the Philippines, and a choral director, the composer studied in Germany and America. His compositions have been described as pure, spiritual and uplifting.

Felix Mendelssohn Sonata 2 in C minor

Mendelssohn played the organ and composed for it from the age of 11 until his death. He was a passionate improviser and always took the opportunity to play instruments wherever he happened to be. His Six Sonatas are not sonatas in the classical sense, rather suites. Number two is in four movements.

Franz Schubert Adagio (abridged) from the String Quintet

The String Quintet was Schubert’s final chamber work, completed just two months before his death. Often described as sublime, it is regarded as one of the greatest examples of chamber music.

Louis-Claude d’Aquin (1694-1772) Le Coucou

The French Baroque composer was a virtuoso organist.

Le Coucou is a fine example of his writing in the new tuneful, easy-listening, picturesque Galant style.

Théodore Dubois Sortie (Grand Choeur) [in E]

Théodore Dubois was a Parisian organist and choirmaster and Professor at the Conservatoire. This Sortie is in neo-classical syle and, interestingly is marked Moderato.

Saturday 18th May 2024

St Peter’s Parish Church, Ruddington

7.30pm

Ruddington and District Choral Society with keyboard continuo, orchestra, vocal soloists

conducted by Paul Hayward

Haydn The Creation (reduced orchestration)

Saturday 8th June 2024

Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene, Newark

12 noon until 12.45pm

Bingham and District Choral Society conducted by Dr Stephen Bullamore

accompanied by Michael Overbury (piano)

Bob Chilcott Five Days that changed the World

John Rutter A Sprig of Thyme

Tuesday 9th July 2024

Selby Abbey

12.30pm until 1.30pm

Michael Overbury (Newark)

Lunchtime Solo Concert on the famous Hill Organ

4′ Mathias (1934-92) Processional

The Welshman was a child prodigy. He was Professor of Music at Bangor. The cheerful, tuneful Processional was written in 1964.

8′ Langlais (1907-91) Messe Alme Pater (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus and Benedictus, Agnus Dei)

The blind Jean Langlais was organist at the Basilica of St Clotilde in Paris. He was a great improviser and a prolific composer. Much of his creativity was inspired by and based on plainsong. In this Mass setting the traditional chant melodies are clothed in the composer’s typical bitter-sweet harmonies.

2′ Anon (c.1525) My Lady Carey’s Dompe

One of the earliest surviving keyboard pieces, My Lady Carey’s Dompe is probably a traditional English melody; its wistful qualities contrast with a rhythmically robust accompaniment.

3′ William Croft (1678-1727) Ground in c minor

Croft was a Boy Chorister at the Chapel Royal, and later Organist. The term Ground refers to a more or less unchanging bass line, together with its harmonies, repeated throughout the piece, over which is constructed a flow of independent melodic material. In Croft’s Ground in c minor, however, the melodic variations alternate with repeats of the opening harmonised Ground material rather like verses and a refrain.

3′ Maurice Greene (1696-1755) [Cornet] Voluntary in G (andante, allegro)

Greene succeeded to every major musical post in England including organist of St Paul`s Cathedral, and Professor of Music at Cambridge. He is chiefly remembered for his church music. His style is Italianate. He composed 24 Voluntaries.

4′ Messiaen (1908-1992) Offrande au Saint Sacrement

Offrande au Saint Sacrement was discovered by Yvonne Messiaen in 1997. It probably dates from about 1930. Two musical ideas alternate. The music seems to depict the worshipping soul in ecstatic communion with God.

29′ Charles Villers Stanford (1852-1924) Sonata Britannica

1. Allegro non troppo ma con fuoco St Mary

2. Larghetto Benedictus

3. Allegro molto e ritmico Hanover

Irish by birth, Stanford had great influence in Britain as a teacher and he breathed fresh air into the composition of Anglican Church Music. His five Organ Sonatas were composed 1917-1918. These are, arguably, the most significant body of organ music in England since Mendelssohn. Sonata Britannica has three movements. The first is based on the hymn tune St Mary. The second is a haunting Benedictus with a middle section of patriotic glory, The third is based on the hymn tune Hanover. It ends exultantly.

Saturday 9th November 2024

St Martin’s Church, Trevose Gardens, Sherwood NG5 3FU

with Sinfonia Chorale directed by Richard Roddis

organ accompaniments and solos

John Bull (1562/3 -1628) Salve Regina organ versets

Bull grew up in the West country, became a musician at the Chapel Royal in London, was probably sent to Europe by Queen Elizabeth as a spy, fled England under accusation of adultery, although he claimed religious persecution, and spent the final years of his life as Organist at Antwerp Cathedral. He was famous for his outstandingly brilliant keyboard playing.

Fauré Requiem

Saturday 16th November 2024

St Peter’s Parish Church, Ruddington

7.30pm

Ruddington and District Choral Society with piano, chamber orchestra, vocal soloists

conducted by Paul Hayward

Brahms A German Requiem (the arrangement for reduced instrumental forces by Ian Farrington)