Edington Arts has been formed to promote musical activity in Edington Parish Church, home to the Edington Music Festival as well as the venue for other varied musical events throughout the year.
The first concert being promoted by the organisation is a recital on the new Harrison & Harrison organ, which was launched at this year’s Festival after a successful fundraising campaign lasting two years.
Benjamin Nicholas, one of the country’s leading organists, is the director of Edington Festival, and Reed Rubin organist and director of music at Merton College Oxford. He has given concerts all over the world, has recorded, and broadcast live on several occasions on BBC radio.
This hour-long recital is part of the Royal College of Organists’ 150th anniversary celebrations, and Ben has chosen a programme of music which may be entirely new to those who are more used to hearing the organ as part of a church service.
Music by Bach, Sweelinck and Josef Rheinberger contrast with an organ transcription of the great Henry V Suite by William Walton, and beautiful, listenable 20th Century pieces by Francis Jackson and Garth Edmundson. They will all demonstrate the quality of the new organ, as well as the skill of the organist, and offer a wonderful evening’s music, to be followed by a glass of wine.
Tickets are £15 (Front nave), £10 (Rear nave), £8 (Sides); 18 and under come free. Just ring the box office on 01380 831256 or email music@eding tonarts.org to reserve your seats. To sign up for news of next year’s concerts, visit www.edingtonarts.org. Details of other organ recitals can be found at www.organrecitals.com.
