Welcome to Greyfriars Organ Festival brought to you in collaboration with the Chibbett Trust and Greyfriars @12. Today’s performance will be given by Michael Harris, St Giles Cathedral.
Programme:
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Nicolas de Grigny (1672-1703) |
Hymne: Pange lingua En taille à 4 – Fugue à 5 – Récit du Chant de l’hymne précédent |
|
J.S.Bach (1685-1750) |
Concerto in D minor BWV 596 [Allegro] Pieno. Grave – Fuge Largo e spiccato [Allegro] |
|
James MacMillan (b.1959) |
St Andrews Suite One-Two-Three |
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William Wolstenholme (1865-1931) |
Scherzo in B flat |
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Louis Lefébure-Wély (1817 – 1869) |
March in E flat |
Michael Harris has been Organist and Master of the Music of St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh, since 1996. Prior to moving to Edinburgh he held posts as Sub-Organist of Leeds Parish Church and Assistant Organist of Canterbury Cathedral.
As Organist and Master of the Music of St Giles’ Cathedral he hosts many organ concerts on the famous Rieger organ (built in 1992) and his work has involved him in numerous recordings and broadcasts, both for Television and Radio. Under his direction the Cathedral Choir has visited the USA, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Greece and the Channel Islands. He directed the music for the recent national Services of Thanksgiving, for the life of HM Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 and for the Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication for Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the occasion of the presentation of the Honours of Scotland in July 2023.
He has made a number of solo recordings, including a disc of the complete organ sonatas of August Gottfried Ritter, released in 2016. A disc of Scottish and French organ music, The Auld Alliance, recorded in St Giles’, was also released in summer 2016. He has directed the Cathedral Choir in a series of CD recordings, on St Giles’ own label, Aegidius; their most recent recording, Sing Psalms AGD 005, was released in spring 2023.
Michael has given recitals at many venues in Germany, Belgium, Italy, Norway, Poland, USA, Australia and New Zealand, as well as in the UK, where he has played in many of the major venues. He was Music Director of the Scottish Chamber Choir from 1998 to 2010, and is currently director of the a cappella vocal ensemble, Cantica Alba, who have given concerts in Scotland, Germany and Malta, and Denmark.
He is also much involved in organ and choral education and was a Lecturer in Music at Edinburgh Napier University until 2021.
This concert is part of our Greyfriars at 12 concert series. If you would like to leave a donation in support of this series encouraging free access to the arts, that would be very much appreciated and there is an offering plate at the door.
