Donald Hunt, Organ | St James’ Anglican Church, 303 East Cordova, Vancouver | Friday, September 29th, 2017, 7.30 pm
Donald Hunt grew up in Halifax and received his musical education in Montréal, where he studied organ with John Grew and Jonathan Oldengarm, among others. In addition, he was Organ Scholar and Assistant to Patrick Wedd at Christ Church Cathedral. He holds a Master’s degree in Music from McGill University, and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists.
Donald has lived and worked in the UK since 2009. He was Organ Scholar at St Paul’s Cathedral, London, and for the past five years he has been Assistant Organist at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, as well as College Organist at Fettes College – both in Edinburgh
Just two months ago, Donald Hunt assumed the position of Director of Music of Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria, BC. His appointment is the culmination of an extensive international search that took place over ten months. Over fifty impressive applications were received from Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
At his inaugural recital on the West Coast, Donald Hunt will play works by JS Bach, Marcel Dupré, Olivier Messiaen, and others, on St James’ mighty Casavant Organ, first installed in 1938.
Tickets are available online : https://sjmsdonaldhunt.eventbrite.ca
PROGRAMME
Andante con moto – Alexandre François Pierre BOELY (1785-1858)
Pièce Héroïque – César FRANCK (1822-1890)
Clair de lune (from Pièces de Fantaisie) Louis VIERNE (1870-1937)
Prelude and Fugue in E flat major – Camille SAINT-SAENS (1835-1921)
March on a Theme by Haendel : “Lift up your head” – Alexandre GUILMANT (1837-1911)
Nativité (from the Symphonie Passion) – Marcel DUPRÉ (1886-1971)
Toccata sur le Veni Creator – Gaston LITAIZE (1909-1991)
Variations sur “O Filii” and Choral orné sur “Rorate Coeli” from “Twelve Chorale Preludes” – Jeanne DEMESSIEUX (1921-1968)
Incantation pour un jour Saint – Jean LANGLAIS (1907-1991)
A specialist in French 19th and 20th century organ music, Jérôme Faucheur won first prize for organ performance in the French National Television Network’s national competition, and has given nearly 400 concerts in Europe, the UK, Australia, Asia, and the USA. Performance visible on a giant screen at the front of the Cathedral.
More details to come. As always, look forward to costumes, dark music, and lots of seasonal treats at the reception afterwards!
The Cathedral’s own musicians: organist Denis Bédard and the Cathedral Choir, assistant organist Catherine Walsh and the Holy Rosary Women’s Choir, the Contemporary Choir with director Chito Lacsina, and the Spanish Mass Choir with director Alejandro Frias.
CONCERT 1
Katherine Evans – trumpet
Edward Norman – organ
Martini – Toccata
Bach – Prelude and Fugue in a minor, BWV 543
Haydn – Four pieces for mechanical organ
Haydn – Trumpet Concerto in E-flat Major (H.7e1)
Telemann – Air de Trompette
Franck – Chorale no.1 in E Major
Philiba – Mosaïque – Quatre Pièces Brèves (1976)
Vierne – Naïades (Pieces de Fantaisie Suite IV Op.55)
Defaye – Prélude I (from ‘Huit Préludes – pour passer le temps’)
Music spanning eight centuries, from medieval France to Denis Bédard’s own compositions, and including works by Bach, Gigout, and Dubois. Denis Bédard has given recitals across Canada, in the United States, in France and in Brazil and his works are performed throughout the world. Performance visible on a giant screen at the front of the Cathedral.
Concert 2
Roger Cole – oboe
Edward Norman – organ
Handel – Allegro (from Concerto Grosso in g minor Op.6) H324
Bach – Three chorale preludes, BWV 659, BWV 654 & BWV 646
Bach – Prelude and Fugue in C Major, BWV 547
Marcello – Oboe Concerto in c minor, S.Z799
Rheinberger – Rhapsodie Op.147
Franck – Chorale no.2 in b minor
Britten – Three pieces from Metamorphoses Op.49
Sokola – Toccata (from Quattro Pezzi)
CONCERT 3
Steve Denroche – French horn
Edward Norman – organ
Marcello – Psalm XIX
Bach – Toccata in F Major, BWV 540
Smith – Prelude on ‘Angelus Domini’ (1991)
Dupré – Chorale on ‘Iste Confessor’
(no.12 from ‘Le Tombeau de Titelouze’ Op.38)
Danzi – Horn Sonata in E-flat Major Op.28
Cooke – Rondo in B-flat Major
Franck – Chorale no.3 in a minor
Bozza – ‘En Forêt’ Op.40
Gardonyi – Improvisation on ‘Be Thou My Vision’
Vinter – ‘Hunter’s Moon’
Works by Campra, Pergolesi, Bach, Franck and others. Sarah McGrath’s pure, angelic voice and innate musicality have made her a much appreciated soloist and section lead in the Holy Rosary Cathedral choir. After solo and choral studies at UBC, she has sung in tours across Europe, China, and the USA, including at Carnegie Hall and the Beijing National Centre for the Performing Arts, and is also a section lead in the Vancouver Cantata Singers. Performance visible on a giant screen at the front of the Cathedral.
