On 18th July St Swithun’s Church Retford welcome the return visit of John Robinson, Director of Music at Blackburn Cathedral, to give an organ recital. Last year John proved very popular with a programme of music that was widely appreciated, and this year will be equally popular.
He is starting with what is probably everyone’s favourite piece of organ music by JS Bach: Toccata and Fugue in D minor. It is thought that Bach wrote this as a test piece that he could play on any organ to check on its suitability for his style of music, and it has proved a very popular piece of music ever since because it has dramatic contrasts and uses the entire range of the instrument.
Appropriately, John concludes his recital with the Fantasia and Toccata in D minor by Charles Villiers Stanford, a great composer of English and Irish church music, who died in 1924.
Between these two items there will be compositions by English and French composers of fascinating music that will demonstrate the versatility of the beautiful organ in St Swithun’s Church.
As usual, the church will be open from 12.15pm, serving light refreshments. Admission is free, with the option of giving a donation that goes into the fund that helps towards the maintenance of this fine historic instrument.