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This conference organiser particularly enjoys occasions which illuminate some area of musical culture by examining organ, music and performer, and bringing them together in a way which puts all three in context. This is particularly true when the type of organ and the music are as close to his own heart as they were on this occasion, largely thanks to David Burchell's inspiring introduction to the subject.
He began with the morning session devoted to plain congregational psalm-singing. 57 participants provided a lusty and more than adequate substitute for an 18th century congregation aided by the organ and acoustics of St. Helen's Church. David reminded us of the disadvantages of the old way of singing, with an unmusical clerk giving out a line of the psalm and the people following him with varyious degrees of success. To illustrate this, David played some of the early preludes and givings-out of the tunes by Blow and Purcell; almost as mystifying for the people in the wealth of ornamentation as the efforts of the clerk.
As the 18th century advanced, Methodist and other Nonconformist voices placed increasing emphasis on congregational participation in singing. The BIOS congregation duly provided an effective demonstration with David Burchell giving out the tune and playing organ interludes between the verses. Parish church music had duly come of age.
After lunch and the AGM, a scratch choir performed examples of extended choral settings of the psalms and hymns with sections for solo voices, provided on this occasion by two sisters of David, and organ. The accompaniment was provided variously by Peter Holman and David. Such pieces were performed at wealthy churches on special occasions and at the chapels of charitable institutions such as the Lock Chapel where Martin Madan, a member of the Wesley circle, was chaplain. The result was some surprisingly distinguished music, ably performed by the participants.
After tea, there was an introduction to Thomas Griffin, the builder of the organ at St. Helen's in 1743, and to the world of the Georgian city organist and organbuilder, by Dominic Gwynn. This was followed by a concert by Andrew McCrea playing music by City church musicians of the period. Andrew did his part in maintaining the surprises of the day with works by James, Adam and Attwood (an impressive "cathedral fugue") as well as a tour de force by Stanley. Again, it was a special thrill for the organbuilders to hear this music performed with such conviction on an organ which was designed for it.
We are very grateful to St. Helen's Church for permitting us to hold the conference and the AGM in the church, and particularly to the Director of Music, Richard Simpkin, for all the work he put into providing us with refreshments and making sure the wheels ran smoothly.
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