— Interval —

David Dunnett, the organist of Norwich Cathedral, gave an interesting and popular programme when he visited us on Friday 18th May, a glorious evening which probably restricted the number of organ enthusiasts attending who could be torn away from their gardens or perhaps the exciting preparations for the following day`s Royal Wedding.

The blind organist Alfred Hollin`s "Triumphal March" with its rousing tune encasing a gentler middle section, provided an excellent start and was played in an exuberant fashion by this much acclaimed artist who is equally at home performing on the piano or harpsichord. Vivaldi`s D minor Concerto arranged for the organ by J.S.Bach with five sections, the first three proving to be very short whilst the remaining two consisted of a largo and a concluding spirited allegro of normal length. "Evening Song" by Edward Bairstow, a pleasant tune, mostly with a quiet accompaniment published in 1900 preceded two pieces by Louis Vierne, "Clair de Lune" and his B flat minor Tocccata. As it`s name implies, the first of these pieces was a gentle evocation of shimmering moonlight on the flute stop, whereas the Toccata was an exhilarating four minute tour de force of brilliant articulation on the manuals and footboard.

After the interval, a very florid arrangement by the Norwegian composer Egil Hovland of the hymn "Now thank we all our God", was followed by quite a short "Prelude, Fugue and Variations" by Cesar Franck part of which was attractively written for the oboe and flute stops. Felix Mendelssohn`s E minor "Prelude and Fugue originally written as a piano piece and arranged for organ by W,T.Best sounded good in its new setting, and lastly we heard a very modern composition by Guy Bovet entitled "Salamanca" depicting a Spanish festival scene. Commencing with a parade with drums and whistles and eventually leading up to a bull fight, this had the audience wanting more of the same before they went home. Unfortunately their hunger remained unabated, which by all accounts, is really the best time for a concert to stop!!

PB.

David Dunnett

David has been organist at Norwich Cathedral since January 1996 and was also Master of Music from 1996-2007.

He was educated at King Edward’s School, Birmingham and Clare College, Cambridge where he assisted Tim Brown and studied the organ with John Pryer, John Bishop and David Sanger. He continued studying with David Sanger as a postgraduate at the Royal Academy of Music and also spent a year as Organist of Marylebone Parish Church. He worked in the United States as Director of Chapel Music and Staff Accompanist at the College of Wooster, Ohio, before becoming Assistant Director of Music at Uppingham School.

He became Sub-Organist at Winchester Cathedral in November 1991 and subsequently performed with Winchester Cathedral Choir in concerts, broadcasts, recordings and tours to Brazil, USA and Australia. He assisted David Hill with the Waynflete Singers, taught at Southampton University and is a previous conductor of the Southampton University Chamber Choir and Winchester Music Club.

David is a busy organ recitalist both here and abroad and also regularly accompanies singers and instrumentalists on the organ, harpsichord and piano. He features on numerous recordings as conductor, soloist and accompanist and has given recitals in Europe, USA and Russia. He is the Choral Conductor of the Norwich Philharmonic Society, a previous part time lecturer at the UEA and a busy examiner.