2 August 2012

For Immediate Release

St Matthew-in-the-City presents third concert to showcase new organ

“Playing of the highest rank ... all that one could desire” (UK Organists' Review)

After outstanding concerts by Olivier Latry and Robert Costin to introduce St Matthew’s new organ to the city, Michael CW Bell, Director of Music is proud to announce that the third of five concerts will be performed by Martin Setchell. Mr. Setchell is an international concert organist who believes in promoting entertaining organ music to a wide audience.

Born and educated in England, he also studied at various times with Pierre Cochereau, Marie-Claire Alain, Piet Kee, and Peter Hurford. He is based in New Zealand, as curator of the Rieger organ in the Christchurch Town Hall for the Performing Arts, and is Associate Professor of Music and University Organist at the University of Canterbury.

He regularly performs in Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China and Japan. In 2011 he performed in Hong Kong, England and Australia, and this year, 2012 he is visiting the USA to play concerts in San Francisco and Salt Lake City (including the famous Mormon Tabernacle organ) and Germany.

His CDs include A Taste of Shropshire, (Quantum) recorded at Ludlow Parish church in England, the highly successful Bonbons for Organ series and Pink and White, an anthology of New Zealand organ music (Atoll) and Great Australasian Organs VII featuring the Rieger organ of Christchurch Town Hall (Priory 1031, UK).

Martin has been heard on BBC radio’s The Organist Entertains, the USA’s Pipe Dreams, and Radio New Zealand’s concert programme.

He has arranged Fauré, Bizet, and Sousa (published by Kevin Mayhew Music), and edited organ albums of music by Saint-Saëns and Purcell for Oxford University Press. In 2008 he was honoured by the City of Christchurch, receiving a Civic Award for services to music in the community and the Town Hall organ in particular.

PROGRAMME

'English Music for a Grand Old English Organ'

*Celebratio Karl Jenkins (b.1944)
*Overture to the Occasional Oratorio G. F Handel (1685-1759)
arr. Coleman/Setchell)
Maestoso
Allegro
Adagio
March
Adagio in E major Frank Bridge (1879-1941)
*Three Dances from Henry VIII Sir Edward German (1862-1936)
arr.Lemare
Morris Dance
Shepherds’ Dance
Torch Dance

Grand Choeur Alfred Hollins (1865-1942)
A Trumpet Minuet
*Jig (from Five Dances Op. 179) John Gardner (b. 1917)
*The Lost Chord Sir Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900
*Pomp and Circumstance March No 4 in G Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
arr. Sinclair
Penguins' Playtime Nigel Ogden (b. 1954)

CDs and DVDs recorded by Martin Setchell on the Rieger organ in Christchurch Town Hall New Zealand, and St Lawrence's Ludlow, Shropshire, England, including the items marked * in this programme will be on sale, and Martin will be happy to sign and dedicate your copy to you after the concert.

Date: Sunday, 12 August 2012
Time: 2:30 PM
Venue: St Matthew-in-the-City, Corner of Hobson and Wellesley
General Admission: $10.00
Ticket Sales at the door.

ENDS

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