Programme

J.S. Bach (1685-1750) – Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 565   

F.Mendelssohn (1809-1847) – Sonata No 2 Op 65 (1^st movement: Grave – Adagio)

C.Ives (1874-1954) – Variations on ‘America’

E.Elgar (1857-1934) – Pomp and Circumstance March No 4

G.F. Handel (1685-1759) – Andante (3^rd movement) from Organ concerto in G

W.Walton (1902-1983)  – Orb and Sceptre (written for the 1953 Coronation)

Born in Swansea, Huw Williams is Director of Music at Bath Abbey, where he directs its renowned choirs of boys, girls and lay-clerks. A conductor and award-winning organist of international standing, he served until recently as Director of Music at Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal, St James’ Palace, where his predecessors included Thomas Tallis, William Byrd and Henry Purcell. Whilst at the Chapel Royal he conducted the music for Prince George’s Christening, the Queen’s Christmas message in 2015, the annual Remembrance Sunday  Service at the Cenotaph, and numerous other events in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen and other members of the Royal Family.  A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and former Organ Scholar of Christ’s College, Cambridge, his musical achievements led to him being awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.

Alongside his conducting work, Huw enjoys an international career as an organ recitalist and accompanist. He was principal organist at St Paul’s Cathedral for ten years, where he played for numerous high-profile and state occasions. and many of his compositions have been performed at St Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace and further afield. Huw has made over 20 recordings as accompanist with The Sixteen and with St Paul’s and Hereford Cathedral Choirs. He is an editor of the Revised English Hymnal, to be published later this year.

Future Tuesdays@1pm Organ recitals

May 9             Gavin Phelps. Abbey Head Chorister, Gavin plays Walton’s Crown Imperial (written for the Coronation in 1937), Buxtehude’s Toccata in F, J. S. Bach and Rawsthorne

May 16           Dewi Rees, Organ Scholar Westminster Abbey and Assistant Organist elect of Bath Abbey performs Elgar’s Imperial March (written for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897) and music by Bach, Mendelssohn, Judith Bingham and Judith Weir (current Master of the King’s Music)

May 23           Huw Williams plays Messiaen’s monumental suite L’Ascension written in 1933 and featuring Transports du joie and Guilmant’s March on a theme of Handel ‘Lift up your heads’.

May 30           Hayden Payne