Horsham: lunchtime organ recitals coming up

Both are on Tuesdays at 1pm at the Unitarian Church in the Worthing Road. Information about the Music Circle’s concerts can be found at www.horsham-music-circle.org.uk or phone 01403 252602.

Spokeswoman Jill Elsworthy said: “On November 28 the recital opens with Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks. This stirring work has five movements and was commissioned by George II in 1749 for the Fireworks in London’s Green Park and has been a popular work since. From this baroque style the programme moves to the romantic with Mendelssohn’s 2nd Organ Sonata in four movements ending with a Fugue in fine counterpoint worthy of Bach. The distinguished organist George Thalben-Ball features next with his Elegy in B flat, expressive for times of Remembrance. St Anne Fugue by J S Bach is a five-voice triple fugue and shows Bach at his finest in counterpoint. Vierne’s delightful Scherzo from the 2nd Symphony is one of his more playful movements published in 1899. To close the recital the ever popular Marche Triomphale by Karg-Elert Now Thank We All Our God is followed by the light-hearted Postlude, Sortie in B flat by Lefébure-Wély typical of the composer’s frivolous style of playing.

“On December 12 the programme has suitable festive season references and opens with works by three English composers. The King’s Cambridge organ scholar and cathedral organist John Cook published the opening Hornpipe in 1953. Professor at Trinity College of Music, Alec Rowley wrote Benedictus, full of melody and subtle key changes, for Novello’s. William Boyce was one of the foremost English 18th century composers of Church music, his Voluntary No 1 was a work to show off the organ’s trumpet stop! Buxtehude’s Nun komm der Heiden Heiland follows. It is a well-known Advent choral prelude as is Bach’s choral fantasia In Dulci Jubilo.”

Jill added: “No need to book. Entry is free with a retiring collection for the Music Ci rcle’s concert promotions.”