Saturday 29 June, 12.00 noon
The Lincoln Organ: its story
Early days
Estampie from Robertsbridge Codex
Sellingers Rownde from My Ladye Nevells Booke - William Byrd
A Fancy in Gamut Flat - Orlando Gibbons
Bells and whistles
Voluntary for Double Organ - Henry Purcell
‘Trumpet’ Voluntary in D - John Stanley
Voluntary in G - Theophania Cecil
Thaxted today
Estampie - Franz Danksagmüller
New Commission - Iain Farrington (Commissioned and funded by Thaxted Festival Foundation, and funded by generous support from the Eric Thompson Trust and the Thaxted Lincoln Organ Committee.)
In his role at Westminster Abbey, Peter Holder was the principal organist for the funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
Peter has held the post of Sub-Organist of Westminster Abbey since October 2017. He is the principal organist for the Abbey’s daily services and at state occasions, and accompanies the Abbey Choir in its concerts, recordings and broadcasts. He is the principal deputy conductor of the choir and supports Organist and Master of the Choristers Andrew Nethsingha in training the Abbey choristers.
As a recitalist, Peter performs in cathedrals and concert halls across the world. He regularly broadcasts for BBC radio and television. He first performed at the BBC Proms as a soloist in 2019, and returned in 2021 to perform a solo organ recital as part of the Royal Albert Hall’s 150th anniversary celebrations. His programme culminated with Liszt’s Fantasia and Fugue on 'Ad nos, ad salutarem undam', which musicOMH reviewer Sam Smith described as ‘…a breathtaking half hour of virtuoso playing in which different moods and themes were delineated to wondrous effect…’.
His programme will showcase Thaxted’s restored Lincoln Organ. The significance of the instrument as a little-altered Georgian organ has been recognised by the award of a Grade 1 certificate as a rare instrument of its period by the British Institute of Organ Studies. Since its restoration in 2014, the Lincoln Organ Recital has become an annual highlight of our Festival.
'Impeccable articulation … playing with great precision and yet also a humanity that imparts life and warmth … Peter Holder is a true musician.’ Christopher Maxim, Organists’ Review
This concert is sponsored by a friend of Thaxted Festival who wishes to remain anonymous.
Thaxted Festival expresses grateful thanks to the Eric Thompson Charitable Trust for generous support of the new commission by Iain Farrington.
Venue: Thaxted Parish Church
Tickets: £15. Age 30 and under: £10. Unreserved seating.
