The Regent Classic Organ Music Tutorial Series was launched in 2016 and we have since produced 12 videos. In the series we were pleased to present a series of demonstration tutorials played on a couple of our luxurious bespoke church organs.
In each video Jonathan Kingston gives a short introduction to the piece, offering some background and tips about performance and organ registration.
Organ Music Tutorial Programme 2016
During the first year we picked some of our own favourite organ pieces to demonstrate in a series of videos. The selected pieces were quite varied and of different styles.
- Howells Psalm Prelude No 2 of Set 2 – Howells was born in Lydney in 1892, the youngest of the six children of Oliver Howells, a plumber, painter, decorator and builder. As we know he became a prolific composer of choral and organ music that has become a corner stone of the Anglican Church Liturgy.
- The Knightsbridge March by Eric Coates – Jonathan Kingston plays his own arrangement of this orchestral piece based on the published piano arrangement. We hope you will enjoy this jaunty tune as it transcribes well for organ.
- 1st Movement E Flat Trio Sonata by J S Bach – The baroque trio sonata usually calls for four instrumentalists, two of which are assigned to the bass line, and it is only at the end of the 18th century that the designations of “trio” and “quartet” start referring to the number of instruments required.
- Preludium and Fugue in D by Buxtehude – This prelude and fugue is in typical baroque style with a flamboyant prelude with a suitable grand conclusion followed by a charming and simply weaved fugue which leads into a much more elaborate and authoritative conclusion.
- Offertoire sur les grands jeux by Francois Couperin – The Offertoires sur les grands jeux is an extract from the messe des couvents, a collection of short organ works to accompany the formal service of communion.
- La Rejouissance and Minuet by GF Handel – There are many arrangements for organ and we hear the last 2 of the 5 movements played by Jonathan.
We have created a playlist on YouTube with all of the videos above. Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel to get notified of any new releases.
About the Organ in the 2016 Tutorial
Jonathan plays on a bespoke private client instrument currently on hire at Canterbury Cathedral. This has 84 speaking stops. It is a 3 manual instrument but with a floating solo division. It is based on the very successful physical modelling ‘Physis’ sound technology used in all standard Viscount instruments. This particular instrument has a real oak console with Rosewood drawstops and Rosewood and Walnut keyboards.
It has a internal library of over 500 alternative voice samples allowing the user to create totally individual voice pallets from classic English through Baroque and Romantic. For more information have a look at its specifications here.
Organ Music Tutorial Programme 2017
The organ musical tutorial videos for 2017 featured pieces from the ABRSM organ examination syllabus. We hope they’re useful if you’re preparing for one of these exams yourself. If you’re not, just sit back and enjoy seeing and hearing Jonathan play one of our beautiful custom instruments in the beautiful setting of St. Mary’s, Witney!
- Grand Choeur by Salomé – The Grand Choeur in G major is one of Salomé’s better-known pieces. A Grand Choeur would typically employ an arresting registration involving the big reeds, foundations, and possibly cornet of the Great, often coupled to fullish registrations on the other manuals.
- Imperial March by Edward Elgar – The piece comes off very well on the organ, having plenty of opportunities for dynamic contrast, orchestral registrations, and use of the building’s acoustics if you have them.
- Philip Moore’s Paean – Philip Moore’s Paean was written in 2010 as one of a series of works by contemporary composers included in the “Little Organ Book”, published by the Organists’ Charitable Trust in association with the Ralph Vaughan Williams Trust.
- Buxtehude’s Toccata (and Fugue) in F – It’s a fine example of runs and scalic passages strongly tethered to tonic and dominant progressions, explains Jonathan before the tutorial performance.
- George Thalben-Ball’s Elegy – Noble English organs with sturdy foundations and orchestral tones are ideal vehicles for performing this piece. Players are well advised to take note of “GTB’s” registrational suggestions, says Jonathan, as well as concentrating on a legato delivery.
- Flor Peeters Festival Voluntary, Op. 87 – The Festival Voluntary is essentially a piece that demands bright registrations, relying strongly on the mixtures and possibly some mutation stops for a touch of spice. While 8′ and/or 4′ reeds are specified in places, if these are to be used it’s probably best if they are of a lighter/brighter continental quality, as opposed to the fuller tromba tone of say a Willis or a Harrison.
We have created a playlist on YouTube with all of the videos above. Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel to get notified of any new releases.
About the Organ in the 2017 Tutorial
Jonathan plays on our Digital Organ custom built especially for the Boston AGO of 2014. This has 69 speaking stops spread over 3 manuals and pedals. It is based on the very successful physical modelling ‘Physis’ sound technology used in all standard Viscount instruments. This particular instrument has a real oak console with Walnut draw stops and Walnut and Bone UHT keyboards.
It has a internal library of over 500 alternative voice samples allowing the user to create totally individual voice pallets from classic English through Baroque and Romantic. For more information have a look at its specifications here.
About Jonathan Kingston’s Musical Background
Jonathan was an organ student while studying with Ian Tracey and Ian Wells at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral before being appointed Sub Organist at Bradford Cathedral, aged 18. Assistant Director and Director of Music appointments followed at Stowe and Bromsgrove Schools before an appointment to The King’s School in Ely where he served Ely Cathedral as a deputy organist.
Jonathan is a recording artist for Naxos, Priory and EMI Records and is an ABRSM examiner and coordinator touring the UK and internationally. As an organist, he has appeared with many leading orchestras and choirs including the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Halle, London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus and English Symphony Orchestra as well as featuring in many live broadcasts on BBC radio and television.
He is the newly appointed Director of Music at Stony Stratford Parish Church where he presides over the magnificent Willis pipe organ.
Jonathan’s Work With Regent Classic
Jonathan’s work with Regent Classic Organs encompasses performing and presenting promotional and tutorial material for the company and his freelance portfolio covers educational outreach, teaching, performing, examining and musical direction. He covers several areas for Regent Classic from sales, demonstrations, voicing of instruments and performing.
His playing features on the current promotional DVD material, and he would be very pleased to hear from any churches or individuals requiring an engaging and lively recitalist. If you would like to connect with Jonathan directly, please feel free to follow him on Twitter (@jonkingston) or by email on jonkingston@hotmail.co.uk.
I have had a passion for church organs since the tender age of 12. I own and run Regent Classic Organs with a close attention to the detail that musicians appreciate; and a clear understanding of the benefits of digital technology and keeping to the traditional and emotional elements of organ playing.
