ASHLEY GROTE – Master of Music at Norwich Cathedral. ORGAN RECITAL
Bach, Purcell, Elgar, Mendelssohn
SUNDAY 11th July, 6pm
at St.Botolph’s Church, Trunch
Ashley Grote has held the post of Master of Music at Norwich Cathedral since September 2012. He is responsible for the day-to-day running of the Cathedral music department, directing the boys’ and girls’ choirs in their busy programme of choral services, concerts, broadcasts, tours and recordings. He also directs the Cathedral Chamber Choir, who perform frequent concerts alongside period instrument ensemble Norwich Baroque.
Ashley began his musical life as a chorister at King’s College, Cambridge 1990-1995 and returned there as organ scholar 2001-2004. As organ scholar at King’s, he performed internationally with the world-famous choir and accompanied numerous recordings, radio and television broadcasts including the annual ‘Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols’.
Ashley has subsequently held posts as Organist-in-residence at Tonbridge School (2004-2005), Assistant Organist of Westminster Abbey (2005-2008) and Assistant Director of Music at Gloucester Cathedral (2008-2012). Ashley has also been involved in the Edington Music Festival of Music within the Liturgy, first as Organist (2007-2009) and then Festival Director (2010-2012).
As a recitalist, he has performed throughout the UK, USA and Europe with recent concerts in Italy, Germany, Finland and Sweden. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his regular online recitals from Norwich Cathedral have attracted many listeners from around the world. Ashley’s first solo disc, of organ symphonies by Louis Vierne, was described by Gramophone magazine as a ‘top-notch recording’, and his recording of popular organ works from Norwich Cathedral is heard frequently on Classic FM. His most recent recording, of major organ works by J.S. Bach from Selby Abbey, was released in December 2019 to critical acclaim. Ashley has performed alongside the BBC Singers in recording and broadcast projects, most recently in a live radio broadcast of Messiaen’s solo Christmas cycle for organ, ‘La Nativité du Seigneur’ in December 2020. As a composer and arranger of organ and choral works, his work has been published by Oxford University Press, Stainer & Bell, and Encore publications. Away from music, and thanks to the generosity of many friends and supporters, Ashley has raised nearly £90,000 by running five London Marathons for Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital where his daughter is a patient. He will run again in October 2021 with the aim of reaching £100,000 – – visit www.justgiving.com/teams/emilygrote for more details. A keen cook, he also appeared in the 2018 series of BBC MasterChef.
PRIGRAMME (VIDEO: https://youtu.be/KNS0aUiz_nY)
Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C bwv 564, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
A Fancy, William Byrd (1539/40-1623)
Voluntary in C Op 5 no 1, John Stanley (1712-86)
Adagio – Andante – Slow – Allegro
Voluntary on the Old 100th, Henry Purcell (1659-95)
Concerto in F Op no 4 no F George Frederic Handel (1685-1759)
i. Allegro. ii. Andante iii. Adagio iv. Allegro
INTERVAL
Sonata in A Op 65 no 3 Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809-47)
i.Con moto maestoso ii. Andante tranquillo
Chanson de matin, Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 in D, Edward Elgar
From 24 pièces en style libre:
i.Berceuse. ii. Carillon de Longpont
Hornpipe humoresque, Noel Rawsthorne (1929-2019)
Andante ”Choeur de Voix Humaines”, Louis Lefébure-Wély (1817-1869) & Sortie in E flat, Louis Lefébure-Wély
The performance took place in St. Botolph’s Church in Trunch, with social distancing of 1 meters.
Face Masks worn all the time.
Pre-booking only. Tickets – £15.
Tickets were available by phone 01692 402 624 or from Trunch Corner Stores (t.01263 722072).
All proceeds are donated to Trunch and Swafield Church restoration projects.