David Burchell at the Auckland Town Hall Organ

BUXTEHUDE: Prelude in G minor BuxWV149

Performed by David Burchell on the organ of Auckland Town Hall.

David Burchell Photo: supplied

Dieterich (Diderich) Buxtehude (1637-1707) was Danish organist and composer, who, in his post at St Mary's Church in Lübeck, Germany, became one of the leading organists of his generation and the most influential on the organists who followed including JS Bach.

This Prelude is a toccata-like work with fugal sections included.

Recorded by RNZ Concert, 15 November 2020
Producer: Tim Dodd; Engineer: Adrian Hollay

BACH: Prelude & Fugue in F BWV540

Performed by David Burchell on the organ of Auckland Town Hall.

David Burchell Photo: supplied

The date of composition of this work is uncertain. It's thought it probably comes from Bach's period in Weimar as a young man.

It's one of Bach's organ masterpieces. The toccata itself is on a monumental scale with bold harmonic moves and containing two extensive solos for the pedals.

Recorded by RNZ Concert, 15 November 2020
Producer: Tim Dodd; Engineer: Adrian Hollay

RHEINBERGER: Sonata No 2 in Ab Op 65

Performed by David Burchell on the organ of Auckland Town Hall.

David Burchell Photo: supplied

Josef Rheinberger (1839-1901) was a child prodigy who became Professor of Music at the Munich Conservatory at the age of 21.

He's most remembered now for his organ works. This sonata is one of 20 he wrote for the instrument.

Rather than being in conventional sonata form, it can be viewed as a Prelude and Fugue with an Adagio interlude between them.

Recorded by RNZ Concert, 15 November 2020
Producer: Tim Dodd; Engineer: Adrian Hollay

HANDEL arr Burchell: The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba

Performed by David Burchell on the organ of Auckland Town Hall.

David Burchell Photo: supplied

Solomon is one of Handel's last oratorios written in 1748.

Act III starts with a Sinfonia depicting the arrival of the Queen of Sheba to Solomon's court.

The moment is described in the Bible (I Kings): she came "with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices, and very much gold, and precious stones."

Recorded by RNZ Concert, 15 November 2020
Producer: Tim Dodd; Engineer: Adrian Hollay

SS WESLEY: Andante In F

Performed by David Burchell on the organ of Auckland Town Hall.

David Burchell Photo: supplied

Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810-1876) was the grandson of the Methodist hymn-writer Charles Wesley and the son of composer Samuel Wesley. He made a career as a cathedral organist in England.

Recorded by RNZ Concert, 15 November 2020
Producer: Tim Dodd; Engineer: Adrian Hollay

ELGAR arr Martin: Imperial March

Performed by David Burchell on the organ of Auckland Town Hall.

David Burchell Photo: supplied

Elgar was commissioned to write the Imperial March by his publisher Novello to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897.

This transcription for organ was made by George C Martin very soon after the piece was written.

Recorded by RNZ Concert, 15 November 2020
Producer: Tim Dodd; Engineer: Adrian Hollay

David N JOHNSON: Trumpet Tune In Eb

Performed by David Burchell on the organ of Auckland Town Hall.

Recorded by RNZ Concert, 15 November 2020
Producer: Tim Dodd; Engineer: Adrian Hollay

WHITLOCK: Divertimento & Fanfare, From Four Extemporisations

Performed by David Burchell on the organ of Auckland Town Hall.

David Burchell Photo: supplied

Percy Whitlock (1903-46) was an English organist and composer who studied at the Royal College of Music under Stanford and Vaughan Williams.

He was organist at St Stephen's Church in Bournemouth from 1930 and the William Hill organ there was the direct inspiration for his Four Extemporisations.

Recorded by RNZ Concert, 15 November 2020
Producer: Tim Dodd; Engineer: Adrian Hollay

Frigyes HIDAS: Toccata, from Sonata for Organ

Performed by David Burchell on the organ of Auckland Town Hall.

David Burchell Photo: supplied

Frigyes Hidas (1928-2007) was a Hungarian composer.

For many years he was a theatre music director in Budapest before embarking on a freelance career as a composer.

Recorded by RNZ Concert, 15 November 2020
Producer: Tim Dodd; Engineer: Adrian Hollay

Naji HAKIM: Always My Heart Wanders, from Sakskøbing Præludier

Performed as an encore by David Burchell on the organ of Auckland Town Hall.

David Burchell Photo: supplied

Naji Hakim is a Lebanese-French organist and composer.

He held organist positions at Sacré Coeur and the Église de la Sainte-Trinité, Paris and teaches at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

He is particularly prolific as a composer

This prelude uses a Swedish Christmas tune and comes from a collection of works based on a publication of Scandinavian hymns by the Sakskøbing Church in Denmark.

Recorded by RNZ Concert, 15 November 2020
Producer: Tim Dodd; Engineer: Adrian Hollay