Toccata: Live at St Mary’s, Hitchin

I’m a great supporter of local venues and it’s always a delight when the programming includes classic or well-known pieces, as well as those that are brand new. Such was the case at a recent organ and percussion concert at St Mary’s, Hitchin.

A marvellous setting for organ and percussion

Our local parish church is increasingly being used for marvellous musical events and this weekend featured a wonderful selection of pieces for the church’s ancient organ and a plethora of percussion.

Organist Rufus Frowde had gathered together two professional musicians - Danny Basford and Josh Gearing - to work with his own son Josef on music from the 19th and 20th centuries right up to the present day.

Caught in the Net was originally composed by Billie Reason for the Hertfordshire Schools’ Symphony Orchestra, rescored specially by the composer for organ, percussion, synthesiser and a digital soundworld. It was insightful and inspirational, asking us all to question how we can ensure a safer digital future.

Josh Gearing

Among this clever collection of pieces was a solo performance by Josh Gearing of an excerpt from Kaija Saariaho’s Six Japanese Gardens. Gearing employed electronics and percussion from the largest gongs to the smallest bells.

Particular favourites were the arrangement of Elgar’s Nimrod and the Eugene Gigout Toccata. It was a shame that the St Mary’s organ (which had been ‘playing up’ throughout the concert) failed in the last section of the latter, but Rufus moved almost seamlessly to the church’s grand piano for the conclusion.

We also got a bonus - Antonio Carlos Jobim’s How Insensitive - which finished the evening off perfectly.

Find grassroots music near you across the UK on the Music Venue Trust’s Gig Guide