Marco's Magical Organ Recital - September 09
Marco and Steve in the restaurant
Steve and Steph Kennedy outside Westminster Cathedral
Nick Clabburn and Jo Cummins in the restaurant
When I was a nine year old kid I remember being chased out of Westminster Cathedral with a bunch of other little urchins for making too much noise. I think the heady incense burners set us off...
A mere fifty years later I was invited to an organ recital by Marco Lo Muscio (pronounced Mooshio) at the same cathedral to celebrate the work of Vaughan Williams, Arvo Part, Messiaen, Aaron Copeland, Keith Emerson and myself.
It's an amazing experience to hear something conceived as a doodle on guitar rearranged for cathedral organ. From my pieces Marco chose Horizons and Cast Adrift. From Keith Emerson it was Copeland's Fantasy on Fanfare for the Common Man. I've seen Marco perform a similar programme at Kings College Cambridge and in Orvieto. It is always a spellbinding performance, extraordinary in both its power and the way in which the large space amplifies the sound.
A whole group of us, including Marco, Vincenzo who is involved with his management, and various friends of both Marco and myself, including my Aunt Margaret (a tremendous down to earth character who always reminds everyone that I'm not the messiah...) went on to a wonderful Turkish restaurant where we enjoyed an evening that lasted for at least four hours!
This evening my brother John with his flute is joining Marco at the cathedral in Sheffield.
22 September 2009
Vincenzo Ricca, Steve, Corrado Canonici, Marco, Theo Chen outside the cathedral
