Just 5 minutes after I wrote to Hugh Morris at the RSCM for an update of the programme for his St Cecelia’s day Organ Marathon the office phone rang. At the other end was Roger Wilcox, the new custodian and energy behind a website created many years ago by Steven Smith to publicise and list all organ recitals scheduled in the UK weeks and months ahead of the performance date. You can find all this at https://www.organrecitals.uk/ updated website.
The website’s origins and evolution
Steven remains a passionate organ enthusiast with a Viscount instrument in his home. The effort of maintaining the website, though, became overwhelming even though Steven had developed significant automation to add new events.
A timely conversation with Roger Wilcox
By strange coincidence, Roger had rung us for some details of the RSCM event we are hosting, and naturally, the conversation quickly diversified into more general organ chit-chat.
Roger took over running the site about three years ago and has updated the systems that collect the data and much enhanced the presentation of the information.
You would think and expect that Roger was himself an organist. Interestingly, he is not, but he is a very enthusiastic traveller to recitals up and down the country combining his passion for organ music with a great interest in the buildings in which it is performed.
Growing interest in recitals
Being a regular recital attendee, it was really encouraging to learn that he has seen a considerable increase in the audiences’ attending recitals in recent years – and also an increase in younger members of the audiences. Both great changes that hold out hope for the future of the instrument that, when I was first involved in the industry sector, I felt was in slow but steady decline.
A personal link and hope for the future
Another coincidence, Roger lives in Rugby where I had worked in the 1980’s. In those days, St Andrew’s Church, now home to a Viscount organ while funds are raised to repair the pipe organ, used to run a lunchtime weekday organ recital series. Perhaps in the years ahead, especially after the pipe organ is restored, we can keep our fingers crossed a lunchtime recital series will once again be part of life at St Andrew’s.
Explore Organrecitals.uk today
Be that as it may, do take a look at the new organrecitals.uk website. It’s bristling with helpful information of interest to organ enthusiasts.
Whether you’re a long-time supporter of organ music or just beginning to explore this fascinating world, organrecitals.uk is a fantastic place to discover new performances and support your local organists. We’re proud to see platforms like this helping to keep organ music thriving and reaching new audiences.
I have had a passion for church organs since the tender age of 12. I own and run Viscount 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.
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