Robert Quinney

Not news of Christus, but of a performance of its choral (sort of) equivalent, The Cloud of Unknowing: http://www.eatonsquareconcerts.org.uk/?id=...erts#2011-04-07 Vasari Singers (dir Jeremy Backhouse), James Gilchrist, and me, at St Peter's, Eaton Square, London SW1, on Thursday 7 April at 7.30pm. I'm learning the piece at the moment, and it more than repays the considerable effort one puts in! Interested readers who are unable to attend the concert might like to know of the fine recording of the work, on Signum, with James Gilchrist, the Vasaris, and Jeremy Filsell playing stupendously on the Marcussen organ of Tonbridge School. As promised, I'll post information of Christus performances as they are arranged. Nothing yet, but I'm open to suggestions... Best wishes Robert Quinney

That's very kind of you - I'm glad you've enjoyed the CDs. I will certainly post details of any forthcoming Christus performances, as and when they are organised.

I have indeed played Christus; in fact I learnt and played it at the same time as David Goode, in spring 2001. We compared notes at the time, and had both had the disconcerting experience of thinking we were sight-reading a page, only to discover some fingering lower down! The outer movements of the five can be played alone; they last c. 35 and 45 minutes respectively, and are both very challenging technically (the final 'Resurrectio' movement in particular). I have also played the central movement, which is the most narrative of the five, on its own - but in the context of a specific recital series focussed on the Passion. Guilmant, if you find Christus a little daunting (!) I suggest investigating Francis's 'Empyrean' Rhapsody (UMP), which is about 10 minutes long and very satisfying to play. The Toccata (Fand Music Press, and there is a recording of it somewhere in the Hyperion catalogue) is also a marvellous piece, useful for festal occasions and recitals. All music by Francis Pott is difficult to play! Jeremy Filsell's recording of Christus is the only one currently available (on Signum, recorded at St Peter's Eaton Square), but a recording was made (largely at the premiere in 1991) for Priory by Iain Simcock on the Grand Organ of Westminster Cathedral. That is the Christus instrument par excellence. Performances of Christus are few and far between, for obvious reasons. I'm hoping to play it more than once next year, however. Having learnt it it seems a shame (and extremely inefficient) not to perform it more than once! Robert Quinney