Rochdale Parish Church Organ recital – James Bowstead

James Bowstead

ORTOA (Oldham, Rochdale & Tameside Organists’ Association) continues to explore fine organs in its ‘patch’ whilst the Rochdale Town Hall organ is out of action due to extensive renovation. Following visits to neighbouring towns, it was back to St Chad’s, Rochdale Parish Church, on Saturday 28 January, which has a well-respected instrument.

Despite worries about the winter weather and heating problems in the church, several organ aficionados gathered to hear the guest soloist, Assistant Director of Music of Wakefield Cathedral, James Bowstead.

James plays the organ and directs the choir for daily services there, building on his experience as organ scholar at Jesus College, Oxford, followed by scholar posts in Berkshire, Fulham, and Peterborough Cathedral. He gained his FRCO (Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists) in 2018 and is also an active composer and arranger as well as musical director of St Peter’s Consort. So, the organ at St Chad’s was in capable hands.

His was a carefully crafted recital around Epiphany, with his own theological as well as musical introductions to the items.

The varied programme consisted of gems of the organ repertoire from the Baroque to the twentieth century all wonderfully played. Mendelssohn’s majestic Sonata No. 4 was ideally suited to the instrument, followed by Ireland’s reflective piece, The Holy Boy, which explored its expressive softer qualities.

Sandwiched between Buxtehude’s intricate preludes on epiphany hymn tunes, we had William Lloyd Webber’s Interlude on The Coventry Carol.

A tenuous link brought in Dvorak’s popular Largo from his New World Symphony (do you remember the Hovis advert?), which allowed the orchestral sounds to blossom.

Two essential chorale preludes by JS Bach led to Dubois’ delightful Fiat lux (Let there be light) a stunning virtuoso piece, all of which brightened the spirits of the devoted enthusiasts on a cold and dismal January afternoon.

Dr Joe Dawson