Neale Agnew will give the March recital in the Theo Saunders Memorial Organ Recital Series on Sunday 12 March 2017 at 4.15pm in St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh.
From a young age, Neale has been involved in every aspect of choral music, as a singer, conductor, accompanist and organ soloist. His passion for church music began when a chorister in First Presbyterian Church, Bangor at eight years of age. Today he is Director of Music in Fisherwick Presbyterian Church, Belfast and has held that post since 2005.
As a primary school teacher, Neale is keen to involve young people in music-making and to promote high standards of performance in church music and worship. He has worked with many of Ulster’s leading choirs and choral societies and his interest in liturgical music has given him opportunities to perform at venues throughout Ireland, in England, Germany, Austria and in the USA.
Neale is a Past President of the Ulster Society of Organists and Choirmasters and is on the Advisory Committee of the Incorporated Association of Organists.
Speaking of his choice of programme for the Armagh recital, Neale mentioned three composers in particular. “Although perhaps less familiar to many local audiences, the Danish-German organist, violinist and composer Nicholaus Bruhns was a giant of North German Baroque music. He studied with Dietrich Buxtehude who regarded him as his best pupil. The Praeludium in E Minor is a concise but eventful work, the high-spirited pedal solo and exuberant opening chords illustrating the composer’s energy and temperament.
By contrast, O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß, (O man, bewail thy sins so great), is a beautiful chorale prelude setting by J S Bach, based on the Lutheran passion hymn which seems suitable for this season of Lent.
Alfred Hollins was blind from birth, but became a well-known organ recitalist, spending much of his life in Edinburgh. In 1901, he gave the opening recital on the Walker organ in Fisherwick church Belfast, where I am currently Director of Music.”
The Dean of Armagh, the Very Revd Gregory Dunstan said, “It was in Fisherwick that I heard some of the best congregational singing in my life! It will be a great pleasure to welcome Neale to Armagh, and to hear a programme ranging from the great north German Baroque to the closer to home and more contemporary.”
As with all the recitals in this series, admission is free. The retiring collection will go towards the cost of a new piano for the Cathedral Choir’s rehearsal room.
For further information, please contact:
St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral: Tel. 028 37523142