Autumn Shades Recital Series a Resounding Success at ChurchOrganWorld
The Autumn Shades series of organ recitals, led by renowned organist Professor Ian Tracey, brought together music lovers for a spectacular event on Saturday, October 5th, at ChurchOrganWorld in Shaw. Held across both the showroom and the adjacent Holy Trinity Church, the event attracted a large and enthusiastic audience.
The first recital, held in the showroom, introduced the latest Makin instruments, including the Rydal 2-25 and Derwent 4-68 models. Ian performed five carefully selected pieces, offering a full tonal exploration of the instruments. One highlight was Percy Whitlock’s Elegy (transcribed by Malcolm Riley), a beautiful and lesser-known piece that showcased the expressive, quiet registers typical of English organ design.
The second recital took place in Holy Trinity Church, where the Makin Thirlmere 2-30 has been installed for over a decade. Ian performed eight pieces, allowing the instrument to resonate in the church’s acoustics. The performance concluded with a lively rendition of Nicholas Choveaux’s Toccata, a crowd favorite that led to all available copies of the sheet music being sold out on the spot.
After a lunch break, during which attendees had the chance to browse over 2,000 organ music scores, Ian’s final recital featured the Johannus LiVE III AGO instrument. This set included five dynamic pieces, culminating in a powerful performance of Widor’s Allegro from his 6th Symphony, played using the Cavaillé-Coll organ from Notre-Dame d’Auteuil. The combination of digital innovation and rich, authentic organ sound left a lasting impression on the audience.
Dr. Keith Harrington, Managing Director of ChurchOrganWorld, expressed his delight with the event: “We love hosting events like Autumn Shades and Sounds of the Summer. Seeing our customers experience the power and beauty of digital organs for the first time is always a joy. It’s like watching a child in a candy store. Having bought my first Makin organ nearly 25 years ago, I can fully understand the emotions they feel when they hear these instruments.”
One attendee commented, “It was my first time at such an event, and it was worth the drive. Ian’s storytelling and incredible playing, combined with the warm atmosphere, made it a day to remember!
The Autumn Shades series was a resounding success, leaving both seasoned organ enthusiasts and newcomers eagerly anticipating future events at ChurchOrganWorld.