Sunday 14 March

Martin Setchell

This concert is the first organ recital in the Waikanae Music Society’s 40 plus years. Christchurch city organist Martin Setchell was recently called ‘New Zealand’s most widely travelled concert organist’ since over the last 20 years he has performed in New Zealand, Australia, America, Canada, Europe, the UK and the Far East. Highlights include the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, the Hill organ in Sydney Town Hall, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, the Oriental Arts Centre in Shanghai, St Paul’s Cathedral, London and the Bergen International Festival in Norway.

Born and educated in England and awarded a Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists, he studied with Pierre Cochereau, Marie-Claire Alain, Piet Kee, and Peter Hurford. After teaching for over 40 years at the University of Canterbury, he is now a freelance performer, writer, music editor and conductor.

His programme will focus on major works from two great eras of organ music. The first half will feature German Baroque music including Bach’s monumental BWV 552 Prelude and Fugue (St Anne) and Walther’s transcription of a Vivaldi violin concerto. The second will include highlights from Romantic organ literature and French symphonic music written for the great Parisian churches like St Sulpice and Notre Dame.

Martin will be playing on the latest Rodgers organ – an incredibly sophisticated musical instrument. You will hear more than just one type of organ:  German Baroque sounds at Baroque pitch and with an authentic tuning in the first half, and French and German Romantic voicings in the second.