Christmas Sparkle Organ Concert

Christmas Sparkle Organ Concert at Hereford Cathedral

Free admission with a retiring collection in support of Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust

 Christmas gets underway at Hereford Cathedral this weekend when Peter Dyke will perform his annual Christmas Sparkle Organ Concert on Saturday 30 November.

The lunchtime recital, which starts at 1.15 pm, features a selection of musical favourites for Advent and Christmas, played on the cathedral’s world-famous 4,000-pipe organ. Peter, who as Assistant Director of Music can be heard playing the organ for the cathedral’s daily services, will be visible to the audience on a large screen, and has promised that the organ console, with its four keyboards and 67 stops, will be festively decorated for the occasion.

This year’s programme will feature familiar items such as excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite and Virgil Fox’s arrangement of Silent Night, but Peter has some surprises in store too.

 Peter said “Christmas is a time of year when music becomes even more important than usual. The organ at Hereford Cathedral, built back in 1892, remains one of the best instruments in the country and you’ll hear some of its full range of colours while recognising some of our best-loved carols too. I look forward to this concert every year!”

The concert, which has become a firm favourite of the cathedral’s Christmas programme will take place on Saturday 30 November at 1.15pm. The concert is free to attend but there will be a retiring collection in aid of the Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust, which helps to support the major projects of the cathedral’s fabric, as well as its musical programme and the upkeep of the cathedral’s Father Willis organ.

Photo: Peter Dyke prepares for his Christmas Sparkle Concert c. Gordon Taylor