ORGAN HISTORICAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA
PLAYERS, PROGRAMMES &
PIPES
25TH ANNIVERSARY
CONFERENCE
LAUNCESTON & HOBART,
TASMANIA
29 September - 4 October
2002
The Organ Historical Trust of Australia is holding its 25th anniversary conference in the island state of Tasmania, to the south of the Australian mainland. The conference will be based in Launceston, in the north of the island, and Hobart, the capital, to the south. Both cities are attractively sited and have great charm, retaining a wealth of Victorian and Edwardian buildings.
The conference will consist of a number of recitals, some of which will focus upon programmes contemporary with the organs, together with the indigenous repertoire, much of great interest, but largely forgotten. A range of papers will be presented examining such topics as organ recording and broadcasting (with significant historic examples), recital programming (the repertoire versus transcription divide), organ conservation, archival research, reconstruction of historic organs, and far more! There will be an architectural walk around Launceston while in Hobart we will be visiting a major exhibition on the Australian work of Augustus Welby Pugin at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery to mark the 150th anniversary of his death.
The instruments themselves will be an important attraction. These include significant and intact examples of the early work of J.C. Bishop, Charles Brindley, Bevington & Sons, James Corps and J.W. Walker, together with the local organbuilders William Anderson, George Fincham and J.E. Dodd. The Brindley organ of 1860 at the Albert Hall, Launceston, with its Schulze-inspired choruses, is among the earliest examples of its builder's work to survive and of international significance. At each of the organ visits, there will be discussions relating to the history of the instrument, its builder and stylistic characteristics, and demonstrations based upon contemporary repertoire.
We will be delighted to welcome Stephen Bicknell as our keynote speaker and look forward to several fascinating and informative papers. This will be his first visit to Australia. The recitals will be given by several Australian organists of note including Sydney City Organist Robert Ampt, Sydney University Organist Amy Johansen, and David Hamnes, now resident in Norway.
PROGRAMME
SUMMARY
(details correct April 2002 but may be subject to
minor change)
Sunday 29 September
Registration at the Albert Hall (1.45 pm)
Afternoon recital at Albert Hall by Robert Ampt:
1860 opening recital programme of the Brindley organ, followed by organ tour
Conference dinner and Keynote Address by Stephen Bicknell
Monday 30 September
Conservation, Restoration
& Research: Seminar one at the Queen
Victoria Museum & Art Gallery Inveresk, including
papers and demonstration of the 'Port Arthur' organ
Architectural walk around inner Launceston
Twilight recital by Amy Johansen at Central
Baptist Church based upon programmes of renowned
organist Lilian Frost (organist here until 1895)
Tuesday 1 October
Organ teaching, repertoire,
recording & broadcasting: Seminar two at Sandors
on the Park, including papers on recording and radio broadcasting, programming
and composition followed by Annual General Meeting
Organs by Anderson, Bishop & Walker west of Launceston:
afternoon bus visit
Dinner at East Devonport
Wednesday 2 October
Organs by Corps, Dodd & Fincham in Launceston: morning
visit
Bus visit to 'Clarendon' (National Trust
mansion)
The documentation of Australian organ music and the Launceston
architect Alexander North: papers at St John's Church, Launceston
Twilight recital: Australian organ music at St John's
Thursday 3 October
Organs by Bevington, Bishop and Walker: all
day bus tour from Launceston to Hobart with catered
lunch at Campbell Town and Pugin church at Oatlands
Friday 4 October
Morning tour of Pugin exhibition at Tasmanian
Museum & Art Gallery with talk by Brian Andrews
Lunchtime recital on Walker organ at Hobart Town Hall by David Hamnes
Concluding event at Wurlitzer organ, St Michael's Collegiate School
For further details, including a copy of the conference brochure (available early May 2002), please email John Maidment at [email protected].