Organ Recital
The 2024 Cathedral Organ Recital Series welcomes first-rate organists to play Truro’s acclaimed Father Willis Organ. This week we welcome Martin Palmer. This recital will be live-streamed on this page at 13:10 and our YouTube channel
Programme
Fanfare by Lang
Chorale Prelude Schmücke dich, O liebe Seele BWV 654 by Bach
Prelude, Fugue & Variation by Franck
Chorale Prelude Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme BWV 645 by Bach
Finale from Symphonie VI by Widor
Bio
Over the past four decades, Martin has directed countless choral and chamber orchestra concerts, particularly in London and the South-West. Here in Cornwall he has built up a reputation for delivering dynamic and expressive performances, often in Truro Cathedral. When finances have permitted, he has also put on larger-scale works such as Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, Holst’s The Planet’s Suite, Verdi’s Requiem, Bizet’s Carmen and Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast. He is passionate about involving young people in his performances and hopes to instil in them a life-long love of music-making.
In his role as a musical director of staged musicals, he has enjoyed working with incredibly talented young casts and production teams, presenting many musicals. Probably the most memorable of which have been Les Misérables, West Side Story, Sweeney Tod and Guys & Dolls.
As a student in the 1980s, Martin was fortunate enough to study at London’s Royal Academy of Music with many amazing young performers and was exposed to numerous world class musicians and their music, not least, Sir Michael Tippet, Krzysztof Penderecki, Witold Lutoslawski, Peter Maxwell Davies, William Matthias, and organists Jean Langlais, Daniel Roth, Naji Hakim, Peter Hurford and David Sanger.
Simultaneously, Martin sang in the London Philharmonic Choir, performing regularly with the LPO at the Royal Festival Hall and in the BBC Proms, alongside the world’s top soloists and conductors, not least, Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Georg Solti, Klaus Tennstedt, Bernard Haitink and Franz Welser-Möst.
As a Director of Music in schools he has always been thrilled to witness his pupils’ successes, both as solo performers and as members of his bands, choirs and orchestras. He has guided nearly a thousand pupils through GCSE and A level music examinations and continues to follow their achievements in later life.
Martin has since retired from classroom teaching and now directs three prominent Cornish choirs, whilst working as a freelance organist. Last year he performed the Poulenc Organ Concerto in Truro Cathedral and Widor’s 6th Symphonie pour Orgue in Coventry Cathedral. Over the past two decades he has cherished collaborating with the inspiring musicians of Truro Cathedral and he now enjoys balancing his music-making alongside his running, cycling touring, sea swimming, language learning, building projects and eating of Maltesers.
Live-stream
The series runs from March to October and each recital lasts around 45 minutes. There is no charge to attend or listen to these concerts. We rely on your support to help with the cost of maintaining the cathedral’s famous Father Willis Organ. Keeping the cathedral’s musical instruments in first-rate condition enables us to put on such recitals.
To give regularly by Direct Debit, please use the Parish Giving Scheme Single donations can be made through Just Giving
Popular donations are £5/person