Sean Montgomery plays live from Leeds Cathedral, in the second recital of the Festival.
Programme
Grand Choeur ‘Benedicamus Domino’ - Guy Weitz
Mein junges Leben hat ein End, SwWV 324 - Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
Prélude; Improvisation (Trois improvisations) - Nadia Boulanger
Fantasia and Fugue in G major - Hubert Parry
Sean Montgomery’s interest in the organ developed from regular church attendance during his formative years. Having started piano lessons at the age of five, his piano teacher eventually agreed that he could start the organ once he reached Grade 5 piano - not a moment too soon! His early studies included time with Richard Seal at Salisbury Cathedral before entering the Royal Academy of Music in 1986, where he continued his studies with Christopher Bowers-Broadbent (organ) and John Hall (composition).
Rather than pursue a life as a professional organist, Sean’s lifelong passion for electronic music led to a career with the Roland Corporation, a world leader in the design and manufacture of electronic musical instruments. Since leaving the Royal Academy, Sean has however held various church posts, including St John’s, Wolverhampton (1991-1994); St James the Greater, Leicester (1994-1995); and All Saints, Leamington Spa (1997-2007).
Sean moved to Hebden Bridge in late 2014. Instead of opting for a regular organist post, he enjoys the opportunity to stand in at various churches and cathedrals as and when required.
Leeds Cathedral’s organ was manufactured by one of the most eminent English organ builders, Norman and Beard, and was built specifically for the Cathedral in 1904. Following a period of around thirty years’ silence, Johannes Klais Orgelbau of Bonn were chosen to reconstruct and enlarge the instrument to serve the requirements of the restored Cathedral and new position of the choir. The organ was built in the Klais workshops, and transported to the Cathedral in July 2009 to complete the work in situ over a six-month period.
The project was supervised by Benjamin Saunders and the late David Sanger. The tonal style is English Edwardian, and so all the historic 1904 pipework has been carefully restored on its original chests, with new pipework matching the original materials and construction methods. The organ now has seven divisions, controlled from a four-manual console with 78 stops, and features a unique new system of allocating manual departments to keyboards (specification: www.dioceseofl....
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