Conversations
With a Great Dame

…a visit with world-travelling New-Zealand-born British recitalist and teacher Dame Gillian Weir.

Program Broadcast dates:

• Week of March 24, 2008

Links and Resources:

• Printable program listings

Audio Interviews:

Dame Gillian Weir comments on a variety of topics:

• ...how she first became involved with the pipe organ
• ...what it takes to be a musician
• ...the challenges of international travel in the 21st century, and its effect on her desire to perform
• ...the recent restoration of the Willis-Harrison-Mander organ at London's Royal Albert Hall
• ...the contributions of her late husband, Lawrence Phelps, to the 20th century organ scene

Concert Appearances

Dame Gillian’s current performance activity.

Music played in the program

 

Part I

J. S. BACH: Prelude in b, S. 544; Chorale-prelude, Komm, Gott, Schöpfer, heiliger Geist, S. 667 – Gillian Weir (2000 Woehl/St. Thomas Church, Leipzig, Germany) Priory CD-800

BACH: Toccata in d, S. 565 –Gillian Weir (1738 Müller/St. Bavo Church, Haarlem, Netherlands) BBC CD-678

ENRICO BOSSI: Scherzo in g, Op. 49 –Gillian Weir (1969 Aeolian-Skinner/Uihlein Hall, Milwaukee, WI) Koss CD-1013

Part II

JEAN-FRANÇOIS DANDRIEU: Noel, Ou s’eu vont. CHARLES IVES: Variations on America –Gillian Weir (1954 Harrison & Harrison/Royal Festival Hall, London) Priory CD-866

JAN PIETERSZOON SWEELINCK: Variations on Mein junges Leben hat ein End –Gillian Weir (1974 Phelps/Hexham Abbey, England) Argo 460190

HENRI MULET: Toccata, Tue es petra, from Byzantine Sketches –Gillian Weir (1974 Phelps/Hexham Abbey, England) Argo 460189

Part III

OLIVIER MESSIAEN: Les Eaux de Grâce and Joie et Clarté des Corps Glorieux, from Les Corps Glorieux –Gillian Weir (1983 Frobenius/Århus Cathedral, Denmark) Priory CD-923

EDWARD ELGAR: Pomp & Circumstances March No. 1 in D –Gillian Weir (1871 Willis-1924 Harrison-2004 Mander/Royal Albert Hall, London) Priory CD-859

BACH: Fugue in b, S. 544 –Gillian Weir (2000 Woehl/St. Thomas Church, Leipzig, Germany) Priory CD-800

Filler – BACH: Prelude in b (see above)

 

Dame Gillian will be appearing in a spring tour of the United States between March 30 and April 15, 2008, with concerts in Florida, Virginia, Washington, DC, Philadelphia (Verizon Hall) and Newton, North Carolina.