BATTLE OF THE ORGANS

On Wednesday 9th June 2010 our friends from Liverpool Cathedral joined us for the sixth annual Battle of the Organs. Professor Ian Tracey and Daniel Bishop joined the Leeds home team of Dr. Simon Lindley and David Houlder. The Church was packed despite especially inclement weather during the day.

David Houlder devised a varied and enjoyable programme, described by one concert goer as "the best battle yet". For the first time at one of our events the melodious music was supplemented with a digital camera and projector screen so the audience could enter into the "private"  world of the organist at the consul.

Highlights of the concert included film music by John Williams from Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan played by Daniel Bishop. Noel Rawsthorne's Hornpipe Humoresque brought a smile and laughter from the audience. David Houlder, our resident transport impresario, played his own arrangment Echoes of Steam.  A special and unannounced item featured our own "secret agent" "0113 LINDLEY ... SIMON LINDLEY, as a montage to the familiar Bond theme music arranged for three organs. The evening finished with a glorous rendition of Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry's Jerusalem.

The Battle of the Organs was promoted by The Friends of the Music of Leeds Parish Church - a charity dedicated to securing the future of almost 200 years of choral tradition at Leeds Parish Church. The successful evening raised over £3000 for the Choral Foundation Appeal. We are most grateful to Andy Andrews, a member of The Friends of the Music, for his generous sponsorship of the event, and to Makin Organs for providing the magnificent instruments. We look forward to seeing you in 2011 for Battle number seven!