PROGRAMME NOTES
for Keith JOHN @WhiteCUBE, Shiroishi
Sunday 24^th August, 2003

 

KEITH JOHN

          Keith John was born in Gloucester where he was a chorister in the Cathedral Choir. His subsequent studies resulted in a scholarship at the Royal College of Music where his professors were Ralph Downes, Bernard Roberts and Ruth Gipps. An award by the Zürich Master Classes Foundation led him to study with Jean Guillou.

          His concerts include many aspects of organ music both familiar and unfamiliar. Some notable programmes have featured, for example: Bach in Budapest, Schmidt in Altenberg, Mussorgsky in London, Handel in Tampere, Kikta in Milwaukee, Elgar in Paris, Messiaen in Reykjavik, Tchaikovsky in Madrid. His own composition "Rhythmic Energy" (the conclusion of a 3 movement suite entitled "Time and Motion") has become an infamous recital tour de force. A particular interest in transcription has added several "masterworks" to the repertoire: Bach/Busoni Chaconne in D minor, Handel Water Music, Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition (UMP 1992), Schumann Toccata and Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet suite to name a few.

          Many of these works are recorded on some of Europe's finest instruments such as L'Eglise Chant d'Oiseau, Brussels (Priory PRCD 174) (MRA solo performance award); L'Eglise Notre Dame des Neiges, Alpe d'Huez (PRCD 235); The Tonhalle, Zürich (PRCD 262) and Gloucester Cathedral (PRCD 370) (Gramophone's Organ Record of the Year). When reviewing the CD from Helsinki's Kallio Church (PRCD 638), BBC Music Magazine described the distinctive organ as "capable, in the hands of an artist with the ingenuity of Keith John, of an astonishing variety of tone colours and blends. John's variations of registration are kaleidoscopic and his handling of this whole exploration of variation form is masterly." A CD of the exciting Rieger instrument in Fulda Cathedral, Germany (in Priory's Great European Organs series) has just been released.

Released to critical acclaim in March was a CD for Hyperion of Elgar's Sonata and Enigma Variations transcription. "It all comes across superbly on the fine organ of Temple Church, London" (Sunday Times); "the complex voicing and choice of registration is handled masterfully and imaginatively in a technically brilliant performance that employs the instrument's full range of colours and sonorities" (BBC Music magazine); "one gladly salutes Keith John for his virtuoso performances of his own transcription of Elgar's Enigma Variations and G major Sonata - a very fine achievement" (Gramophone). It received the accolade of Editor's Choice in both Cathedral Music and Organists' Review.