On Wednesday 27th November we welcome Thomas Moore from St Matthew’s Northampton for the twelfth recital of our 2024 autumn season. In this edition of ‘Notes from an Organist’ we discover more about them, and what to expect from their recital, including referencing the Christ the King date; playing at the Royal Maundy service here in 1997; and their love of fast cars!
Could you introduce yourself, how you got into music / become an organist and your musical journey to where you are today?
I have been fortunate to have enjoyed a career in music, largely as a liturgical organist and choir director. Much of the time since graduating I have spent in cathedral music, but I am now working in a parish, at St Matthew’s Northampton; a place with a very rich musical heritage. I was initially inspired by church music when I was a chorister in Leicester cathedral choir. It was at that time that I had already decided the sort of career path I would like to take, and have been fortunate to have been able to follow that path.
What can people expect from your recital at Bradford Cathedral?
I would hope that people can expect to hear the right notes played in an expressive and musical way. As well as that, people should expect to hear a wide tonal palette from the organ, and will learn a bit about each piece in my programme through my spoken introductions.
Why do you enjoy playing the organ?
I have always been struck by the vast range of colours and timbres one can get out of any given organ, and by the excitement and challenge of playing so many different instruments as a recitalist. No two performances of the same piece are ever the same when you cannot take your instrument with you. I also enjoy the technical demands of playing the organ, not to mention some of the funny things you encounter when playing instruments you have not come across before. Each organ has its delights and its challenges.
Do you have a particular favourite piece out of those you are playing?
No. I like all of the pieces I have chosen to play in today’s programme. I like the pieces for different reasons. Over the years I have accumulated a massive repertoire and am in a position whereby I don’t really play anything I don’t particularly like.
This season’s theme is ‘The Town Hall Organ (Secular and Concert Repertoire)’. How are you reflecting this in your programme?
The pieces in today’s programme fit this brief I was given. There is no music in the programme that has a specifically religious bent, although it is fair to say that a lot of the pieces could be heard in a church setting. In my eyes, I think the Lemare pieces and the Bourgeois Serenade are probably most representative of the town hall repertoire. I think I probably put in the Crown Imperial march partly as a nod towards the festival of Christ the King, so I suppose the liturgical year did play a part in my thoughts when planning the programme.
What are your hopes or plans musically for the rest of 2024 and into 2025?
I am content in doing my current jobs in the Midlands, whilst keeping a reasonably active freelance career going. These things, coupled with family life are plenty for me these days. I am enjoying the fact that my two young children are taking to music now, with both singing and playing instruments. I am keen to help them be successful musicians, so although that’s not really a plan specifically for me, it is nevertheless a musical hope I have for next year and well into the future.
You studied for a Master of the Arts postgraduate degree in performance studies – what was that course like?
I can’t remember much about the course to be honest. I was already working as a cathedral assistant organist by the time I started my MA, and I did the course part time over two years. It involved a lot of travelling, because I was working in East Anglia and studying in Huddersfield. I didn’t enjoy that aspect of those two years; undergraduate study was much more fun, and I remember more about those three years than I do about the postgraduate study. The BMus course at Huddersfield in those days was second to none. Brilliant facilities and inspiring lecturers.
You’ve played at two Royal Maundy services, including here in 1997. What are your memories of that day?
I have many memories of that day, and could write a lot about it. I was first to play that day, playing Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in G and Vierne’s Berceuse before the service. It was to me at that time utterly terrifying to be honest. The cathedral was jammed full of people from very early on in the morning, and the security was very tight. As organists, Martin Baker and I had probably the best view of what was going on, being raised above everyone in the organ loft. I recall HM Queen Elizabeth wore an orange outfit for her visit to Bradford. I also recall that I was told I had to buy a new suit for the occasion – which I still have and which still fits me well! The organ, unusually it has to be said, played up at the rehearsal the day before the service with a cipher on the positive flute. I remember Alan Horsey went nuts about it, and I was instructed to phone John Clough the organ builder and to get him over to Bradford pronto. I was invited to the reception at the deanery after the service, and did briefly speak to the Queen. I was briefed not to look directly at HM, and only to speak if I was spoken to. Finally, Maundy Thursday in 1997 was the day of my 21st birthday. A birthday never to forget really. After the royalty had gone, some people stayed on at the deanery, and I remember being given a crate of Boddingtons as a birthday present, which was opened on the spot. I think there was a sense of great relief and a degree of pride in what we had achieved that day, so everyone there was ready for a can.
You have an interest in cars and go racing; where have you been and what sort of races have you been involved in?
I have always taken great interest in cars, and have had a number of fast road cars – mainly BMWs. I currently have a Porsche 911 though. I have attended a number of international F1 races in Belgium, Germany and Hungary, as well as events in this country. Although I am a keen driver, I have never personally taken part in races. Maybe that is something I will pursue in retirement one day!
Finally, how would you sum up your upcoming recital at Bradford Cathedral?
Having served my first cathedral appointment at Bradford – as organ scholar in 1996/97 – I always look forward to coming back to the cathedral to play. I find the cathedral organ quite an inspiring instrument, and will hopefully do it justice in my playing. There should be a piece for everyone in the programme, and I’m looking forward to entertaining those who come, and to hopefully meeting a few old acquaintances.
You can join us on Wednesday 27th November at 1pm to hear Thomas’ organ recital, with an optional £4 buffet lunch beforehand at 12:30pm.
You can discover more about our organ recital season on our dedicated page.