On Wednesday 23rd October we welcome Notes from an Organist: Lucy Morrell from Dulwich College for the eighth 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 playing music at Royal Weddings; playing a piece of music used at her wedding; and playing a recent recital for Black History Month.
Could you introduce yourself, how you got into music / become an organist and your musical journey to where you are today?
Music has always been a big part of my life. I began playing the piano at around the age of 5 before starting the violin a few years later. Growing up, I always enjoyed playing in lots of orchestras including in Kent County Youth Orchestra. I was a chorister at my local parish Church choir which is where I first got introduced to the organ before beginning lessons at the age of 14.
I read Music at Cambridge where I held the organ scholarship at Girton College and had some amazing experiences in my three years there, including playing for services in various cathedrals as well as going on unforgettable tours to Canada, Portugal and Israel. After Cambridge I spent a year as Organ Scholar at St George’s Windsor and had an incredible year learning lots and working with the amazing music team. Highlights included playing pre-service Music for a couple of Royal Weddings.
I then took up the position of Organ Scholar at St Mary’s, Warwick alongside working at King’s High School where I gained Qualified Teacher Status. This then led me to Dulwich College where I am now Head of Academic Music and College Organist. I balance my work at school with as much freelance organ playing as time allows and this includes playing weekly at HM Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace where I am the Deputy Sub-Organist.
What can people expect from your recital at Bradford Cathedral?
My recital at Bradford Cathedral is a programme of English Music spanning a wide time period. It is a mixture of music specifically composed for organ as well as some transcriptions of orchestral pieces.
Why do you enjoy playing the organ?
One of the things I love most about the organ is the vast array of different timbres you can produce. Each organ is totally unique, and I enjoy working with each instrument’s individual colour palette when registering pieces. I also love accompanying and working with a choir.
Do you have a particular favourite piece out of those you are playing?
I do particularly love Intrada by Grayston Ives. I first became aware of this piece when Luke Bond played it during my year at Windsor. I love the grandiose nature of it as well as the opportunity to showcase solo reeds of any organ. I actually chose this as the piece to walk down the aisle to at my wedding earlier this year!
What are your personal hopes or plans musically for the rest of 2024 and into 2025?
I am very much looking forward to playing at Leeds Cathedral on the 28th before getting into lots of wonderful Advent and Christmas music for a busy carol service season. Next year I am excited to be giving a recital at Bradford cathedral in April as well as getting stuck into learning lots of new repertoire.
You’ve run half-marathons and the virtual London Marathon. What do you most enjoy about running?
I really love running (and exercise more generally)! I’m running my next marathon in January which will be my 5th race of that distance. I love the sense of freedom it gives as well as the headspace. I also greatly enjoy powerlifting and hope to do some competitions one day!
Later this month you are playing a recital in Leeds Cathedral to mark Black History Month. How did you choose which four composers to play, and could you tell us something about them?
Last year, my husband was part of a recording of music by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor which led me to research into more of his music. I came across his set of Three Impromptu’s for Organ and was particularly struck by the lively nature of the third movement. Coleridge-Taylor was born in London in 1875. His father was from Sierra Leone and his mother was English. He was a chorister as a child at St George’s Presbyterian church and was a talented violinist. He later went onto study at the Royal College of Music and became a composer and conductor.
The other three composers were new to me when I was researching some other music to play at my recital. Robert A. Harris was born in 1938 in the USA and is a Music professor and conductor. He has written a number of choral pieces, including various commissions, and these have been performed widely across the world. The piece I am playing called ‘Solemn Processional’ was the first work he wrote for solo organ and was written for a wedding.
Thomas Kerr lived from 1915-1988 and worked as a Professor of Piano at Howard University. ‘Reverie for Celestes’ is a beautiful, atmospheric piece making the most of the string stops on the organ with some colourful harmonic writing.
The final composer I am playing works by is David Hurd who was born in 1950. He worked as organist at Duke University and later worked at Trinity Church, Wall Street in New York as well as All Saints Episcopal Church in New York. As well as a number of organ works, Hurd has written a large amount of choral music. ‘Passacaglia’ was written originally in 1966 but later revised in 2001. It features a 6 bar ground bass presented in the pedals with the piece gradually building throughout to a dramatic climax.
Finally, how would you sum up your upcoming recital at Bradford Cathedral?
A showcase of some wonderful English music!
You can join us on Wednesday 23rd October at 1pm to hear Lucy’s 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.