On Wednesday 29th January we welcome David Cowen from Leicester Cathedral to Bradford for the third recital of 2025. In this edition of ‘Notes from an Organist’ we discover more about them, and what to expect from their recital, including studying music in Paris; touring Brazil; and playing with the Band of the Grenadier Guards.
Could you introduce yourself, how you got into music / become an organist and your musical journey to where you are today?
I’m the Organist of Leicester Cathedral, where I play the organ for most of the services sung by the Cathedral Choir. Listening to an LP of 18th century music from Hexham Abbey, an organ I heard each Sunday as a child, made me want to study the organ. I initially studied with Tim Hone at Newcastle Cathedral and then with Stephen Farr in Oxford, Colin Walsh, and later Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin in Paris.
I also teach piano and organ in schools with dynamic music departments: Loughborough Schools Foundation (an All Steinway School), English Martyrs’ Catholic School (a state school with a successful organ scholarship programme), and Charnwood College in Loughborough, which has a very new but thriving music department.
What can people expect from your recital at Bradford Cathedral?
The music will be at times dramatic and there will also be beautiful melodies and music for reflection.
Why do you enjoy playing the organ?
I enjoy the variety of colour available on organ which enables the player to create atmosphere.
Do you have a particular favourite piece out of those you are playing?
I enjoy all the pieces in today’s programme equally. Music gathers meaning through time as pieces are associated with memories of emotions, sounds and places and this is a very personal thing. Each listener will come with their own experiences and perspectives and therefore can make the music their own in some way.
This season’s theme is ‘Music in Times of War’. How are you reflecting this in your programme?
The second piece (Virgo Mater by Marcel Dupré) is one of a number of pieces by various composers that are dedicated to the memory of the organist and composer Jehan Alain who was killed in action on 20 June 1940.
What are your hopes or plans musically for 2025?
I am currently revisiting some of Messiaen’s great organ cycles. I grew up in small town in Northumberland and amongst the recordings in its tiny library was (surprisingly) an LP of La Nativité du Seigneur, so Messiaen’s music has been part of my musical journey from the start. I’m also planning to record some improvisations at Leicester Cathedral which has recently reopened after extensive refurbishment.
You have studied music in Paris; could you tell us a little more about that?
One of the small number of organ recordings I had as child was of the great organ in St Sulpice, Paris. I love the sound of that instrument and later had the opportunity to study improvisation with one of the organists of that church, Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin. I have also played for services in St Sulpice several times. It was a wonderful to spend so many hours getting to know that instrument, as both a player and listener, and to absorb something of the St Sulpice tradition of performance and improvisation which goes back to Widor and Dupré.
You toured Brazil with the Wells Cathedral Choir. What was that experience like?|
The tour of Brazil was a busy concert tour with a lot of travelling between venues but there was also some time for sight seeing and experiencing various cities. A strange mix of performing European Christmas music, in between visiting places like Copacabana beach, Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf mountain!
You’ve previously performed with the Band of the Grenadier Guards – was that interesting to be involved in?
Two of my uncles were clarinettists in the army so I was pleased to be invited to play with the Band of the Grenadier Guards. We played part of Saint-Saëns ‘Organ’ Symphony in Leicester’s wonderful De Montfort Hall. It was quite different from playing that piece with a symphony orchestra, both in the way the organ balanced with the Band and in the playing style. They were very welcoming and so good at connecting with the audience – it was a real pleasure to work with them!
Finally, how would you sum up your upcoming recital at Bradford Cathedral?
A postcard from Paris.
You can join us on Wednesday 29th January at 1pm to hear David’s organ recital, with an optional £4 buffet lunch beforehand at 12:30pm. You can find out more on Leicester Cathedral’s YouTube channel.
You can discover more about our organ recital season on our dedicated page.