Wednesday 19 March 2025 at 1PM
Legends & Landscapes for Piano Duet
Performed by Theo Maher-Williams and Saul Knights
Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847)
The Hebrides Overture (“Fingal’s Cave”), Op. 26
Edvard Grieg (1843–1907)
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46
- Morgenstemning (Morning Mood)
- Åses død (The Death of Åse)
III. Anitras dans (Anitra’s Dance)
- I Dovregubbens hall (In the Hall of the Mountain King)
Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904)
Selections from Slavonic Dances, Op. 46
Theo Maher-Williams is the current Pilling Trust Organ Scholar for the 2024-2025 season at St Ann’s Church, Manchester and is studying composition for his degree.
Saul Knights was formerly Organ Scholar of Manchester Cathedral (2019–20), where he regularly accompanied services, worked with the voluntary choir, and helped train the choristers. He was an organist at Pembroke College under Anna Lapwood, as well as being Organ Scholar at St Botolph’s Church in central Cambridge, under Timothy Brown and later interim Director of Music there. He also served as Assistant Director of Music and répétiteur for the Cambridge Symphony Chorus, regularly accompanying the choir in large-scale performances as well as being in demand as a collaborative pianist for solo recitals and masterclasses. As a singer, Saul worked as an associate lay clerk at Peterborough Cathedral and sung with the Cambridge University Chamber Choir. Saul returned to Manchester as Organ Scholar at St Ann’s Church, Manchester.
Upcoming lunchtime organ recitals and concerts
The next Organ Recital is on Wed 26th March 2025 and will be played by Gary Hulme. The next RNCM recital will be on Wed 2nd April 2025. You are also welcome to attend our regular services: Sunday 9.00: Said Eucharist (BCP), Sunday 10.45: Sung Eucharist, Sunday 17.00: Evensong, Tuesday and Thursday 12:15: Said Eucharist.
Composer Biographies
Felix Mendelssohn made his debut in Berlin at the age of 9. He joined the Singakademie music academy, composing a violin sonata, two piano sonatas, several songs, a quartet for men’s voices, a cantata, and a short opera. He composed his Piano Quartet in C Minor in 1822. Mendelssohn’s fame spread beyond Germany, and in 1829, he conducted a concert for the London Philharmonic Society. He also made a trip to Scotland, where he started composing his Symphony No. 3, also known as the Scottish Symphony. In 1835, Mendelssohn became director of the Gewandhaus concerts in Leipzig. Under his leadership, Leipzig became a significant musical centre in Germany. He conducted many concerts featuring contemporary compositions and masterpieces of the Renaissance and early baroque choral music. In 1843, Mendelssohn founded the Leipzig Conservatory of Music, the first of its kind in Germany. He completed major works like the Scottish Symphony and the Violin Concerto during his tenure in Leipzig. Mendelssohn’s health began to deteriorate in 1844. The sudden death of his beloved sister, Fanny, in 1847 devastated him and worsened his health. He died in Leipzig on November 4, 1847. Mendelssohn’s impact on the music world is undeniable. As one of the first significant Romantic composers of the 1800s, he left an indelible mark on the music world.
Edvard Grieg was born in Bergen, Norway. His musical journey began at the age of six, under the tutelage of Gesine Judithe Hagerup, his mother, and a skilled music teacher. Grieg’s parents recognized his musical talent early on, and Grieg was enrolled in the Leipzig Conservatory in 1858. This played a pivotal role in shaping his musical style. He was deeply influenced by the Romantic era music tradition, especially the works of composers like Mendelssohn and Schumann. However, Grieg contracted a lung disease in the Conservatory, leaving him with a damaged lung that would plague him for the rest of his life.
In 1868, Grieg received a testimonial from the world-renowned composer and pianist Franz Liszt, which led to Grieg obtaining a travel grant from the Norwegian government. This grant enabled Grieg to meet Liszt in Rome in 1870, a meeting that left a lasting impact on both composers. Liszt was deeply impressed with Grieg’s Violin Sonata No. 1 and even performed one of Grieg’s piano pieces in Rome. Grieg’s deep love for his homeland is evident in his music, which often incorporates Norwegian folk tunes and dances. His compositions played a crucial role in developing a Norwegian national identity in music, much like Jean Sibelius in Finland and Bedřich Smetana in Bohemia. His music brought worldwide fame to Norway and continues to be part of the standard classical repertoire worldwide. Grieg’s body of work is diverse and extensive, ranging from piano concertos to choral, vocal, and chamber works. His piano concertos, particularly the Piano Concerto in A minor, are celebrated worldwide for their melodic beauty and innovative harmonies. His incidental music for Henrik Ibsen’s play “Peer Gynt“, which includes the famous excerpt “In the Hall of the Mountain King,” is another testament to his musical genius.
Antonín Dvořák was born on September 8, 1841, in Nelahozeves, Czech Republic. Dvořák showed an early interest in music and began playing the violin at a young age. He later studied composition and organ at the Prague Organ School, where he honed his skills as a musician. Dvořák’s musical career took off when he won the Austrian State Stipendium in 1874. This recognition allowed him to focus on composing full-time and led to various commissions from prestigious orchestras and ensembles. His compositions showcased his mastery of traditional forms and melodies, as well as his use of folk elements from his native Czech Republic. Dvořák’s most famous works include his Symphony No. 9 “From the New World,” his Slavonic Dances, and his Cello Concerto in B minor. These pieces demonstrate his ability to combine rich harmonies and emotional depth with elements of Czech folk music. He served as the director of the National Conservatory of Music in New York City from 1892 to 1895, where he influenced a new generation of American composers.
