On Monday 16 February at 1pm we shall be enjoying a very special organ recital at Holy Trinity: Alex Flower will be playing a programme of music which he first learned between 2015 and 2018 when he was Holy Trinity organ scholar under the tutelage of Geoffrey Holroyde, who died in December last year. Alex is bringing this music to us to remember and honour Geoffrey's service to this church and in particular the 'Handel' organ. Join us to celebrate beautiful music in memory of Geoffrey. Bring your lunch, sit back - and enjoy.

Programme

Prélude, Fugue et Variation Op.18 - César Franck (1822-1890)

Vor deinen Thron tret ich hiermit BWV668 - JS Bach (1685-1750)

Organ Sonata No.6 in D minor, Op. 65 - Felix Mendelssohn (1809-
1847)

I - Chorale
II - Variation 1: Andante sostenuto
III - Variation 2
IV - Variation 3
V - Variation 4: Allegro molto
VI - Fuga: Sostenuto e legato
VII - Finale: Andante

Biography

Alex Flower is a freelance organist and teacher based in London. He is the Organist at St. George’s Cathedral Southwark, where he plays for the weekly schedule of services, and works with the children’s choirs and professional lay clerks. He is also the School Organist at Westminster School, where he teaches a cohort of keen young organists and plays for regular services in Westminster Abbey. He was an organ scholar at Worcester College, Oxford, and is a prizewinning recipient of both an MMus in jazz at the Guildhall School of Music, and a Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists. He regularly appears around London and further afield as a soloist, choral accompanist and continuo player.

For Geoffrey Holroyde (1928 - 2025)

Geoffrey was my organ teacher at Holy Trinity between 2015 and 2018. We first met at a concert Geoffrey gave on the newly restored 'Handel' organ; subsequently offered to teach me - once a fortnight when he was in Gosport to play for a service - and without charge.

Originally, I was determined to be a jazz saxophonist, but my path changed completely during these years. Geoffrey encouraged me to apply for a university organ scholarship, even accompanying me to an open day in Oxford when I was 17. During this time, we gave several recitals together at Holy Trinity. And in 2022, I was delighted to give a recital on Geoffrey's house-organ that has since been rehoused in St Martin's, Barcheston, a church near Geoffrey's home in Warwickshire.

Today's programme is dedicated to Geoffrey, to whom I owe a great debt of gratitude; importantly, it features music that I studied with Geoffrey here in this church and I play today in honour of his memory.