Concert on 10th March 2025

John Keys (Nottingham City Organist)

Charles Villiers Stanford: Marcia Eroica
Henri Mulet: ​Rosace (Esquisses Byzantines)
Eugène Gigout: Menuetto
Charles-Marie Widor: Allegro Vivace, Adagio, Toccata (Symphonie V)

John Keys

John begins our 2025 season rousingly with Stanford’s Marcia Eroica, one of his last compositions but redolent of the grand ceremonies at Cambridge University which he witnessed there.   Following this we move to Paris for Mulet’s magical evocation of the stained glass in the Sacré-Coeur, before we recall two giants of the organ world who both served for sixty-four years at their respective consoles.   Gigout’s Menuetto acts as a light foil for three movements of Widor’s fifth symphony:  its opening Allegro Vivace, redolent as is so much of the organ literature of the period of the music of Schumann, and a devout Adagio, and then probably  the most popular piece of organ music ever written.   Yes, there is another contender, but at least we know with certainty who wrote Widor’s Toccata!

The concert runs from 1.10pm to 1.55pm. Admission £5 at the door, or book online. Feel free to bring your own lunch.

Online booking

John Keys, an Honorary Fellow of the Guild of Church Musicians, has been Director of Music at St Mary’s Church, Nottingham since 1984, and has fostered a flourishing musical life in the Church, as well as following an independent career as solo organist, continuo player, accompanist and conductor. He is also Nottingham City Organist, Nottingham University Organist and Vice Chairman of the Nottingham Albert Hall Binns Organ Trust.

Born and educated in Chester, John obtained the Diplomas of the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music in organ playing while still at school. After A-levels he was assistant organist at Chester Cathedral for nearly three years before going up to New College Oxford as Organ Scholar.

After graduating in 1981 he went to Geneva to complete his organ studies at the Conservatoire with Lionel Rogg, where he won several prizes. In 1984 he won First Prize at the Fourth Manchester International Organ Competition.

John has produced many recordings of pieces, and also one of the world’s largest collection of organ hymn accompaniments.

He has played in France, Germany, Italy, Holland, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Sweden, Gibraltar, Ukraine, Switzerland, Malta, the USA and Australia, as well as widely in the British Isles. He has appeared as organist, accompanist, continuo player and conductor on Radio Suisse Romande, Télévision de La Suisse Romande, Netherlands Radio, Radio France and for the BBC.

www.John-Keys.co