For the traditional organist, it is enlightening to hear a musician from another music world talking about them and their instrument.
There is something reminiscent of the dark glamour of a computer genius about the organist, wrapped up in machinery
This from composer Tom Jenkinson, whose work as Squarepusher is about as far away from the classical genre as you can probably get, based around electronic sounds and virtuosic bass guitar. ‘There is a very tangible weight to the amount of technology around you in an organ performance, unlike any other acoustic instrument I have any experience of. I see the organist as immersed in technology much more than performers of other acoustic instruments and, despite its long history, it thus seems an eternally modern instrument.’
Tom Jenkinson has been working with organist James McVinnie on a collection of compositions, and the result of this collaboration is a new joint album, All Night Chroma. It features eight performances recorded over one night on the Royal Festival Hall’s Harrison & Harrison organ.
McVinnie has collaborated with many leading figures in new music, including Philip Glass and Nico Muhly, and has had several large-scale works dedicated to him. He comments ‘Tom’s music is technically challenging to realise, both in terms of playing the notes, but also fitting them to the rich and kaleidoscopic colours and timbres of the Royal Festival Hall organ. This instrument is a pinnacle of mid-century design which caused a sensation when it was first heard — it speaks with a clarity and freshness which makes it an ideal vehicle for this new music.’
Tom Jenkinson explains ‘There are aspects of writing for organ which I find comparable to writing music for electronics. I have tried to investigate the more subtle and otherworldly sonic aspects of the organ. In particular I find myself drawn to the flute stops which are not what facilitate the grander sonic characteristics of the instrument, but to my ear are amongst the sweetest and strangest tonal colours that any instrument can produce.’
For a taster, watch/listen to track Voix Celestes on YouTube.
James McVinnie and Tom Jenkinson announce
All Night Chroma
out 27th September 2019 on Warp Records
The compositions were commissioned by No-Nation with PRSF for Music and debuted as ‘The Secret Life of Organs’ in 2016 with a run of live dates in the UK supported by Arts Council England. The original pieces have since been revised to make up ‘All Night Chroma’.
feature image of Tom Jenkinson and James McVinnie by Donald Milne
