Press Release: June-July 2008 Australia-Asia-Europe Concert Tour Announced
FHFF 2008 Concert Tour Itinerary
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"Sonic Joy Doubles with Four Hands; Four Feet" - Review: 19th April 2007: Canberra Times, ACT, Australia; W.L. Hoffmann (Reviewer)
"I have heard a lot of organ performances over the years, but this was indeed something especially memorable..."
"The Wesley Organ is a fine instrument, but it has never sounded more sonorous...!"
"This was a recital as unusual as it was entertaining..."
"This Organ Duo from New Zealand provided a recital that was realised in playing that was confidently coordinated and certainly offering something different for lovers of organ music..."
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"Four Hands; Four Feet" - Classical CD Review
Looking for a collection of pops arranged by two performers for organ four hands? If so you will not go far wrong with this.
The big sound achieved in Dunedin Town Hall in front of an applauding audience is splendidly sumptuous. The two organists have the giant instrument capering with an agility that in large part belies its forbidding mass of pipes, manuals and stops along with an array of novelty percussion.
The exhilarating blast and speed of The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba is tempered by the awkwardness of getting such a colossus to move at such a speed. Two Bach favourites cool the passions before Guilmant's Cantilène Pastorale with its nicely tiered dynamics and reedy sentimentality. The tripartite Psalm Sonata in D minor for Two Organs by Merkel returns us to massive statements of rib-reverberating grandeur. It can be compared with the giant oratory for organ by Liszt and Reubke although there is some reflective respite in the adagio.
The Ride of the Valkyries bids fair to bring the house down. The crushingly powered arrangement spares no-one and includes some superb 'howls' along the way.
This is quite a winning disc.... they continue a noble 19th and 20th century calling that only bloodless purists will object to. As for the rest of you who crave a mix of stunning pops, stunningly recorded, look no further.
Heck, is that the Tracey Brothers on the cover? Never knew they were so musical. FAB. Sandy Shaw eat your heart out!
Rob Barnett; Classical CD Review
CD Review: Organist's Review, UK
Organists Review UK
CD Review: Classic FM Magazine UK
Classic FM review
CD Review: Australian Organ Society
Australian Organ Society
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"Double Treat for Audiences"
Reviewer - Harry Brown M.B.E.
Monday, September 25, 2006: George Mason Charitable Trust Concert: Pro-Cathedral, New Plymouth
"WHAT a delight on Wednesday last to see an audience of around 300 for the Four Hands; Four Feet! organ recital in St Mary's Cathedral, presented by Concert Organ Duo of Nicholas Grigsby & Max Kenworthy.
The George Mason Charitable Trust normally attracts between 60 and 100
listeners but the popularity of the programme and the novel combination doubled that, rewarding them with a
thrilling evening of music full of dash and showmanship.
There were popular classics for the serious listener, like the Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, a Schumann canon and Bach's Air on the G string, but the ovations were saved for the concert showstoppers.
Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries: As a former Serviceman I served two years in the Parachute Brigade and that wonderful tune is our regimental march.
Praise for St Mary's organ is due. One had to have, a tremble or two at the sheer output and, taxing of its machinery. I have played it "flat out" many a time, but with four hands and four feet, the load is doubled and it turned up trumps and thus has a new
W.O.F. (Wonderful Organ Feats).
The rich solo sonorities of the Cathedral Organ shone particularly in the work we heard especially composed for the combination by Gustav Merkel. Its beautiful slow movement demonstrated the magnificent orchestral-toned pipes with solos on oboe, flute, clarinet and clarabella all with string accompaniment.
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"Instead of the usual brilliant young organist, we got TWO for the price of one with the "Four Hands, Four Feet" programme from Nicholas Grigsby, and Max Kenworthy. The pair played a really well-crafted programme including Merkel's mighty Duo Sonata in D minor and Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries. Wow!" |
