West of England Theatre Organ Society

PRESS RELEASE

The Odeon cinema Weston - Super - Mare 11th. May 2003

To-day was a special day for the West of England Theatre Organ Society. It was the very first concert to be arranged by the new volunteer committee and was a great success.

Click on pictures to enlarge

The audience thrilled to the sounds of international concert organist PETER HAYWARD. Some superb arrangements of standards that may no longer be top of the pops but have become classics for the theatre organ, showed Peter's mastery -some truly magical music.

One member of the audience, himself learning the organ, took advantage of Peter's offer to play requests and requested "Tico Tico". - a much loved latin american number - as he was learning to play it himself and wanted a few tips from the master. We were, of course, then hit with another superb arrangement.

Concert Report LEN RAWLE at the Odeon Weston-Super-Mare ... 6th July 2003

		The concert was a triumphant return to Weston for Len. This was Len's chance to show just how much he had learned about the organ when he was involved in returning the organ to a playable condition some years ago. Len's intimate knowledge of the instrument became very apparent as the concert progressed and we were treated to many wonderful combinations of sounds, some of which were new to my ears. The choice of music illustrated the many instrumental sounds that the Compton is capable of and it was done with great panache and style. A request for marches from a member of the audience persuaded Len to have a chat with the person concerned who turned out to be a Bass Trombone player. This gave Len the chance to show off the drum section with brass accompaniment on the pedals. If it had been any less a player than Len this could have been a daunting task but Len took it all in his stride. The show included Minstrel music and some lush smoochy sounds as well as Jazz


		After the show Alice Richards of Weston - wife of Bill Richards the Resident Organist - was presented with flowers by Committee Member Edna Townsend ( also of Weston) in appreciation of the hospitality she provides for committee meetings at her house. Left to Right - Alice Richards, Judith Rawle and Committee Member, Marie Stanistreet.

Concert Report ... 2nd November 2003

DAVID REDFERN at the Odeon Weston-Super-Mare

		To-days concert at the 'Odeon' Weston-Super-Mare with DAVID REDFERN at the Compton Theatre Organ was superb. If audience enjoyment is a measure, then this concert deserves high praise. There was something for everybody; Marches using the drums and bells and chimes using the Glockenspiel, Xylophone and Cathedral Chimes chamber - the mechanics for this stop are very well placed on the Weston organ, possibly the best in the country - there were waltzes with a touch of Vienna. Gershwin and Jazz. Then there was "The Tales of Beatrix Potter" that showed a lot of thought in the arrangement. Toe tapping numbers and a few luxury standards in the lush ballad style were completed with a rendering of "Dizzy Fingers" as an encore from David's music examination days . Super stuff. Don't forget the Christmas concert on 14th December 2003. this is with Paul Kirner and should be a lively show with a bit of a 'Sing Song' and the Christmas Draw. Come and take a chance with a lucky number.

.
	.

Photographs are the copyright of P.G.Young but free of Reproduction Fee when used to advertise the Compton organ or further the preservation work done by WETOS