Recitals at the Regatta
Date: All week
Time: 11.55
Time: 11.55
In the late 1980s the Organ Club came to South Devon for 2 or 3 days and played many organs in the area including several in Torquay. They pronounced the organ in St Saviour’s the best in the area and that it had lived up to its promise.
Some time later, three organists from the Exeter and District Organists Association (their names are lost) came to Dartmouth and played the organ. Brian Edgington was the incumbent organist and enjoyed showing them the splendid Paul Mitcheau instrument built in 1789 and let them play it. The four of them agreed that it would be fun to have some recitals and Brian suggested that the best time of year to do so would be during the Regatta. This was not a universally shared dream with the then vicar John Butler saying that he did not think it would work as people came to the Regatta for the events on the water and the Red Arrows. There was no money for the organists and Brian worked hard to publicise the recitals including notices on the church door, the Regatta brochure and local press. Numbers were small at first but grew over the years. Over time more and more organists lent their support to the project, including Andrew Millington from Guildford Cathedral (and later Exeter Cathedral).
Some time later, three organists from the Exeter and District Organists Association (their names are lost) came to Dartmouth and played the organ. Brian Edgington was the incumbent organist and enjoyed showing them the splendid Paul Mitcheau instrument built in 1789 and let them play it. The four of them agreed that it would be fun to have some recitals and Brian suggested that the best time of year to do so would be during the Regatta. This was not a universally shared dream with the then vicar John Butler saying that he did not think it would work as people came to the Regatta for the events on the water and the Red Arrows. There was no money for the organists and Brian worked hard to publicise the recitals including notices on the church door, the Regatta brochure and local press. Numbers were small at first but grew over the years. Over time more and more organists lent their support to the project, including Andrew Millington from Guildford Cathedral (and later Exeter Cathedral).
Brian became Mayor of Dartmouth in 1990 and their prominence gradually grew though he was unable to introduce the Recitals in those years due to mayoralty duties.The organ was originally built for the gallery but just over a century later was moved to its present location in the east end of the Church in c1889. There remains the hope that it will be restored to its original site.
The recitals began as being purely organ recitals but have evolved to include choirs, soloists, violinists and singers though the organ remains a key part.
Final details of recitalists and the days on which they will perform will be published from the beginning of August. All recitals commence at 11.55 a.m. and are for one hour's duration. Entry is free: retiring collection in aid of music charities.
The recitals began as being purely organ recitals but have evolved to include choirs, soloists, violinists and singers though the organ remains a key part.
Final details of recitalists and the days on which they will perform will be published from the beginning of August. All recitals commence at 11.55 a.m. and are for one hour's duration. Entry is free: retiring collection in aid of music charities.
