King's Lynn Festival moved to the coastal village of Thornham where Dr Gerald Gifford gave a recital of well-known pieces for the harpsichord, organ and chamber organ.
On Saturday, King's Lynn Festival moved to the coastal village of Thornham where local resident Dr Gerald Gifford gave a recital of well-known pieces for the harpsichord, organ and chamber organ.
Dr Gifford, a leading exponent of music of this period in addition to being a member of the professorial staff at London's Royal College of Music, introduced the programme in an informative and entertaining way.
The first half opened with Charpentier's Te Deum (prelude) known to everyone as the Eurovision signature tune and included works by Couperin, Purcell and Handel before concluding with Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor in which Dr Gifford's masterful technique drew from the humble church organ a rich sound.
The second half consisted mainly of works by lesser-known composers, several with a Spanish influence.
I have never experienced such tonal variation from a harpsichord, producing sheer delight.
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