Jonathan Bielby will be retiring on Easter Day 2010 after 40 years as Organist and Director of Music at Wakefield Cathedral. He was appointed here in September 1970 and at the age of 25 was then the youngest Cathedral organist in the country; he is now the longest serving. He has worked with five bishops, three provosts, two deans and eight precentors and has steered the music of the Cathedral through forty years of exciting change and development.
The boys, girls and men of the Cathedral Choir have recorded a special CD as a tribute to Jonathan. It is called 40 Years at Wakefield and features many of the compositions that Jonathan has written over the years to mark important occasions in the life of the Cathedral. Some of the music recorded has been taken from the three printed volumes entitled 25 Years at Wakefield produced in 1995; some are more recent compositions. There is also music by other composers commissioned for the Cathedral by Jonathan – Kenneth Leighton, Andrew Carter, Philip Moore and Sean Farrell. The CD has been recorded during May and June this year. We are especially fortunate that Richard Sutcliffe, one of Jonathan’s old choristers and now a professional sound engineer in London, has masterminded the production of the CD.
In addition Jonathan has recorded a CD of his own organ compositions with Richard entitled The Organ Works of Jonathan Bielby. These range from 1987 to 2009 and include pieces dedicated to the Cathedral clergy, various choir parents and Francis Jackson. There is even a carillon based on the tower chimes in memoriam Kenneth Leighton! We have just completed a programme of essential repairs to the cathedral organ (totalling £65,000 over three years) and it is sounding magnificent! Jonathan also features the three stop chamber organ recently acquired by the Cathedral.
Any project like this requires substantial financing and we hope to cover our costs by inviting Jonathan’s friends to become subscribers. For a subscription of only £12 for one CD (or £20 for the two CDs) you would gain the following advantages:
The boys, girls and men of the Cathedral Choir have recorded a special CD as a tribute to Jonathan. It is called 40 Years at Wakefield and features many of the compositions that Jonathan has written over the years to mark important occasions in the life of the Cathedral. Some of the music recorded has been taken from the three printed volumes entitled 25 Years at Wakefield produced in 1995; some are more recent compositions. There is also music by other composers commissioned for the Cathedral by Jonathan – Kenneth Leighton, Andrew Carter, Philip Moore and Sean Farrell. The CD has been recorded during May and June this year. We are especially fortunate that Richard Sutcliffe, one of Jonathan’s old choristers and now a professional sound engineer in London, has masterminded the production of the CD.
In addition Jonathan has recorded a CD of his own organ compositions with Richard entitled The Organ Works of Jonathan Bielby. These range from 1987 to 2009 and include pieces dedicated to the Cathedral clergy, various choir parents and Francis Jackson. There is even a carillon based on the tower chimes in memoriam Kenneth Leighton! We have just completed a programme of essential repairs to the cathedral organ (totalling £65,000 over three years) and it is sounding magnificent! Jonathan also features the three stop chamber organ recently acquired by the Cathedral.
Any project like this requires substantial financing and we hope to cover our costs by inviting Jonathan’s friends to become subscribers. For a subscription of only £12 for one CD (or £20 for the two CDs) you would gain the following advantages:
a) You would be making possible the production of high quality CDs with full notes by Jonathan describing each piece and how it came to be composed.
b) You would have your name printed and commemorated in the accompanying notes of the CD insert.
c) You would be entitled to one CD (for £12) or two CDs (for £20).
If you would like to put on record Jonathan’s lifelong contribution to the musical life of Wakefield and West Yorkshire (let alone his contribution to many other aspects of church, organ and secular life), please do become a subscriber. Cheques should be made payable to Wakefield Cathedral Choir Association and sent to Pam O’Connell, Choir Association Treasurer, The Cathedral, Wakefield, West Yorkshire WF1 1HG. In order that we may ensure everyone’s name is listed on the insert, we would value your subscription by the end of September. The CDs will be available in the autumn. You will also be able to pay by credit and debit cards, or by PayPal by visiting this website shortly.
To register your interest in subscribing you could also send an email: subscribe@wakefieldcathedralchoir.org
We would particularly like to get in touch with Jonathan’s former boy choristers (about 220 in number) and the girl choristers (1992 onwards). For many choristers we have no up-to-date addresses, so please pass on these details to any fellow choristers who you think would be interested and ask them to contact Pam O’Connell.
To register your interest in subscribing you could also send an email: subscribe@wakefieldcathedralchoir.org
We would particularly like to get in touch with Jonathan’s former boy choristers (about 220 in number) and the girl choristers (1992 onwards). For many choristers we have no up-
40 YEARS AT WAKEFIELD
