Power & Glory:
Durufle Requiem / Wider Organ Mass:
Halifax Choral Society, David Houlder, Philip Tordoff, John Pryce Jones

Tickets available from Tourist Information Office, Piece Hall, Halifax or on the door on the night. Any other information: The two main pieces, the Requiem, Unmistakably French; the mix of plainsong and sensuous harmonies make this an incredibly emotional piece. The Widor Organ Mass - two organs, two choirs, it clearly HAS to be incredible from the outset. The Halifax Parish Church Organ is a very fine instrument. Having been rebuilt in 1928 using the best pipes from the original organ which dated back to 1766. The Organ Mass requires two organs. The organists are both renowned and possibly there has been a battle behind the scenes about who will play the main organ. The battle has been won by David Houlder as he is the accompanist for the Halifax Choral Society. Philip Tordoff will, in this piece, be playing the second (imported) organ, but there are solo organ pieces where both organists will show their undoubted expertise on the main organ. John Pryce-Jones, internationally renowned Conductor will be stretched holding the two organs and the divided choir together where space necessitates they be quite separated. He may have to employ some mirrors! It has been difficult for the Halifax Choral Society to source enough copies of the Widor Organ Mass which possibly means that it has not been performed locally with such a large choir for many years.