Lunchtime Recitalist - STEVE BOWEY ARCO
Modified 16 March 2008

Click on picture to ENLARGE

Steve Bowey

In 1991 Steven was appointed accompanist of the Cromwell Singers and then in   September 1993 became their Musical Director. He also held the position of Director of Music at  St. Mary’s, Shaw-cum-Donnington, from January 1992 until June 1995. During that time he gave a number of organ recitals and accompanied many choirs including the Douai Choral Society in Newbury, the Downland Chorale in Surrey, and the RSCM Southern Cathedral  singers at Dorchester Abbey

In June 1995 an opportunity at work took Steven  to live in Holland  for 18 months. He returned to Newbury at the beginning of 1997 where he once again became involved in the musical life of Newbury .

In addition to being Organist at St Mary’s, Shaw-cum-Donnington, he is often called on by local choirs to accompany concerts and workshops. He has also worked with choirs in France and Belgium and given recitals in Newbury, Thaxted, Caterham, and Manchester  and is a regular performer in the Newbury and District Organists Association lunchtime recital series. In 2001 he was appointed Musical Director of the Sandham Singers.

May 2006

Organ Recital given by Steven Bowey
Thursday 12th November 1998
PROGRAMME
Chorale Prelude: "Wachet Auf"  -  J.S. Bach
Les Bergers  -  Messiaen
(from La Nativite Du Seigneur)
Variations: Sur un Noël  -  Dupres
Pensieri Profondi  -  Setter
(from Sonata No. 1 in G minor, 2nd movement)
Concert Overture in C minor  -  Hollins

An organ recital by Steven Bowey is always an occasion to be relished and the 12th November 1998 Thursday's lunch time concert in Newbury Parish Church proved no exception.
    The programme began with Bach's Chorale Prelude "Wachet Auf". It received a sparkling performance with nicely sprung rhythms and a well judged choice of registration..
     No contrast could be greater than the music of Messiaen. We heard Les Bergers from "La Nativité du Seigneur".  Olivier Messiaen was an intensely spiritual man who expressed his Christian faith through a very individual musica style. La Nativité du Seigneur dates from 1935. It comprises nine Christmas scenes. This performance of the movement called Les Bergers (The Shepherds) caught the atmosphere most movingly.
     Marcel Dupré's Variations on un Noël employs such exhilarating writing that, to quote Robert Wallace, it leaves the listener breathless with admiration for both composer and performer. The ten variations on an old French carol combine modern harmonies with canonic and fugal writing. Steven Bowey's performance was absolutely brilliant.
    Brian Setter's Sonata No 1 was completed this year and from it we heard the second movement (Pensieri Profondi). In traditional style, it is elegiac and beautiful with a contrasting, cadenza like middle section.    Steven Bowey is to play the whole sonata in Manchester next year and we look forward to listening to a complete performance in Newbury soon.
    Finally, we heard Alfred Hollin's Concert Overture in C minor. Hollins is one those fine composers whose music is unjustly neglected.   A slow introduction was followed by a lively allegro.  Then came a cantabile middle section before the final flourish.  Hollins has been called the Eric Coates of the organ. I was reminded more of Mendelssöhn with a touch of Lefèbure-Wély at the end.
     A most satisfying recital.

SAAK
15/11/98

Organ Recital given by Steven Bowey
Saturday, 25th April, 1998
PROGRAMME
Toccata  -  Albert Renaud
From 24 Pièces en style libre - Louis Vierne
Berceuse
Scherzetto
From La Nativité - Olivier Messiaen
Les Anges
Jésus Accepte la Souffrance
La Cygne Camille - Saint-Saëns (Transcribed by A. Guilmant)
March (on a theme by Handel) - Alexandre Guilmant
Symphony No.5 (Opus 42, No. 5) - Charles Marie Widor
i) Allegro Vivace
ii) Allegro Cantabile
iii) Andantino quasi sllegretto
iv) Adagio
v) Allegro (Toccata)

Home Page

Index

Next Recitalist

About Us 

Membership Classes 

Lunchtime Recitals

Message from the Chairman

Evening Recitals

Lunchtime Recitalists

Past Events

Local Organs

For further information please E-mail Us.