David Halls, Salisbury Cathedral’s Director of Music, gives the second recital in this year’s organ recital series on the Cathedral’s Famous Father Willis organ on Wednesday, April 30, at 7.30pm.

He will be performing the exciting programme he recently recorded with Priory Records on the organ at St Wilfrid’s Church, Harrogate, where he had been Assistant Organist for a few years before attending university. It includes works by English, French, German and Spanish composers dating from the 17th century through to the present day.

The recital opens with Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s catchy Prelude to his setting of the Te Deum – used for many years as the opening music for the Eurovision Song Contest! - this arrangement showcases the organ’s thrilling 8 foot Tuba stop. It’s followed by Bach’s magnificent Prelude and Fugue in B minor BWV 544.

Two pieces by the little known English composer Ernest Farrar feature, Elegy and A Wedding Piece Op 18. Hear Josef Rheinberger’s turbulent Sonata No. 6 Op. 119 in E flat minor and Jacques Charpentier’s Prelude L’Ange à la Trompette, a 9-minute toccata-like work.

David is also to play Jesús Guridi’s little known but powerful Triptico del Buen Pastor (Triptych of the Good Shepherd) which won first prize in the competition organised for the dedication of the organ in the cathedral at San Sebastián.

The recital is brought to an end with David Halls’ March Sound the Trumpet written in 2010, very much in the English tradition and providing another chance for the 8 foot Willis Solo Tuba to be heard.

David Halls said: “I’d sum up my choice of music with one word; variety. I always prefer recitals and CDs which give the performer the chance to explore different styles of music and also to reveal some of the organ’s more unusual sounds.

"There is also a vague thread of trumpets going through some of the pieces as both St Wilfrid’s Church and Salisbury Cathedral contain wonderful solo reeds. Most importantly, I hope there is something for everyone to enjoy!”

Tickets, price £8, are available online from www.salisburycathedral.org.uk and at the door.

Salisbury Cathedral Organ Recital series presents a recital once a month from April to October on Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm. See the website for details.