HAVPCD357 – 40 Years at Wakefield

The Wakefield Cathedral Choir consists of up to twenty boys, twenty girls and ten lay clerks, and undertakes a full programme of services, concerts, recordings, radio and TV appearances. There are six choral services each week – Parish Eucharist, Cathedral Eucharist and Evensong on Sunday and Evensong on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The Yorkshire Three Choirs Festival (boys and men) and the Yorkshire Cathedral Choirs Festival (girls and men) take place in October and March respectively.

The Cathedral has had only four Organists: Joseph Naylor (1888-1930), Newell Wallbank (1930-1946), Percy Saunders (1946-1970) and Jonathan Bielby (1970-2010). The formidable past record of Assistant Organists includes John Scott (organist of St Thomas’ Church, Fifth Avenue, New York), Peter Gould (organist of Derby Cathedral), Keith Wright ( assistant organist of Durham Cathedral), and Louise Marsh (director of the Girls’ Choir at Ely Cathedral).

Famous previous members of the Choir include the composer, Kenneth Leighton, and the former Archbishop of York, David Hope. The Cathedral Choir has done a tremendous job in promoting the city and diocese of Wakefield and the cause of English cathedral music. Besides appearing at many UK venues, the boys and men have visited Germany three times, the United States twice, France, Austria, Italy and Holland; the girls and men have sung in Sweden, the Rhineland and New York; and the men have made an enjoyable trip to Dublin.

Jonathan Bielby’s wonderful work at Wakefield has encompassed many facets. On his upcoming retirement he will leave a legacy in hearts and minds for generations to come. As a composer, he is pre-eminently practical, clear, concise and – perhaps most importantly – comprehensible. His works have often been in the form of personal gifts – and those who receive his Christmas Cards each year will be aware of that – or mindful of a particular Cathedral service or event.

He knows a good melody when he sees one, and many of his compositions contain a reassuring and yet refreshing ambience in which the themes seem inevitable, fluent and memorable. To have recordings of music composed by him will give great and continuing pleasure to us all for many years. As one of his oldest friends, I commend the enterprise to you whole-heartedly and with enthusiastic acclaim!
Dr Simon Lindley
Organist & Master of the Choristers, Leeds Parish Church, and Leeds City Organist

HAVPCD356 – The Organ Works of Jonathan Bielby

Jonathan Bielby was born in Oxford, and appointed Organ Scholar of St John’s College, Cambridge. He became Assistant Organist of Manchester Cathedral before his appointment as Organist of Wakefield Cathedral in 1970. Without substantial funding or endowment, Jonathan has built up the fine reputation of the Cathedral Choir, which regularly broadcasts on national radio and television. He is a sensitive composer who has written extensively for his choir and the organ. He has nurtured the careers of many choristers and organists; among his former choristers are David Hill, Roger Wright and John Scott.

Jonathan has also worked in Huddersfield at the Town Hall as Kirklees Borough Organist; and for 25 years in Leeds at the College of Music as a full-time lecturer. He master-minded the highly successful rebuilds of the Father Willis organ at Huddersfield and the five manual Compton at Wakefield. He has performed in many cathedrals, town halls and universities, both in Britain and abroad. He has recorded CDs for Priory at Huddersfield Town Hall (Romantic Organ Music of Yesteryear), Rochdale Town Hall (Complete Organ Music of John Ireland) and Huddersfield University.