ORGAN RECITAL FOR ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS
By Ben Giddens

We have missed our Friday organ recitals during the pandemic but are delighted that Ben has been able to come into church to record this special recital for Advent and Christmas. Please do support our ministry by making a donation online at this link

Programme:

Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 645, J.S.Bach
In dulci jubilo, BuxWV 197, D. Buxtehude
Es ist ein ros’ entsprungen from 11 Chorale Preludes, Op.122,  J. Brahms
La Nativité (Trois poèmes évangéliques, No. 2), J. Langlais
Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659, J.S.Bach
The Holy Boy, J. Ireland
Toccata sur Ave Maris Stella, Op 28 F.Peeters

Biography:

Ben Giddens is a freelance Organist and Pianist based in Reading, Berkshire and currently maintains a portfolio of performing and teaching in London and Berkshire. Ben held the post of Director of Music at Queen Anne’s School, Caversham, from 2015-2017.

From 2009-2012 Ben held the post of Sub-Organist at Magdalen College, Oxford where he featured on recordings and toured to Belgium and the Netherlands with the Chapel Choir. Prior to this Ben held the position of Acting Assistant Organist at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, where he performed live on BBC Radio 3 and performed at many Royal occasions.

Between 2014-2015 Ben held the post of Organist at St Bartholomew the Great, London. Whilst at St Bart’s Ben had the opportunity to work closely with Nigel Short and the professional choir.

In 2008 Ben graduated from the University of East Anglia with a first class honours degree in Music. Whilst studying for his degree, he held the organ scholarship at Norwich Cathedral. Here his notable performances included recording for ITV with the Cathedral Girls’ Choir, and accompanying the Cathedral Girls’ Choir on tour to Malta in 2005 and the Cathedral Choir to the USA in 2006. More recently, Ben has had the chance to tour Belgium (2013), Sweden (2014) and Latvia (2015) with the Cathedral Singers of ChristChurch Cathedral, Oxford.

Ben currently maintains an active schedule of freelance performing and holds the post of accompanist at the University of Reading as well as deputising regularly at The Tower of London, St Bride’s Fleet Street, St Martin in the Fields and St Paul’s Knightsbridge.