Episode 8. Holst’s The Planets, and its Transcription for Church Organ

SYNOPSIS

As the organist of the Lincoln Organ in the Thaxted Parish Church of St John the Baptist with Our Lady and St Laurence, Gustav Holst would have been well aware that the rich orchestral colours and sonorities of The Planets could well be adapted for the cathedral organ. Simon Johnson achieved this feat in his recording of Peter Sykes’ transcription of Holst’s orchestral suite. The interview covers Simon’s training in the English cathedral choir tradition and his experience as an organist at Peterborough Cathedral and elsewhere. The history of the St Paul’s organ against the changing congregational requirements is discussed as is its freak survival when a bomb failed to explode in the Second World War. The technical and musical challenges of recording The Planets using a cathedral organ are considered, as is Simon’s admiration for Holst as a miniaturist arising from his own transcription of Holst’s St Paul’s Suite.

GUEST

Simon Johnson successfully combines life as a virtuoso organist with extensive work in choral direction, composition and arrangement. In September 2021 he became Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral, responsible for its world-famous choir.  For 13 years he was the Organist and Assistant Director of Music at St Paul's Cathedral.

The interview between Simon Johnson and Simon Machin took place during this tenure at Amen Court, near St Paul’s Cathedral on 1 November 2019.