Dazzling Organ Recital at Kilmun

Andrew Forbes at the water organ viewed via Kilmun's video relay

Sunday evening 18 May 2025 saw a quite dazzling and outstanding organ recital take place at Historic Kilmun, when Andrew Forbes, organist and Director of Music at Glasgow Cathedral,  performed with breathtaking skill, and introduced a fascinating and at times unusual programme. At just 32, Andrew is one of Scotland’s leading young organists.

This recital was a combined promotion by Cowal Music Club and Historic Kilmun, and the large audience appeared to relish the occasion,  thanks to Andrew’s remarkable organistic abilities and his cheery, eloquent and enthusiastic presentations.  His excellent communication with the audience went from strength to strength during the evening, and  his programming was tailored to suit the  current conditions, which have caused limitations to the famous water-organ’s wind chest supply due to lower water pressure caused by the current drought.

Andrew talks about his recital

Andrew's versatility and control of organ registrations throughout was highly impressive, and he appeared to be able to turn the situation to his advantage, while doing so using a remarkable array of sounds, colours, and effects. His assistant (with registration changing) Rachel, also showed how a small organ team can work very effectively together!

It is difficult to select particular favourites from the programme, which was unconventional, but the underlying ‘themes’ worked remarkably well. For instance there were references in part 2 to the sun, including Andrew’s own arrangement of George Harrison’s  Here comes the Sun, and the Song of Sunshine by Alfred Hollins (a Yorkshire composer, blind from birth), as well as the ‘sunny’ Toccata  by Parisian composer Theodore Dubois, which rounded off the evening.

Also highly memorable were Amy Beach’s lovely Scottish Legend, and  Frank Bridge’s Allegro Marziale, while some would have recognised Gabriel Faure’s beautiful Sicilienne,  which at one time was a BBC radio programme theme tune.

The audience were delighted with the recital, and the evening will surely be remembered by everyone there as really uplifting and outstanding, with a remarkable sense of occasion.  No wonder the applause at the end was very loud and prolonged; and deservedly so!

Cowal Music Club’s next concert is planned for Sunday July 20th  at 19.30, when the Apollo Melody Duo of Lily Brown (flute) and Yeva Panchencko (harp)  will perform.