Michael Harris, former Master of the Music at St Giles' Cathedral, presents Langlais, Bach and Widor on the spectacular Rieger organ

Programme

• Jean Langlais (1907-1991) Suite Brève

  • Grands Jeux

  • Cantilène

  • Plainte

  • Dialogue sur les Mixtures

• J.S.Bach (1685-1750)

  • Dies sind die heiligen zehen Gebot BWV 678

  • Dies sind die heiligen zehen Gebot BWV 679

• Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937) Symphonie V Op 42 No 1

  • Allegro vivace

  • Allegro cantabile

  • Andantino quasi allegretto

  • Adagio

  • Toccata

Following a long career in cathedral music Michael Harris is enjoying life as a freelance musician. He was Organist and Master of the Music of St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh, from 1996 until 2024 and prior to moving to Edinburgh he held posts as Sub-Organist of Leeds Parish Church (now Leeds Minster) and Assistant Organist of Canterbury Cathedral.

As Organist and Master of the Music of St Giles’ Cathedral he was privileged to have charge of the famous Rieger organ (built in 1992) and his work involved him in numerous recordings and broadcasts, both for Television and Radio. Under his direction the Cathedral Choir visited the USA, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Greece and the Channel Islands. He directed the music for many significant national occasions, notably the Service of Thanksgiving for the life of HM Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 and for the Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication for Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the occasion of the presentation of the Honours of Scotland in July 2023. He was awarded an MBE for services to music in Scotland in the 2025 New Year’s Honours List.

He has made a number of solo recordings, among them a disc of the complete organ sonatas of August Gottfried Ritter, and a disc of Scottish and French organ music, The Auld Alliance, recorded in St Giles’. He directed the Cathedral Choir in a series of CD recordings, on St Giles’ own label, Aegidius, with his final recording with them, Jubilate Deo AGD 006, being released in August 2024. This featured a series of choral commissions celebrating the 900th Anniversary of St Giles’.

Michael has given recitals at many venues in Germany, Belgium, Italy, Norway, Poland, USA, Australia and New Zealand, as well as in the UK, where he has played in many of the major venues. He was Music Director of the Scottish Chamber Choir from 1998 to 2010, and directed the a cappella vocal ensemble, Cantica Alba, who have given concerts in Scotland, Germany and Malta, and Denmark.

He is also much involved in organ and choral education and was a Lecturer in Music at Edinburgh Napier University until 2021. Having recently returned to live in Kent he is enjoying new musical opportunities and catching up with many old friends and acquaintances.