At the time Martindale Sidwell died in 1998, there were very few people in the
Parish Church who didn’t recognise the stocky figure of the former organist
with his wicked sense of humour. But now it is 2008 and we guess there are
many here who may not even have heard of him. We believe everyone who
appreciates the quality of our Service music at HPC should be aware of two
things which sum up our debt to this remarkable musician:
Firstly, it was Martindale who established the high professional standard of
music here. When he was appointed organist and choirmaster in 1946, the
existing musical tradition along with so much else in the aftermath of war –
had evaporated. He set himself to rebuild it, and in so doing established
standards well beyond pre-war times. His choir of men and boys’, said
Andrew Green in the Independent obituary, became one of the finest in the
country, not excluding cathedrals’. In the 1950’s they broadcast and recorded
with Klemperer and appeared regularly at the Royal Festival Hall.
Secondly, Martindale was one of the most outstanding choirmasters of his
generation, and his reputation attracted promising young musicians to
Hampstead James Bowman, Paul Esswood, Andrew Davis, John Morehen,
Sebastian Forbes, Paul Brough, Laurence Cummings, James Gilchrist and
many others creating a virtuous circle of excellence. It is no surprise that so
many of his singers are found today in leading choral ensembles such as The
Gabrieli Consort, The Sixteen and the Tallis Scholars. Sidwell’s trademark,
which has left an indelible impression on all who sang for him, was an iron
discipline in the search for perfection’ said Green.
The fruits of that indelible impression’ will be on show here this month when
Paul Brough, one of Martindale’s most brilliant assistant organists, now
Principal Conductor of the Hanover Band, will direct a vocal consort of his
former singers in Bach’s Magnificat and Handel’s Dixit Dominus to
commemorate the 10th anniversary of his death. Some of the congregation will
remember Paul’s superb b minor Mass performed here in memory of
Martindale with a similar group in 1999: this concert promises to be every bit
as inspirational.
If you know these two baroque masterpieces, these performances
with consort singers and specialist players under Paul Brough
will be exhilarating – a concert you should not miss. Even if you
don’t know the works at all, do come – and get acquainted with
some of the most joyous and exciting music you will ever hear.
Why we remember Martindale Sidwell
Gill Perrin