Dr Peter Litman Organist and Director of Music at Peel Cathedral was recently invited to take part in a concert of Organ music at Peter and Paul Church in Goenningen, Germany.

Dr Litman is an accomplished organist with a growing reputation within the European music community and was honoured to be invited to hold a concert on one of very few remaining early romantic organs that still exist in Germany.

Goenningen is a town in the region of Stuttgart in Baden Wurtemberg in South West Germany. The Goenningen organ was made in 1844 and restored in 1970. Dr Litman was invited by the concert organiser, Torsten Wille, organist at the Reutlingen Marienkirke.

Peter Litman had outstanding reviews of the concert from both Susanne Eckstein of Reutlinger Nachrichten:
"What did this “late” English repertoire sound like on the Goenningen Engelfried-Rensch organ? In one word: outstanding. Hardly any listener would have missed crescendo or decrescendo. Peter Litman had obviously embraced the instrument, his extrovert joy displayed in quick tempi, an almost irreverent attack and a surprising variety of tone."

And Dagmar Varady of Reutlinger General-Anzeiger:
"Litman’s ability to play with importance and simultaneously in a bouncy manner was demonstrated in the “Processional” by Welsh composer William Mathias. The piece worked well with engaged and gripping loose hand movements. Equally gripping was Litman’s interpretation of the Fantasia and Toccata by Irish composer Charles Villiers Stanford. Would the Goenningen organ cope? Peter Litman pushed it to its limits, the prescribed dynamic layering having to be omitted – but a colourful and contrasting treat was ensured; the organ developing such a sweeping splendour under Litman’s virtuosic hands that one would almost not have believed this organ capable of."

Varady also enthused, "Amazing what he got out of this “historic treasure”! Apparently he didn’t worry about potentially sticky mechanics or noisy stop changes. He liked using the gentle blowing sound of the flute registers as a means of shaping his music, as well as the breath of the solo voices."

Dr Litman’s repertoire also included Ralph Vaughan William’s arrangement of ‘Greensleeves’, ‘The Question” and ‘The Answer’ by William Wolstenholme, an arrangement of a Handel overture and a Voluntary by William Walond. The Isle of Man featured heavily during the visit as one piece was written by local composer John Edward Quayle and the German newspapers picked up on the 50 listed organs we have in the island with an envious tone.

What did Dr Litman gain from the whole experience?
‘The opportunity to explore a historic German organ and to introduce the 200 strong audience to a programme of English and Manx organ music could not be missed. The whole experience was a joy and an education which will no doubt play an important part in the tapestry of my career’.

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