John Philip Kitchen

MBE Mbe may refer to: * Mbé, a town in the Republic of the Congo * Mbe Mountains Community Forest, in Nigeria * Mbe language, a language of Nigeria * Mbe' language, language of Cameroon * ''mbe'', ISO 639 code for the extinct Molala language Molal ...

(born 27 October 1950) is a Scottish organist, conductor, early music scholar, and music educator based in

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

. He serves as the Edinburgh City Organist. Kitchen is known for his extensive recording portfolio of organ music, and his research and demonstration of historical keyboard instruments, He made major contributions to the discography and scholarship on the organ works of William Russell, and

Johann Ludwig Krebs Johann Ludwig Krebs (baptized 12 October 1713 – 1 January 1780) was a German Baroque musician and composer for the pipe organ, harpsichord, other instruments and orchestras. His output also included chamber music, choral works and concertos. ...

Current positions

Kitchen is the Edinburgh City Organist, with related duties at

Usher Hall The Usher Hall is a concert hall in Edinburgh, Scotland. It has hosted concerts and events since its construction in 1914 and can hold approximately 2,200 people in its recently restored auditorium, which is well loved by performers due to its ...

. He is the University Organist and an Honorary Fellow at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

, and serves as Director of the Edinburgh University Singers He is also involved with the preservation, expansion and demonstration to the public of the collection of early keyboard instruments at

St Cecilia's Hall St Cecilia's Hall is a small concert hall and museum in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, in the United Kingdom. It is on the corner of Niddry Street and the Cowgate, about south of the Royal Mile. The hall dates from 1763 and was the first purp ...

in Edinburgh He is the Director of Music of Old Saint Paul's Episcopal Church. He was appointed

in the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours list.

Education and professional history

Kitchen earned the Master of Arts and

Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Music (BM or BMus) is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of a program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree, and the majority of work consists of prescr ...

degrees at

Glasgow University , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...

. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree from the

University of Cambridge , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

where he researched 17th-century French harpsichord music. His doctoral thesis (approved 1980) was titled "Harpsichord music of seventeenth century France: the forms, their origins and developments, with particular emphasis on the work of Louis Couperin (1626–1661)". While at Cambridge, he was organ scholar of

Clare College Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. The college was founded in 1326 as University Hall, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. It was refounded ...

, and studied the organ with

Gillian Weir Dame Gillian Constance Weir (born 17 January 1941) is a New Zealand-British organist. Biography Weir was born in Martinborough, New Zealand, on 17 January 1941. Her parents were Clarice Mildred Foy ( Bignell) and Cecil Alexander Weir. She re ...

. From 1976 until 1988 he was a Lecturer in Music and University Organist at the

University of St Andrews (Aien aristeuein) , motto_lang = grc , mottoeng = Ever to ExcelorEver to be the Best , established = , type = Public research university Ancient university , endowment ...

. From 1988 to 2014 he was Senior Lecturer in Music at the

, teaching harmony, counterpoint, keyboard skills, history and performance practice at all levels. Kitchen has a Fellowship Diploma (FRCO) from the

Royal College of Organists The Royal College of Organists (RCO) is a charity and membership organisation based in the United Kingdom, with members worldwide. Its role is to promote and advance organ playing and choral music, and it offers music education, training and de ...

, and he is a Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music (

LRAM Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music (LRAM) is a professional diploma, or licentiate, formerly open to both internal students of the Royal Academy of Music and to external candidates in voice, keyboard and orchestral instruments and guitar, a ...

Scholarship

Kitchen has studied and recorded the complete Organ Voluntaries of the organist William Russell (1777–1813) on the Delphian Label. The recording took place in 2008 on the restored 1829 J.C. Bishop organ at St. James, Bermondsey. As part of this project, Kitchen authored a detailed essay about Russell and his music, with information about every single Voluntary (including the disposition of the organ and the registration of the Voluntary) Kitchen has studied and recorded the complete organ works of Baroque composer

(1713–1780). These recordings (on the Priory Records label) were made in 2000–2001 on several different organs, including the two-manual Frobenius organ of

Canongate Kirk The Kirk of the Canongate, or Canongate Kirk, serves the Parish of Canongate in Edinburgh's Old Town, in Scotland. It is a congregation of the Church of Scotland. The parish includes the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Scottish Parliament. It i ...

, Edinburgh. Kitchen has published multiple reviews of recordings, studies and organ manuals in the journals

Early Music Early music generally comprises Medieval music (500–1400) and Renaissance music (1400–1600), but can also include Baroque music (1600–1750). Originating in Europe, early music is a broad musical era for the beginning of Western classical m ...

, Early Music Today,

Choir & Organ Rhinegold Publishing is an independent publisher of music magazines, music yearbooks and education resources, founded in 1977. Among Rhinegold's publications are '' Choir & Organ'' and ''Classical Music Magazine ''Classical Music'' is a tra ...

, Organists' Review, and The Organ Yearbook, Kitchen recorded recitals that introduce and explore different organs, including the organ at Usher Hall (Edinburgh); the organ at McEwan Hall (University of Edinburgh); the Reid Concert Hall (University of Edinburgh); the 1769 Pascal Taskin harpsichord; and instruments from the Rodger Mirrey and Raymond Russell collections.

Selected discography

*Gaudeamus Igitur: John Kitchen plays the Organ of McEwan Hall; Delphian DCD 34163; ASIN: B01F3P5MB8; 2016. *The Usher Hall Organ Volume II; Delphian DCD 34132; ASIN: B00OYT32KI, 2015. *Russell: Complete Organ Voluntaries; Delphian DCD 34062; ASIN: B001O4FDC6; 2013. *Music from the Age of Louis XIV; Delphian DCD 34109; ASIN: B00DP5K0QQ; 2012. *John Kitchen Plays Handel Overtures; Delphian DCD34053; ASIN: B002B847I0, 2011. *Krebs Complete Organ Works / John Kitchen; Priory Records PRCDBOX400 / PRCD734-739; 2010. *Instruments from the Rodger Mirrey Collection; Delphian DCD 34057; ASIN: B00OYT32KI; 2010. *Organs of Edinburgh; Delphian DCD 34100; ASIN: B01K8LNLUQ; 2010. *Music from the age of Louis XV: John Kitchen plays the 1769 Taskin Harpsichord; Delphian DCD 34112; 2012. *La Paix Du Parnasse; Delphian DCD 34012; ASIN: B0001FV4ZO, 2006. *Instruments of the Russell Collection, Volume 2; Delphian DCD 34309; ASIN: B000EJ9LSY; 2006. *Instruments of the Russell Collection, Volume 1; Delphian DCD 34001; ASIN: B00005LVXO; 2006. *The Usher Hall Organ; Delphian DCD 34022; ASIN: B0001W8E2S; 2004. *Great European Organs No. 49 – John Kitchen plays the Organ of the Reid Concert Hall, University of Edinburgh; Priory Records; ASIN: B00000F1RJ; 1998

References

External links

Dr. John Kitchen at the University of Edinburgh

At home with John Kitchen

Review of Handel Overtures (harpsichord) (Gramophone)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kitchen, John Scottish organists British male organists 1950 births Academics of the University of Edinburgh Alumni of the University of Cambridge Alumni of the University of Glasgow Living people 21st-century organists 21st-century British male musicians People from Coatbridge