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29 November 2024
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5*****
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If there is a more sublime musical experience than hearing a pipe organ being played beautifully in a sacred setting, then I would be surprised.
I had the pleasure of reviewing Matt Walters’ first major concert at Wells Cathedral in the summer of 2023 and subsequently wrote an article about him for ‘Somerset Life’ magazine. The intervening 12 months or so have seen enormous changes for Walters; recitals and concerts up and down the UK, dance events, workshops and appointments as an Associate Musician at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon and at Dulwich Prep & Senior School in South London. Add to this a continued high output of composition, production of CD collections and many thousands of new followers on social media platforms. It has been quite a year.
Still only in his mid-20s, Walters was educated at Downside School, where he took to the 100 year-old Compton organ in the neighbouring Abbey Church; as the headteacher, Andrew Hobbs mentions in his introduction, the chance to hear this former pupil in concert is something to be proud of.
In the vast Church, the organ is at floor level and the audience is seated behind the musician – there is no place to hide. It takes some confidence to offer such exposure. Watching Walters in action is a fascinating adjunct to the actual music.
The concert programme is varied and combines a classical core with the addition of film music and, the highlight of the evening, a sextet of compositions by Walters himself. Kicking off the programme with two huge pieces; Widor’s Toccata and Elgar’s ‘Nimrod’, Matt showcases the instrument in all its glory as the notes fill every void in the lofty abbey church – he jokes that there can’t be anything more English than listening to Elgar in a chilly church in November; the audience are warmed by the sounds he makes.
Walters’ own compositions are separated into two categories, those with a more classical slant with hints of Bach, Handel… (Preludes in E Minor, D Minor and B Minor) and his more cinematic pieces with a simpler structure (‘spes’ – Latin for hope; ‘lux’ – light and ‘laus’ – praise). All are instantly engaging and display the skilful composition abilities of the artist. Matt’s love of film music has recently been given a boost when a film-maker has asked to use the piece ‘spes’ in a film, it has lead to a further collaboration.
Matt presents all his pieces himself with an enhanced eloquence gained over the many performances since that first major event at Wells and this is emphasised by a playful part of the programme where a member of the audience is asked to volunteer (in this instance, probably the youngest attendee) to play a short phrase on the organ around which Walters improvises a piece. It is gripping, fascinating, fun, inspirational and oh, so clever.
The concert is rounded off with music from film composers, Ennio Morricone, Howard Shore and Hans Zimmer – as Walters explains, this is one of his ways of showing the versatility of the ‘king of instruments’.
Throughout, the playing is rich, sensitive, full-voiced and emotional; the audience – many closing their eyes as they listen – are full of praise and admiration, with a number travelling a considerable distance to be there.
In some respects this is a relatively conventional programme for Matt Walters, there are no forays into pop and mash-ups with dance music, but this just underlines the enormous repertoire of the man himself; there is such variety on offer and he leaves his followers wanting more.
2025 is already looking to be another busy year with concerts already confirmed in Scotland and a dance event in Northern Ireland. Matt Walters is spreading his incredibly talented wings and continuing to push the envelope, while his work at Dulwich is setting out to inspire younger people.
We will continue to follow Matt on this site and champion this humble musician who owns a steely determination to succeed and a talent which gathers admiration far and wide. Look out for him on his social media platforms (see below) and if you get a chance to see him in concert you will not be disappointed.
@reductiomusic
IMAGE – Informal Photograph taken at Downside Abbey 2023
