Lunchtime Live Concerts at All Saints
On 4th December the last Lunchtime Live concert of 2025 at All Saints’ Church Northampton was given by Laurence Caldecote at the organ with readings by Kerensa Matthews.
Kerensa is Ministry Experience Scheme intern at All Saints’ It was a concert with a difference. Each section began with a reading (expertly done) by Kerensa followed by an improvisation by Laurence on a related piece of music. There were four sections:
Kerensa read “O come, O come and be our God with us” by English poet, academic and priest Malcolm Guite. Laurence then improvised on the well-known plainsong tune “O come, O come Emmanuel.” The music was mysterious with a contrast between the flutes and reeds.
The second reading was the anonymous poem “Jesus Christ the Appletree” with the music, based on Elizabeth Poston’s setting of those words; simple at first but with later developments and interjections, perhaps representing the fall of blossom or apples and ending with the peace of an orchard.
Kerensa then read John Milton’s sonnet "When I Consider How My Light is Spent" followed by an improvisation by Laurence on the tune “Winchester New” by WH Monk commonly sung to the hymns “On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s Cry“ and “Ride on Ride on in Majesty.” The music was in the style of Handel and Bach and earlier composers combined with the style of Elgar.
The fourth section began with “Three Wise Women” by the Irish poet Eithne Reynolds speculating on what might have happened if three wise women had also made the journey to Bethlehem-they would have got there before the wise men and given the stable a clean-up before the men got there. Laurence’s improvisation began comically and was based on JH Hopkins’ popular and much parodied “We three Kings of Orient are.”
Laurence, who is Assistant Organist at All Saints’, will feature in the first concert of the 2026 season on Thursday 5th February. This will also be an unusual concert because he will be joined by Jem Lowther and Simon Toyne, playing music for six hands on one piano. Come if you can. it promises to be extremely enjoyable.
The concert starts at 1 10 pm on 5th February at All Saints’ Church right in the middle of Northampton.