Appreciation by David Fisher

Ever since I became Chairman of Leicester Music Society, I have been determined to encourage many of the highly proficient musicians and musicologists from the city and county to give presentations. This county is fortunate to have so many gifted musicians and their talks have allowed members to learn about the creation of music in the area and the part these musicians have played in it. Paul Morley is a good example, and the title of his talk: “Cathedrals, Choirs, Fugues, Finance and Fun” proved to be an enjoyable, instructive and revelatory presentation. As it turned out, there wasn’t much reference to finance, as Paul’s musical life as a talented organist and conductor appeared more important to him than banking, and this was reflected in his interesting life story.

We learned of his start in music at St Philip’s Church with the influentially talented Frederick Allt, the large, splendidly-voiced choir at the church and his own beautiful solo treble voice. All the music he played were personal recordings (as you can see from the track list below) and these even included a digital transfer of an LP with him singing exquisitely as a boy treble accompanied by his mentor. Incidentally, this proved to be in his genes as his three sons, notably Thomas and Ben (the latter of whom attended the talk), had very special treble voices too, as we heard in the recordings. Paul’s organ lessons, also with Fred Allt, widened his scope in the church and he was often to be heard in his grammar school deputising, somewhat reluctantly, for his errant music teacher. Although the recordings were, in the main, church-related they offered a great variety of music important to Paul’s story and each was described in detail with explanations about his fellow performers, especially those whom he admired. Many of these influenced his advancement to several notable positions in the diocese, including several years at St James the Greater and an interregnum at Leicester Cathedral. Especially important in his life has been the Leicester Church Music Consort, with which he has been involved for a long time, latterly for quite some time as its Director of Music. The list of churches and cathedrals—as well as Westminster Abbey—where the group has sung and worshipped is staggering. In all, his captivating narrative, the recordings he played, and his many amusing anecdotes were delivered with humour in his self-effacing style.

It was clear to LMS members and the many of Paul’s supporters who came to hear him that he is truly a musician who doesn’t just play or conduct the music he performs but who feels, lives and breathes it. That was particularly evident in the music we heard. That’s a gift not given to all musicians.