from Piers Adams, UKA close friend and musical colleague of mine for many years, Julian was a man of quite unique depth and talent who chose not to take the fast lane to international recognition, preferring instead to pursue his own private quest for creative, artistic perfection. To his friends and admirers this choice inspired both awe and frustration - the latter in particular as it became evident that his life was coming to an untimely end.
It says much for Julian's philosophical outlook - he was immersed in a bewildering range of spiritual pursuits from eastern and Egyptian religions to the tarot, the Kabalah and Christian spiritualism - that he was able at the end to feel that his life was complete, and that he had achieved all he had set out to do. To the musical world at large his concert appearances were tantalisingly few and far between - irregular but titanic organ, piano and harpsichord recitals; performances and broadcasts around the globe with the baroque quartet Red Priest, of which he was a founder member; and a small treasure-trove of CD recordings (several more had been planned at the time his illness was diagnosed). But those who were privileged to witness his performances were profoundly moved by his extraordinary, intuitive brilliance and sensitivity - as testified by his press reviews, and the heartfelt tributes which have come in since from those in the profession who knew him.
In many ways Julian was a musician born ahead of - or at least out of - his time. Although deeply versed in historical performance techniques (with a particular interest in the music of the ancient world) he disliked what he saw as the intellectual narrow-mindedness of the early music movement - a movement which he viewed as a purely 20th century, modernist phenomenon divorced from the real heart of music-making. For him the performer's role was as that of co-creator, in the true Romantic sense, and indeed he would often perform his own compositions in his recitals, as well as his highly individual interpretations of music from the past 3000 years. In many ways too he was a Renaissance man, with a fertile mind and a wide range of interests encompassing art, literature, photography and oriental cookery.
It is perhaps appropriate for one who so disliked the rigours of the touring life that he achieved his largest audience from the comfort of his home through the medium of the internet. As a writer on the history, design, aesthetics and philosophy of the organ he had no equal, and his virtuosity and charm with words rivalled his musical prowess. His 'Dream Organs' web-site is one of the most visited in the field, a rich source of information and ideas which has won him many friends.
On a more personal note, Julian was one of the most witty and fascinating conversationalists I have known, who could move from subject to subject with consummate ease - from the precise spicing of a dhansak to the nature of the self, from the merits of the forearm smash as a valid continuo technique to the positioning of Mars in Scorpio, from the obscene to the divine - always suffused with a strong whiff of irony and more than a dash of macabre humour. In fact this latter quality may have helped him as he faced death with such monumental courage - who else, I ask, would think to cheer up his visitors in his final, painful weeks by perfecting a range of 'dead' impressions?
Many over the ages have been inspired by the archetype of the bohemian artistic genius in his garret - Julian Rhodes was the genuine article. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
from David Willey, organist and member of The Organ Club, London, UKThe recent sad death of Julian Rhodes robs the club of a valuable member, the musical world in general of a fine performer and to me, it's the loss of a good friend. Clich‚s perhaps but nonetheless, more than true.
His funeral service was for close family & friends, but a Memorial Day was later held, at the home of his girl-friend, Helena Wojtczak. It was there that my eyes were opened to the range and depth of Julian's musical abilities - here was someone who wasn't just a virtuoso organist, but an equally brilliant pianist and harpsichordist.
At several club-meetings, Julian dazzled us with his playing. Quite modestly, he would approach the console, and after quietly taking off his shoes, would settle down and play - from memory - something that would astonish us all. Perhaps most memorable of these performances was during the Club visit to Leicester Square & Covent Garden: at the French Church, he received a well-deserved round of applause for his performance of his own arrangement of the Sinfonia from Bach's Cantata #29. Later, at the Swiss church, we heard a virtual recital, one that will always be remembered by those who stayed to listen.
As a player of the harpsichord, Julian was a member of the group "Red Priest" and toured extensively with them although he claimed not to like that instrument. But it was his ability as a pianist that most surprised me at the Memorial Day in his honour. And it wasn't just the virtuosity he displayed, but the musicianship behind it that combined to make great performances.
He was an arranger as well: members may remember him playing various movements of Warlock's Capriol Suite on various occasions; the whole thing can be heard on his wonderful CD "The Temple of Tone", at St Michael Great Torrington. And then ... well, get hold of his piano CD and listen to a work by him, based on Bach (and, quite typically, attributed to JSB/arranged by JR) - I won't spoil the fun, just listen to it and like me, beg for the actual music!
Julian wasn't just a performer, but also a writer and not just about the organ.
As a friend, we corresponded over many years, swapping organ information, Julian always more knowledgeable than I could ever be. To the very end, his love for the organ never diminished: in the Hospice, he spent his last weeks continuing to design his "dream organs" and his last letter to anyone was to me, requesting any specifications new to my collection.
I will miss him, as will the Club and the musical world in general.
(Adapted from David's obituary in the Organ Club Journal)
From Malcolm Wechsler, Mander Organs, USA
This is a terribly sad piece of news for me. Last February, Julian was travelling in the U. S. with a chamber group called Red Priest. They had performed in Washington, and were then driving in a van to New York for a concert at the Frick Collection. I pre-arranged to meet them on the Jersey Turnpike, and Julian and I then headed to Chestnut Hill (Philadelphia), as he wanted to see the almost complete new organ there, at that time without benefit of Pedal stops.He had in his memory lots of manual things and proceeded to dazzle us with his absolutely brilliant and somewhat unique approach to the keyboard. It's hard to describe, other than to say it was truly spell-binding. Sad to say, in light of what has now happened, at that time, over a year ago, he was complaining of discomfort in his arm. And what conversation! This was a man with a restless and fertile mind, as anyone can immediately see in looking at his website. If you have never visited it, please do take a look as a tribute to this wonderful man.
From Neill Callis, USA
Sad news indeed. I met Julian briefly last year (arranged for him to have a session at the National Christian City Church Moller in Washington DC, when Red Priest was in town.) As Malcolm says, his playing is rather spell-binding. Thank goodness it was preserved in at least a couple of digital incarnations.
He will be missed!
From Mark D Jameson, Classic FM
Julian will certainly be missed - I knew him through his playing at Organ Club meetings and his notes for Chesterfield and Hastings/St. Leonards are certainly an example to be followed by the rest of the membership - I wish I had the time and skills to do something similar for Reading/East Berkshire.
From Peter Storandt, USA
This is a catastrophic loss to our musical world. Although we never met, I enjoyed a wonderful correspondence with Julian and considered him a dear friend. It is fitting that his inspirational websites should be kept going.
From Harry E. Martenas, USA
This is distressing. I had missed Julian's wonderful contributions to the pipe-organ list, and now I understand why his last post was August 4, 2000. It is good to know that his websites will be maintained. I highly recommend Dream Organs to all - a wonderful source of organic information and fun flights of fancy.I also urge anyone interested to review Julian's 159 postings to the list via the at archives page and under "authors address is or contains", search for "ondamar". Some wonderful information and observations. A sad day indeed.
From:Cheryl C Hart (UK)
I was absolutely devastated to learn of Julian's death: we became acquainted via piporg-l, and my colleagues and I had enormous respect and admiration for him. Our regret is that we never had the joy of meeting him face-to-face. He was a truly fine man, and we miss him.
Julian Rhodes' biography
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