Organ Recital - Paul Timmins

Paul Timmins, the Organist at the Anglican Church, performs a varied programme for 60 minutes.

Paul Timmins was born in 1971 and studied organ under Michael Burton, teacher, recitalist and once assistant organist at Hereford Cathedral. After continuing his advanced studies in music, he was appointed organist of the Birmingham Progressive Synagogue (a position he held for over ten years) and assistant organist of the Birmingham Oratory. Having moved to London, Paul held a number of organ posts – St Mark’s in St John’s Wood, where Paul lived, as well as one of the East London Synagogues, where he was appointed organist and Director of Music. The synagogue was fortunate to have a professional choir. A post was also held as assistant organist to the Shrine Church of St. Alban the Martyr in Holborn, where he conducted a semi-professional choir at the sung Mass each Sunday; as well as St Chad’s Haggerston, a fine Anglo-Catholic church in the East End of London, with excellent acoustics, where a voluntary choir, formed by Paul, sang music from Lassus to Vierne. He met his wife Katie in Paphos in 2012 and is currently the organist for the Anglican Church of Paphos.

The organ in Ayia Kyriaki is the Ahlborn 111 Classical Organ. For centuries the sound of organs has been produced through pipes. No other musical instrument is so firmly established with centuries-old history and the rich abundance of religious, cultural and artistic importance. Furthermore, no other instrument is technically as complex as the organ. Until very recently, a traditional pipe organ was the only truly satisfactory option – all attempts at substituting with electronic instruments resulted in a second best imitation. This is no longer the case. Now, the mechanics and sound of organs are undergoing a transformation. The organ has a special place in the shift from traditional to modern methods. Never before was the distinction between traditional values and technological progress as great as today. The Ahlborn Computer Organ relates especially to this apparent contrast. It represents the progress of modern technology, while embracing the tradition of pipe organs. Through the special digital sampling technique, not only is the high quality voicing guaranteed, but the original pipe sounds are made possible. A special remote control programmer (interactive programmer) permits the voicing according to the particular musical requirements of the organist and the acoustics of the surroundings in which it operates. Especially important for Cyprus the instrument is unaffected by temperature change and humidity.

Directions: Head into town along the Tombs of the Kings Road and go straight over the roundabout by the Mall, then take the first right at the lights by the big church. Turn right at the T junction, then left, over the staggered crossroads, right at the T junction, park in the car park and walk the last part.

Agia Kyriaki Church (St Paul’s Pillar) Paphos

Free entrance: donations are welcome for the Paphos Music Lovers Association fund to support local arts projects.

Information: Tel: 95191177, Email: [email protected]