Douglas Hollick,
was
educated at Trinity School, Croydon, and the University of Hull,
where he was appointed the university's first Organ Scholar. Whilst
at Hull he studied organ under Peter Hurford at StAlbans Abbey.
After graduating, he won a scholarship from the Countess of Munster
Musical Trust to study in Paris with Marie-Claire Riain.
During this time, he was developing his skills as a recitalist,
and was invited to play for two concerts in the 1973 International
Festival of Young Organists at Bienne in Switzerland. Awarded a
further scholarship, he returned to Hull to undertake a programme of
research into the interpretation of J.S.Bach's keyboard music,
during which time he studied both organ and harpsichord with the
renowned Gustav Leonhardt.
In 1972 he was a prizewinner in the Young Musicians series at
Fairfield Hall, Croydon, and in 1974 a diploma winner at the Anton
Bruckner International Organ Competition at Linz, Austria. He also
gained the second prize at the 1975 Southport National Harpsichord
Competition and was the winner of the 1978 IAO Bach organ playing
competition held at York University.
As a concert artist, Douglas Hollick has played widely both here
and abroad, with visits to Holland and Germany, a very successful
trip to Western Australia producing an invitation to return and play
in the Fremantle Bach Festival, and a concert in the 1991 Prague
Early Music Festival recorded by Czech Radio. Other venues have
included the 1989 Cambridge Festival, the inauguration of the new
classical organ at Marldon, Devon and a performance of Bach's
Goldberg Variations at Harlaxton Manor, Lincolnshire. As a
harpsichordist he has also had considerable experience playing
continue in chamber music.
Douglas Hollick's main interests lie in the music of the
17th and 18th centuries, within which period
he has an extensive repertoire, ranging from the well known such as
Bach, Couperin, Scarlatti, CPE Bach and Mozart, to lesser known
figures such as Peraza, Bruhns, Sejan and Moyreau. Many of his
programmes have a particular theme (Bach and his North German
predecessors; Music from the time of the French Revolution, for
instance) and give a fascinating insight into the music. Concert
audiences have welcomed his brief expositions of the musical and
historical background to the pieces selected, whilst the authority
and virtuosity of Douglas Hollick's playing ensure that his recitals
are always illuminating and enjoyable.
For haipsichord recitals, Douglas Hollick uses one of his own
harpsichords - a copy of the 1711instrument by Pierre Donzelague of
Lyons – and for continue playing, modem or low pitch is
available.
Apart from his concert programmes, Douglas Hollick also offers
lecture recitals on theharpsichord - something he is uniquely
qualified to do, as both a first rate player and maker. These can be
tailored to suit any occasion, with musical
illustrations of the different schools of haipsichord writing
mixed in with description of the making and decoration of the
instrument itself. They are equally as popular with schools and
colleges, as they are with music societies.
His first visit to Australia was last year, when he played 5
concerts in and around Perth. This visit takes him to Melbourne and
back to Western Australia where he is playing in the Fremantle Bach
Festival.
Douglas Hollick was first Organ Scholar at Hull University in England, studying
organ with Peter Hurford, and on a subsequent scholarship, with
Marie-Claire Alain in Paris. He also spent some time on both organ
and harpsichord with Gustav Leonhardt in Amsterdam. He has pursued
parallel careers as musician and instrument maker, and over the last
15 years has made some 23 copies of historic keyboard instruments.
Douglas has played widely in England and elsewhere in Europe with a
recital in the Prague Early Music Festival last year. His first
visit to Australia was last year, when he played 5 concerts in and
around Perth. This visit takes him to Melbourne, and back to Western
Australiawhere he is playing in the Fremantle Bach Festival.
Douglas Hollick possesses a vitality and
spirit which lend his every performance a freshness and spariding
lightness...His remarkable technical skills and hislively and
imaginative ornamentation succeeded excellently in restoring to the
music that chaim which lies beyond the mere notes.
A rather undemonstrative audience waimly applauded the young
English organist Douglas Hollick, who ... played with taste and a
sound technique.
The recital consisted of French and German pieces of the 17th and
18th centuries. In the course of the recital, Mr Hollick gave a
series of introductions to the various pieces, discussing both the
nature of the instrument and the qualities of the music composed for
it... His actual playing was superb, of virtuoso excellence and
marked by continually appropriate sympathy and tact.