Douglas Lawrence
Melbourne organist Douglas Lawrence is Director of Music at The Scots' Church and Teacher of the Organ at the University of Melbourne and was the founding director of Choir of Ormond College, a position he held from 1982 to 2006.
He frequently performs as a soloist for major music organisations within Australia and his concert career has taken him throughout most of the western world.
He has released a number of recordings through the Move label which have received outspoken praise from reviewers.
Douglas Lawrence completed a Master's Degree in Music at Melbourne University in 1969. He then spent two years in the Concert Class of the Vienna Academy and during that time began a concert career which has taken him throughout most of the western world.
He undertakes a major concert tour of Europe each year and has played at many prestigious venues; among them are St. Mark's Basilica (Venice), St. Paul's Cathedral (London), The Bavo Church (Haarlem), Kaiser-Wilhelm Gedächtnisskirche (Berlin), Stephanskirche (Vienna), and the Cathedral of Sion, location of the world's oldest playable organ. In 1979 he played the inaugural concerts on the organs of the Sydney Opera House and Melbourne University's Melba Hall, and in 1982 the first solo recital on the organ in the newly opened Melbourne Concert Hall.
In Melbourne Douglas Lawrence is, Director of Music at The Scots' Church and Teacher of the Organ at the University of Melbourne. He was the Artistic Director of the Melbourne International Festival of Organ and Harpsichord.
Douglas Lawrence has released a number of recordings including The Best of Pachelbel, Buxtehude, A Baroque Collection and Reverberations 1 and 2. They span organ music from the earliest times until the present day, representing works ranging from solo organ to ensembles with didgeridoo and electronic tape, and include new works especially composed for him. These recordings have received outspoken praise from reviewers.
Douglas Lawrence has appeared for the ABC as soloist in the Major Subscription Series, Youth Concerts and Contemporary Series, and as a soloist with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra on radio and television. He has an active concern for the promotion of contemporary music of all genres.
Douglas Lawrence is much sought after as a judge in organ playing and choral competitions and his opinion is highly regarded in the field of organ design for churches and concert halls.
As organist or conductor Douglas Lawrence has given something over 70 first performances. This activity continues unabated with new works scheduled for premiering each year.
Artist's website: www.douglaslawrence.org
Douglas Lawrence is featured on the following titles
Magnificat
Douglas Lawrence plays a magnificent recital on the organ he designed, the impressive 4 manual Rieger organ in The Scots' Church, Melbourne.
Performer: Organ
Laughing
This CD from the internationally acclaimed Choir of Ormond College, celebrates the fun side of singing! Directed by Douglas Lawrence.
Performer: Director
The 12 Days of Christmas
The Choir Of Ormond College here sings several carols long held in affection around the world but adds to these with newer works accompanied by renowned Australian pianist, Stephen McIntyre.
Performer: Director
The Choir of Ormond College LIVE
Having been associated with the choir since its inception, Move is delighted to celebrate the choir's musical "coming of age" and present this special live retrospective CD featuring many past and recent performances previously unreleased on the label.
Performer: Director
The Rieger at Scots'
So just what does one play to demonstrate the resources of a large, beautifully voiced new organ? Douglas Lawrence has tried here to show something of the immensely wide tonal palette available on the Rieger organ at The Scots' Church in Melbourne, completed in 1999.
Performer: Organ
Beatus Vir
Recorded live during their 1999 European tour, the Choir of Ormond College presents a delightful mix of music in eight parts by Jacob Handl, Palestrina and Gabrieli, and other beautiful music by Rheinberger, Villette, Stanford, Howells, Monteverdi and Gesualdo.
Performer: Director
Kodaly Missa Brevis
Recorded on their 1997 European tour in Northern Italy and Germany, the Choir of Ormond College sings Kodaly's 'Missa Brevi s' and pieces by Tye, Howell and Bach.
Performer: Director
Music From Heaven
The Choir of Ormond College directed by Douglas Lawrence. This highly acclaimed CD features superb pieces by Gregorio Allegri, Byrd, Poulenc, Britten, Barber and J.S. Bach.
Performer: Director
Bolero – music for organ 4 hands
Douglas Lawrence and Elizabeth Anderson, organ duet. 'Bolero' features arrangements of classical favourites for four hands performed on the Melbourne Concert Hall Organ.
Performer: Organ
Bamboo Organ
Douglas Lawrence and the Manila Chamber Orchestra. Manila's suburb of Las Piñas boasts the world's only organ with pipes made from bamboo. As well as demonstrating the full potential of the instrument with different solo pieces and Handel's Organ Concerto in G minor, Douglas Lawrence interviews the organ's restorer.
Performer: Organ
I Heard the Owl Call My Name
The highly acclaimed recording of the Choir of Ormond College's European tour. Includes the amazing choral soundscape I Heard the Owl Call my Name by Australian composer Philip Nunn.
Performer: Director
I Can Tell The World
This CD features saucy rounds, madrigals and drinking songs performed by one of Australia's best choirs, directed by Douglas Lawrence.
Performer: Director
Bach Byrd Britten
Works by the great trilogy of choral composers, Bach, Byrd and Britten sung by the magnificent Choir of Ormond College. Includes A Ceremony of Carols.
Performer: Director
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
The Choir of Ormond College presents a wonderfully varied selection of Christmas carols, 28 joyous tracks in all. Directed by Douglas Lawrence
Performer: Director
When David heard that Absalom was slain
The Choir of Ormond College specialised in liturgical music of the 16th and 20th centuries. This recording also includes a number of psalm settings, including Allegri's "Miserere", a setting of the penitential Psalm 51 originally used only in the Sistine Chapel during Holy Week.
Performer: Director
The Choir of Ormond College Melbourne
Directed by Douglas Lawrence who held the post at Ormond College, Melbourne, for over 20 years.
Performer: Director
A Baroque Collection
Douglas Lawrence plays a feast of baroque master works on the acclaimed Ahrend organ of Monash University's Robert Blackwood Hall.
Performer: Organ
Festival of Organ Masterpieces
Douglas Lawrence plays the organ of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne. Includes many of the best loved and frequently played works from the organ repertoire.
Performer: Organ
15 Favourite Christmas Carols
Arranged and conducted by Christopher Willcock, with Douglas Lawrence playing the organ of St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne.
Sequenza and other works by Ian Bonighton
The tragic death, at age 33, of lan Bonighton in May 1975 robbed Australian music of one of its most promising young composers. He had been composing for little more than ten years. This remastered release showcases compositions for percussion, organ, choir, string quartet, piano, horn and electronics.
Performer
Pachelbel, His Canon and Much More
Douglas Lawrence plays the Ronald Sharp Organ at Ormond College, Melbourne. An excellent disc of favourite organ works by Pachelbel, Buxtehude, Schiedt, Camidge and Greene.
Performer: Organ
Reverberations
Originally released on two LPs and even quadraphonic tape in the early 1970s, this double CD set is a special limited edition re-issue of Reverberations One and Two, containing contemporary music for organ, brass ensemble, voices, didjeridu and electronics.
Performer: Organ
Sing to the Lord, ye Heavenly Hosts
The Choir of Scots' Church presents music from Palestrina in the sixteenth century to twenty-first century music by a contemporary Australian composer, Andrew Batterham. It also includes a rare performance of the Widor Mass for choir, baritone choir and two organs.
Performer: Director
Praise the Lord his Glories Show
Some of the finest sacred music ranging from 16th century through Baroque, Romantic to Afro-American spirituals performed by one of Melbourne's finest choirs.
Performer: Director
Douglas Lawrence is featured on the following titles
Bach Motets
The Australian Chamber Choir performs motets by J.S. Bach and two of his sons, Johann Micheal Bach and Johann Christoph Bach.
Performer: Director
Gold
The Australian Chamber Choir performs works by eight Australian composers. Douglas Lawrence directs a program of pure gold.
Performer: conductor
Keys to Heaven
This recording by the Australian Chamber Choir starts with a work composed in 18th century Venice by an orphan of the Ospedale della Pietà, and reconstructed by Elizabeth Anderson. Works by Palestrina, and Allegri are also featured.
Performer: conductor
A Baroque Christmas
The music on this CD is a historical Christmas “pick of the pops”, from the late 1400s to the end of the Baroque period. Directed by Douglas Lawrence, the Australian Chamber Choir offers a program recorded live in concert during their 2019 European tour. The 17 tracks are drawn from from lesser-known seasonal works, championing a sublime repertoire that is all too often neglected.
Performer: Conductor
Soul
Douglas Lawrence OAM conducts the internationally acclaimed Australian Chamber Choir in a selection of sublime sacred music from across the ages.
Performer
Douglas Lawrence also appears on
Bright Tracks
Winner of the 1998 ABC Classic FM "Listeners' Choice" Award, this double CD set brings together chamber music by Brenton Broadstock, one of Australia's most well- established and respected composers.
Performer: Director
Fandango
Flamboyant Spanish harpsichord music performed by harpsichordist Elizabeth Anderson; with Douglas Lawrence, organ.
Performer: Organ
Sydney Opera House Concert Hall Grand Organ
This CD contains historic recordings made during the inaugural recital series in 1979 when the organ was launched.
