Career
In 1976 Whiteley won first prize in the National Organ Competition of Great Britain. He has researched and written a book about Belgian composer Joseph Jongen, which has been described by Organists' Review as "a benchmark publication of impressive scholarship." His numerous recordings include Great Romantic Organ Music, The Dupré Legacy and The complete organ works of Joseph Jongen.
Whiteley combines his busy schedule with recording and touring and has composed anthems and organ works. He was Professor of Organ at Hull University from 1978 to 2003.
In 2003 he began recording the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach on historical organs (many associated with Bach) for BBC television and Associated-Rediffusion television productions. The project is called 21st century Bach, and began showing in sections on BBC Two and BBC Four. Two DVD volumes (about a quarter of the total) have been released, and series 3 is completed and awaiting transmission. Organs used include the restored Zacharias Hildebrandt instrument of St Wenzels church in Naumburg, and St Boniface's Church (the "Bachkirche") in Arnstadt. The series employs unusual filming techniques, including the use of miniature cameras and mirrors inside the organs' mechanisms, and a floating camera filming from unusual viewpoints. The organist is shown quietly walking to the instrument in the empty church, and quietly walking out again when he has finished. The titles were designed by Damien Hirst and the recording engineer is John Warburton.
In September 2010, he left his post at York Minster in order to pursue his freelance career.
Read more about this topic: John Scott Whiteley
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