Projects
BY
ROGER SAYER
INTERSTELLAR
In early 2014, world-renowned composer Hans Zimmer selected Roger Sayer as the soloist for a new score he had written to the motion picture, Interstellar. The score included a tremendous organ part, which director Christopher Nolan and Hans Zimmer decided to record on the magnificent Harrison & Harrison organ at Temple Church.
Speaking about the recording, Zimmer comments:
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"I remember turning up in London with Chris Nolan to meet Roger Sayer for the first time at Temple Church. It wasn't until we were on the flight from Los Angeles that I confessed to Chris that I had written only unplayable organ parts for Interstellar and we were lucky if we came away with just a few notes. But, then Roger is a superhuman artist. Every impossible phrase was played with precision, beauty and grace. Seemingly effortlessly. His performance became another actor in the film and the singular voice I had secretly hoped for. He is, without exaggeration, an extraordinary artist, whose humanity shines in the impeccable artistry that flows from his hands."
The score was later nominated for an Oscar and selected for a live performance in which Sayer and Zimmer were reunited on stage at London's Royal Albert Hall. In attendance were the film's director, cast and supporters, including Christopher Nolan, Jessica Chastain, Professor Brian Cox and Professor Stephen Hawking.
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Rehearsals on stage at Interstellar Live
(l-r) Roger Sayer, conductor Gavin Greenaway, Composer Hans Zimmer on stage at Interstellar Live
Roger Sayer in rehearsal for Interstellar Live
Rehearsals on stage at Interstellar Live
ABOUT RHEINBERGER
In 2018, Roger Sayer will release a new recording of the complete Rheinberger Organ Sonatas on the Priory Records label. It is a project which The Organ magazine has called "greatly significant", as it is to be the first recording of these works completed by a single organist.
In a four page feature for the magazine in 2017, Roger commented:
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"Rheinberger made a huge contribution to the organ repertoire. The music is powerful, profound and honest, and the counterpoint is particularly fine. In every sonata the tapestry of lines within lines is evident and one does not need to look very far to be impressed by this. Like Brahms he manages to combine beauty with compositional excellence.
These pieces demand much from the player to project the music off the page clearly and lovingly to the listener. It has been the most challenging and enjoyable exploration of my career to date."
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RHEINBERGER
In 2018, Roger Sayer will release a new recording of the complete Rheinberger Organ Sonatas on the Priory Records label. It is a project which The Organ magazine has called "greatly significant", as it is to be the first recording of these works completed by a single organist.
In a four page feature for the magazine in 2017, Roger commented:
​
"Rheinberger made a huge contribution to the organ repertoire. The music is powerful, profound and honest, and the counterpoint is particularly fine. In every sonata the tapestry of lines within lines is evident and one does not need to look very far to be impressed by this. Like Brahms he manages to combine beauty with compositional excellence.
These pieces demand much from the player to project the music off the page clearly and lovingly to the listener. It has been the most challenging and enjoyable exploration of my career to date."
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TEMPLE CHURCH CHOIR
Since his appointment as Director of Music at the Temple Church, Roger has toured with the Choir to Washington DC, Holland, Singapore and Australia and, most recently, Germany. Under his direction, the choir has broadcast frequently on either BBC Radio 3 or Classic FM. He is responsible for many new initiatives. He runs training weekends and has recently initiated a youth choir comprising of ex Choristers and on occasion a top line of teenage girls. 
In July this year, he conducted the Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms at the Three Choirs concert (with the choirs of
St Paul’s Cathedral, St Albans Abbey and the Temple Church) in the St Albans International Organ Festival.
Roger’s choir directing is a major part of his life and his work. In his previous appointment at Rochester Cathedral as Organist and Director of Music, he founded the Cathedral Girls Choir and performed in the USA, Germany, Estonia and Holland with the Cathedral Boys Choir.
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Roger is also a highly skillful Choral workshop leader. His style is both challenging and friendly. His work sees regular invitations to lead weekends in the UK, USA and Europe. In 2018 he undertakes workshops in Australia.
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Roger Sayer and Temple Church Choir perform at the 2016 BBC Radio 3 Christmas special
Roger Sayer and the Temple Church Choir perform for HM The Queen on the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta at Runnymede.
Temple Church in London
Roger Sayer and Temple Church Choir perform at the 2016 BBC Radio 3 Christmas special