The Durham Concerto is a classical

Classical music

Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...

 work composed by Jon Lord

Jon Lord

Jonathan Douglas "Jon" Lord is an English composer, pianist and Hammond organ player.Jon Lord, also known as 'Hammond Lord', is a classically trained piano player. He is recognised for his Hammond organ blues-rock sound and for his pioneering work in fusing rock and classical or baroque forms...

. It was commissioned by Durham University

Durham University

The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...

 and was first performed in Durham Cathedral

Durham Cathedral

The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham is a cathedral in the city of Durham, England, the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Durham. The Bishopric dates from 995, with the present cathedral being founded in AD 1093...

 on October 20, 2007, as part of the university's 175th anniversary celebrations.

Instead of the usual solo instrument typical of a classical concerto

Concerto

A concerto is a musical work usually composed in three parts or movements, in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra.The etymology is uncertain, but the word seems to have originated from the conjunction of the two Latin words...

, the Durham Concerto gives solo opportunities to several different instruments: cello

Cello

The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...

, violin

Violin

The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....

, Northumbrian pipes and Hammond organ

Hammond organ

The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...

. At the premiere of the work, Lord himself played the Hammond organ part, and Kathryn Tickell

Kathryn Tickell

Kathryn Tickell is an English player of the Northumbrian smallpipes and fiddle. She has recorded over a dozen albums, and toured widely.-Life and career:...

 the pipes.

• Part I. Morning
  • The Cathedral at Dawn — solo violin, solo cello, Hammond organ
  • Durham Awakes — solo violin, solo cello, Hammond organ, Northumbrian pipes
• Part II. Afternoon
  • The Road from Lindisfarne
    Lindisfarne
    Lindisfarne is a tidal island off the north-east coast of England. It is also known as Holy Island and constitutes a civil parish in Northumberland...
    
     — solo violin, solo cello, Northumbrian pipes
  • From Prebends Bridge
    Prebends Bridge
    Prebends Bridge, along with Framwellgate and Elvet, is one of three stone arch bridges in the centre of Durham, England, that cross the River Wear.-History:...
    
     — solo cello
• Part III. Evening
  • Rag
    RAG (student society)
    University Rag societies are student-run charitable fundraising organisations that are widespread in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Most universities in the UK and Ireland, as well as some in South Africa and the Netherlands have a Rag...
    
    s & Gala
    Durham Miners' Gala
    The Durham Miners' Gala is a large annual gathering held on the second Saturday in July in the city of Durham, England. It is associated with the coal mining heritage of the Durham Coalfield, which stretched throughout the traditional County of Durham. It is also locally called "The Big Meeting"...
    
    s — solo violin, solo cello, Hammond organ
  • Durham Nocturne
    Nocturne
    A nocturne is usually a musical composition that is inspired by, or evocative of, the night...
    
      — solo violin, solo cello, Hammond organ, Northumbrian pipes

A typical performance lasts just under an hour.

Recordings

• Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Mischa Damev (conductor), Matthew Barley (cello), Jon Lord (Hammond organ), Ruth Palmer
  Ruth Palmer
  Ruth Palmer is an acclaimed young British violinist, an exponent of music ranging from Bach to Shostakovich and beyond, who was named "Young Classical Performer of the Year" at the Classical BRITs in 2007.-Career:...
  
  (violin), Kathryn Tickell (Northumbrian pipes) • Avie • ASIN B000ZOWOCS • 28 January 2008