A CHURCH organ designer is preparing to direct the world premiere of his first musical composition - the Concert Mass in D minor.

Proudly performing the ambitious work by Alan Howard will be the Chester-le-Street Civic Choir.

The mass will be sung at its spring concert at the Methodist Church in Chester-le-Street at 7.30pm on Saturday.

Choir chairwoman Florence Robinson said: "We are really proud of Alan and feel particularly privileged to be the first choir to be singing this first work, which is written with a choir like us in mind."

Mr Howarth, 72, of Brandon, Durham, began his musical training as a boy chorister at Manchester Cathedral.

On leaving school, he became an apprentice in Manchester with Durham organ builders Harrison and Harrison.

He said: "The Concert Mass in D minor has inspired composers for centuries, but many of these settings are beyond the resources and capabilities of small local choirs.

"The new setting, composed over a period of two years, seeks to strike a balance between musical complexity and singability."

He added: "The musical style and harmonic structure are very conventional - old-fashioned almost - and the hope is that choirs with limited resources will find enjoyment in both rehearsal and performance."

Mr Howarth said he had written the score with a special computer programme which simulated a human voice and took the drudgery out of writing music.

He said: "The sound reproduced is synthetic, and difficult to fine tune. But, having heard real voices singing it, I have not been disappointed."

Mr Howard said he hoped that some day a larger choral society might perform the work with an orchestral accompaniment - which is as yet unwritten.

The soloists on Saturday are Cynthia Howarth, Tracy Hopper and Joy Lynn, who will be joined by guest soloists David Fiddiman and Stephen Wroe.

Tickets cost £3.50 and are available from Alison Keers on 0191-388 7108.