Rededication Recital Program
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE REDEDICATION RECITAL for the Austin Organ, renovated by Muller Pipe Organ Company Sunday, November 14, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. Todd Wilson, organist Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Two Schübler Chorales My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord, BWV 648 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, BWV 650 Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor, BWV 582 Intermission Two Preludes on American Hymn Tunes George Shearing There is a Happy Land (b. 1919) I Love Thee, My Lord Three movements from Symphony No. 5, Op. 42 Charles-Marie Widor Allegro vivace (variations) (1844-1937) Adagio Toccata There will be an artist’s reception in the Living Room immediately following the concert. Please join us! EXCLUSIVE MANAGEMENT: Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc. www.concertorganists.com Photography and recording of this afternoon’s concert are prohibited without written permission from Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc. ST. A LBAN ’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH The Rev. Michael Jupin, Interim Rector Sara C. Seidel, Organist and Director of Music TODD WILSON Regarded across America and around the world as one of today’s finest concert organists, Todd Wilson serves as head of the Organ Department at The Cleveland Institute of Music. In addition, he is Curator of the E.M. Skinner pipe organ at Severance Hall (home of The Cleveland Orchestra), and serves as Artist-in-Residence at Cleveland’s Trinity Cathedral (Episcopal), where he plays the Cathedral’s Flentrop organs. He also is House Organist for the newly- restored Aeolian organ at the Stan Hywet Home & Gardens in Akron, and teaches at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Wilson received his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, where he studied organ with Wayne Fisher. Further coaching in organ repertoire was with Russell Saunders at The Eastman School of Music. He has won numerous competitions, including the Grand Prix de Chartres (France) and the Ft. Wayne Competition. An active member of the American Guild of Organists, Mr. Wilson holds the Fellow and Choirmaster certificates. He was a featured performer for the Centennial National Convention of the Guild in New York City in July 1996 and at the 2008 National Convention of the Guild in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Todd Wilson has been heard in concert in many major cities throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan, including concerts at Symphony Hall (Birmingham, UK), Los Angeles’ Walt Disney Concert Hall, Philadelphia’s Verizon Hall, Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, Cleveland’s Severance Hall, Dallas’ Meyerson Symphony Center, and Uihlein Hall in Milwaukee. In June of 2003 he dedicated the organ in the new 21,000-seat Mormon Conference Center in Salt Lake City, in October 2004 he performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra on the first orchestra subscription series concert featuring the new organ at Disney Hall in Los Angeles, and in January 2005 he performed his Japan debut recital in Tokyo. He has appeared as a solo recitalist for Austrian Radio in Vienna as well as in concert with the Slovakian Radio Symphony. Past orchestral appearances include performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, members of the Atlanta Symphony, the Naples (FL) Philharmonic, the Calgary Philharmonic, City of London Sinfonia, the Canton Symphony, the New Mexico Symphony, the Ft. Worth Symphony, and the Orchestra at Temple Square in Salt Lake City. A sought-after adjudicator, Todd Wilson has been a jury member for numerous national and international playing competitions. An active interest in improvisation has led to his popular improvised accompaniments to classic silent films. ORGAN BUILDER’S COMMENTS Scott Hayes, Tonal Director, Muller Pipe Organ Company The organ at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church was built in 1975 by the large American firm of Austin Organ Company of Hartford, Connecticut. Opus 2588 was created in the midst of the Neo-Baroque period of organ building, which emphasized higher pitches and clarity of tone. Even so, the tonal concept is firmly American in design, and the organ can effectively render repertoire from most historical periods. While successful overall, there were certain tonal elements of the instrument that were less than ideal for leading congregational song and choral accompaniment. First, there was no true “string” tone in the organ. Additionally, the flutes of the instrument were airy and inconsistent, compromising their potential beauty. The reed stops (Trumpet and Krummhorn) were voiced aggressively and lacked true refinement. There was no middle volume stop in the pedal division; everything was either too loud or too soft. And, finally, the note-to-note regulation of the organ left much to be desired. To address these issues, we replaced or revoiced several stops. The former Gemshorn and Gemshorn Celeste were replaced with true string stops, the Viole and Viole Celeste, providing a rich timbre not previously found in the organ. The Trumpet (reed), plus the Great Bourdon and Swell Rohrflöte (flutes) were rebuilt, allowing these pipes to reach their full tonal potential. The Krummhorn (reed) was replaced by a more orchestral sound, the Clarinet. The rarely used Pedal II Mixture was replaced by a new 8' Bourdon (flute), providing a long- desired middle volume voice. Finally, every pipe in the organ was checked and adjusted for consistent speech and volume, and balances within the ensemble were re-established. Also as part of this project, the console was renovated. The operating system of the organ was upgraded to solid state and new wiring was installed throughout the organ. New manual keyboards were installed, and the pedal keyboard was restored. Interior wood components of the console were replaced, along with the new stop tablet assemblies. The white console cabinet was refinished, as was the bench. This project was a most fulfilling tonal renovation of an existing organ for Muller Pipe Organ Company. It was our pleasure to bring this instrument to its full potential as an integral part of the worship life for the parishioners of St. Alban’s Church. Now able to fully express the emotion, color, and depth of music in worship, we hope that it does so for generations. Thank you to all of the donors who helped make this project possible! Sylvia Acton Reynold & Marjorie Klages Sybil Addison Karl & Martha Kumler Judith Ahrens Ann Lacock Francie Alexander Bev Langley Sue Altmaier Carolyn Leake Lainey Altmaier Robert Livingston Linda Baas Rogers & Margaret Marshall Becky Beckley (deceased) Bill & Martha Martin Jerry & Eileen Becknell Katie & Chris Matney Lucie Blumenthal Doris McAuley Ronald & Ann Boeckman John McCoy (deceased) Connie Bommer Larry & Mary Jane Metz Suzan & Eric Brown Ted & Karen Meyer Stephen Brown Betsey & Jim Miner Lisa & David Carlin Bob & Mary Monsarrat Ward Case Ted Nemeth & Sara Seidel Jean Catterton Timothy & Charlene O’Donnell Carolyn Christy Charles Orne Meg Clark Charles Pace Miranda Cox William & Barbara Paul Paige & Mike Crane Carol Pfau Jim Crane Bob Philips Mary Cull Sal & Laura Piazza Bill & Judy Davis Neil & Robin Price Whit Dillon Dale & Henry Richter Bill Dixon Constance & Jose Rivera Robert & Anne Dotson Russ & Dani Rosler Jack & Nancy Edwards Libby Ross Marjorie Fancher Jeffrey & Mary Roth Jack, Betsy, Bill & Meg Farrar Jo Ann Rusoff The Germain Family David & Barbara Sayer Diane & Tom Goodney Ferd Schoedinger Erma Grey Marlee & Rick Snowdon Michael Hamilton Richard Snyder Robin & Mary Harris Sally Soter Jason & Michelle Head Jack Stephen Kent & Kay Holley Joan & Fred Taylor Tom & Ann Hooker Emma Ruth Thornton, in memory of Lib Hart Frank & Melissa Ingwersen Alice Tinkham Gibby Jeffrey Ernestine Ujah Pat Johnston Elaine & Jack Warnett David Jones Ramona Whisler Michael & Barbara Jupin Sarah & W. Peter Williams Susan & Michael Kilbourne Sarah Ziegler Nick & Cindy Kip .