An afternoon filled with glorious music for brass, organ, handbells and chorus marked the inaugural concert of the newly-renovated St. Peter's pipe organ on April 6.
The Brass, Bells & Pipes concert featured Emily Koons, organist; Don Witman, conductor and solo trumpet; the St. Peter's Handbell Choir; a guest brass ensemble; and the St. Peter's Adult Choir. Kim Pensinger Witman provided commentary for this milestone concert, celebrating the completion of the pipe organ renovation project.
The concert began with a piece showcasing brass and organ by Giovanni Gabrielli, Canzon Duodecimi Toni, from from Sacrae Symphoniae. Next it was the Handbell Choir's turn to perform a Michael Helman arrangement, Variations on a Theme by Brahms, based on Johannes Brahms' Symphony No. 1.
In her St. Peter's debut as a concert soloist, Emily Koons played three pieces demonstrating the capabilities of the organ as a solo instrument - Trio Sonata No.1 in Eb Major, by Johann Sebastian Bach; Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber (arranged for organ by William Strickland); and Sonata No. 5 for Organ, 1st movement, by Alexandre Guilmant.
The brass ensemble and organ collaboration was again featured in a work by Johann Pezel, Sonata No.2. The brass ensemble also performed Three Dances by Tilman Susato.
Two works on the program showcased the trumpet as a solo instrument. Trumpeter Don Witman, with Emily Koons at the pipe organ, performed Prayer of Saint Gregory, by Alan Hovhaness. Michael Bedford's setting of Psalm 96 for trumpet, organ and chorus was the final work on the first half of the concert program.
The performance of John Rutter's Gloria, featuring the Adult Choir, organ, and brass ensemble, brought the concert to a rousing conclusion. An encore brought together the brass ensemble, organ, Handbell Choir, Adult Choir and the audience for the performance of the hymn, "Songs of Thankfulness and Praise."
View a concert photo and a Brass, Bells & Pipes slideshow. You can also listen to the entire concert online. Visit our Pipe Organ Gallery to view the organ stoplist, and to read the concert program notes.
April 11, 2008 More News . . .