A dedicatory recital showcasing the renovated St. Peter's pipe organ and featuring guest artist Haig Mardirosian kicked off the Concerts at St. Peter's 2008 - 2009 season on Sunday, October 19.
In addition to celebrating the completion of the St. Peter's pipe organ renovation, the recital was also part of an international event. The American Guild of Organists (AGO) has designated the current year as the International Year of the Organ. As part of that observance the AGO, in cooperation with other organizations such as the Royal Canadian College of Organists and the American Theater Organ Society, on October 19 presented more than 2,000 performers at more than 225 concert venues (including St. Peter's) throughout North America and abroad.
Recital Program: Dr. Mardirosian's recital performance included the following works:
Two Preludes and Fugues (1856), Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
G minor
A minor
Sonata in F, Wq 70/3, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788)
Allegro
Largo
Allegretto
Introduzione e toccata, Erkki Salmenhaara (1941-2002)
Chants d’oiseaux (Livre d’orgue), Olivier Messiaen (1908-1991)
Three New Impressions for organ, op. 142, Sigfrid Karg-Elert (1877-1933)
Voices of the Night
Valse mignonne
Romantic Retrospective View
Carillon de Westminster (Pièces de Fantasie), Louis Vierne (1870-1937)
The dedicatory organ recital in October was the final event in a series of three special events celebrating the completion of the pipe organ renovation project and the installation of a 3-manual, 41-rank, combination pipe and digital instrument. The first event was November 18, 2007, when the organ was used for worship services at St. Peter's for the first time. The second event, the Brass, Bells & Pipes concert on April 6, 2008, marked the concert debut of the St. Peter's pipe organ.
View a dedicatory recital photo and a recital slideshow. Visit our Pipe Organ Gallery to view the organ stoplist, and to learn more about the renovation project.
October 21, 2008 More News . . .