2012 Annual Members’ Recital
Article contributed by Michael Molnar
What better way to celebrate a historic organ than to perform a members’ recital on it. On April 27th, a diverse group of organists beautifully exploited the plethora of eight-foot stops on Holy Trinity’s distinctly romantically voiced organ. In promotion of the upcoming Church Musicians Summer Institute, the Recital began with a surprise performer…a very young lad named James Loeffler, who is in the middle of being converted from pianist to organist. Susan Ohannesian then performed two works by local legend Denis Bédard, pieces commissioned for her Church centennial at St. Mary’s Kerrisdale. Building on that momentum, Rachel Alflatt played some more Bédard, rounding out her performance with a lively “Sortie” by Dubois. Then our Dutch contingent (Henry Hageman and Frank Ezinga) presented four works by Max Reger (ending with the big Toccata in D minor). During the Intermission, we had a slide show showing the inner workings of the organ. There was also a table with a variety of different pipes for people to see up close. Judging by audience interaction and engagement when the organ was silent, this display proved to be a novel and fruitful enterprise. The second half started with a lavish and complex improvisation on a given theme by David Poon, followed by the gentle Berceuse by Louis Vierne (performed by a new arrival to Vancouver, Patrick Maniura). Some rarely heard Bruckner and Durufle was played alongside a Widor scherzo, done by Michael Molnar, which led to the grand finale…the big Widor Toccata by Marc D’Anjou. Thanks are due to the church and our host organist/member Michael Dirk for facilitating this event. Messrs. Molnar and Dirk were the recital organizers.
Regional Director Sam Balden penned a special poem for the evening, which he presented at the top of the concert:
THE HOLY TRINITY ANGLICAN MEMBERS’ RECITALThis is the thing that for organists is vital,Round up the membership; hold a fun recital.Find an instrument to play that is quite historic.And this strange breed, what can I say, they’ll be euphoric.The organ that you’ll hear tonight has lived one hundred years,For that alone, if nothing else, let me hear your cheers!But useage for so long a time could render it unfit,If the pipes emit a noise that really sounds like ___ (a raucous pedal reed bottom note is played here).You need not fear, you have my word, not one of you will gripe,For tender love and care has been lavished on each pipe.The glorious sound of nineteen twelve, it surely has no peer,It will enwrap your body round, and tantalize your ear.This building where you now do sit, of course it is a church,Presbyterian, then United, based on my research.And now ‘tis home to Anglicans, they turned the whole room round,Front to rear, rear to front, but the organ stood its ground.The ‘trinity’ of organ stops – so nice to have all three,Heavenly flues, to float along, like sailboats on the sea;Nasally reeds, to startle you and get your head aringing,Fulsome di-a-pa-sons to underpin the singing.Tonight we have an instrument that has this ‘trinity’,And in that vein, for keyboards, you’ll see that there are three.And keyboard on the floor for which our players use their feet,Look for fancy footwork, which really is unique!Well, time has come for me to stop (I think I’m being told)The performers for tonight – their feet are getting cold.So sit you back and listen to the beauty of this thing,Of all the earthly instruments, the ORGAN is the KING!