Ryerson Church – Organist John Mitchell – Sunday April 21

Organist John Mitchell plays an exciting and entertaining programme on the magificent 1964 four-manual Casavant organ – recently modernized and enlarged. There will be some informal spoken introductions to the music.
The recital begins with three Baroque B’s:- the virtuosic Prelude and Fugue in C major by Bach’s teacher Georg Böhm, followed by two of Buxtehude’s most popular pieces – the Passacaglia in D minor and the ‘Jig’ fugue in C major. J.S. Bach is represented by his longest organ work – the twenty minute set of variations on the chorale ‘Sei gegrüsset, Jesu gütig’.This is considered the finest set of organ variations ever written.
From the romantic period Edward Elgar’s charming ‘Vesper Voluntaries’ will be followed by the lushly ‘orchestral’ slow movement from Widor’s last organ symphony – the ‘Romane’ It is based on the Easter hymn ‘Haec Dies’.
The recital will conclude with a novelty – to honour the recent discovery of the remains of King Richard III in Leicester, England (under a carpark!) Sir Lawrence Olivier’s 1955 film ‘Richard III’ had a magnificent score by Sir William Walton, and a suite of four pieces will be played. In the film the first three are actually played on an organ. The concluding march has a melody as glorious as anything by Elgar.

The concert is at 3:00 PM Sunday April 21 at Ryerson Church – corner of 45th Ave and Yew St.
Admission at the door only – Adults $15 – Students $10