| June
8
1st Presbyterian Church, Schenectady, NY
Performers:
Elinore Farnum, organ, John Spinelli, tenor, Jan Walz, soprano
Program:
Organ recital to benefit Deacons' Bible Camp Fund: (Organ) Bach,
Fantasia & Fugue in G minor; Seth Bingham (1882-1972), "Twilight
at Fiesole"; Mendelssohn, Sonata No. 3 in A Major (Con moto
maestoso, Andante tranquillo); Tchaikovsky, "Song of the Lark;
Eugène Gigout (1844-1925), Toccata in B minor; Louis Moreau
Gottschalk, "Softly Now the Light of Day", arr. Walter
Guernsey Reynolds; Louis Vierne, Final to Symphony No. 1; (Vocal)
Mendelssohn, "Ye People,Rend Your Hearts", "If With
All Your Hearts" (from "Elijah"), "The Secret
Place" (Psalm 91), "Then Shall the Righteous Shine Forth"
(from "Elijah")
On a hot, muggy afternoon, with some fans whirring away, a showcase
mostly for organist Farnum, with an assist from tenor Spinelli &
soprano Walz. Despite the heat, relieved partially by the fans,
this was an impressive outing for Farnum who, to no one's surprise
who knows her playing, displayed great dexterity & versatility
at the organ. From the stirring chords of the Bach, Mendelssohn
& Vierne pieces to the much more nuanced, gentler works by Bingham
& Gottschalk, & the novelty piece by Tchaikovsky, imitating
the sound of a lark. Impressive pedal work & surprising volume
produced by that instrument in that space!
One of the problems
in any large space for vocal soloists is projection: Spinelli has
a fine, almost Irish tenor voice, & some of his less than fortissimo
singing was lost in that high-ceilinged hall. While soprano Walz
did not have the same problem, I would like to have heard her do
at least one solo, as opposed to the duet with Spinelli. She has
a big voice, impressive vibrato, somewhat lacking in nuance that
tended to overwhelm her collaborator in the Mendelssohn Psalm.
I applaud Elinore's virtuosity,
also her programming skills in putting together this performance,
the notes in particular, always a useful helpmate for the conscientious
reviewer! And "Lark" & "Softly now", as
well as "Twilight at Fiesole" provided a delightful contrast
to the much larger, triumphalist sounds of Bach et al. Well done!
"Ye People"
"Ye people, rend
your hearts and not your garments for your transgressions: the
prophet Elijah hath sealed the heavens through the word of God.
I therefore say to ye: forsake your idols, return to God; for
He is slow to anger, and merciful, and kind, and gracious, and
repenteth Him of the evil."
"If with all your
hearts"
"If with all your
hearts ye truly seek Me, ye shall ever surely find Me.' Thus saith
our God. Oh! that I knew where I might find Him, that I might
even come before His presence!"
Psalm 91
He who dwells in the
shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD,
"He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."
Surely he will save
you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with
his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
You will not fear the
terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence
that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall
at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only observe
with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
If you make the Most
High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-
then no harm will befall
you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command
his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you
up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread upon
the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
"Because he loves
me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me,
and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will
I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."
Gottschalk/Reynolds,
"Softly Now" (Text: George Washington Doane, 1799-1859)
Softly now the light
of day
Fades upon my sight away;
Free from care, from labor free,
Lord, I would commune with Thee.
Thou, whose all pervading
eye
Naught escapes, without, within,
Pardon each infirmity,
Open fault, and secret sin.
Soon for me the light
of day
Shall forever pass away;
Then, from sin and sorrow free,
Take me, Lord, to dwell with Thee.
Thou Who, sinless,
yet hast known
All of man’s infirmity;
Then, from Thine eternal throne,
Jesus, look with pitying eye.
"Then Shall the
Righteous"
"Then shall the
righteous shine forth as the sun in their heavenly Father's realm.
Joy on their head shall be for everlasting, and all sorrow and
mourning shall flee away for ever."
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