Music for Organ and Strings
featuring the Historic Holbrook Organ at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas
with Anton Nel, Keith Womer, Gitanjali Mathur, and the La Follia string ensemble
released November 22
available through December 22
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About this Concert
The star of this show isn’t a person; it’s an organ!
While we might think of organ concertos as something exotic, in fact they were very popular during the Baroque and Classical Era. And why not? The sound of an organ with strings thrilled the listeners of the day as much as it thrills us now. Handel found they were so popular as interludes during his oratorios that he wrote 16 of them!
This instrument was built by Edwin L. Holbrook (1824‐1904) of East Medway, Massachusetts in 1862 and was first employed in the Universalist Church in Southbridge, Massachusetts. It was later removed by organist aficionado Barbara Owen and rebuilt and enlarged by Charles Fisk in 1966 (*indicate additions) and installed temporarily at Memorial Church at Harvard University until its transfer to Redeemer. It is now the second oldest organ in Texas. It is fully functional with a glorious, room filling sound that belies its size.
By today’s standards, the Holbrook organ is a small instrument. In its time however, and more particularly in the Baroque and Classical periods, it was a common size. In fact, all the concertos we are performing were written for an organ of this size . None require the use of pedal, which was surprisingly common. Although the organ has no problem making itself heard, there is more blending with the ensemble which would not be possible on a larger instrument.
The Historic Holbrook Organ
The Performers
Musical Excerpts
Church Sonata No. 17, K. 336 - Wolfgang Amade Mozart
Although Mozart was an accomplished organist, he wrote very little music for the instrument (the “organ works” dating from the end of his life were actually written for a mechanical clock, and according to his letters he was oblivious to their potential use on the organ!) However he did write 17 so-called Church Sonatas (also known as Epistle Sonatas, indicating when they were played during the Mass), which included the organ. In many of these, the organ is in an accompanying role with an occasional melodic phrase popping out. But this miniature gem is actually a short, exquisite organ concerto, with a fully developed solo part. Another fascinating aspect of this concerto is that there is a second organ part performing a purely accompaniment role. The concerto is rarely heard with this second organ. We are fortunate that Redeemer has an excellent chamber organ, built by Taylor and Boody, which we can use.
Eia ergo, from salve Regina - George Frideric Handel
This unique piece dates from Handel’s time in Italy. It is the second movement of the Salve Regina, HWV 241. In it, the soprano is accompanied by a melodic organ part (so-called obbligato organ) with strings. It is, in a way, a short concerto for soprano and organ. “Turn then, our advocate, those merciful eyes toward us.”
Concerto No. 4 in C minor - John Stanley
Stanley was the blind organist at the Temple church in London, and counted among his friends and admire George Frideric Handel, who often came to listen to him. Is it any wonder this concerto has a Handelian flair, although given Stanley’s esteem as a composer, and Handel’s penchant for “borrowing”, it is hard to say who was copying whom!
Concerto for organ, violin, and cello, RV 554 - Antonio Vivaldi
Although Vivaldi wrote over 500 concertos, there are none for organ and orchestras. But there are four for violin and organ, and this beauty for violin, cello, and organ. Despite its beauty, it is rarely performed.
Concerto no. 6 in B flat major, H294 - George Frideric Handel
This concerto began as a concerto for harp and orchestra, and it is unclear that Handel ever intended it for organ. The range often goes up to high E flat which exceeds the range of any of the organs Handel played. Nonetheless his publisher Walsh issued it as an organ concerto. And we must admit, it works beautifully on the Holbrook, which fortunately has the necessary high E flat!
Concerto in E flat for keyboard and strings (Allegro) - Johann Christian Bach
Johann Christian Bach was the youngest of Bach’s sons, and his fame far exceeded that of his father, even reaching the American colonies. He also had a distinguished admirer in Mozart. And in fact his best music (and there is a lot of it) sounds like Mozart. Don’t take our word for it. Listen to this beauty. If you didn’t know otherwise, you would be fooled. Admit it.
Benedictus from Missa brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo - Franz Joseph Haydn
It was not uncommon in a Mass from the Classical Era for the organ to assume a solo role in the setting of the Benedictus. Haydn wrote a few, as did Mozart and others. This is a very famous, and very lovely setting for soprano, obbligato organ, and strings. “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Allegro from Concerto No. 2 in D major Hob. XVIII:2 - Franz Joseph Haydn
Haydn wrote at least 14 concertos for keyboard and orchestra. Although Haydn never gave a more specific indication (except for the first concerto specifically for organ), the concerti often make it clear whether the preferred instrument is organ, harpscihord, or (later) fortepiano. This is one that clearly works best on organ. Although the first two movements have merit, they are completely overshadowed by this final movement, which is unmistakably top drawer Haydn.