Member’s Recital Recap
Sunday, February 11, 2024
Winnetka Covenant Church
James Janossy, Board Secretary
Audience members were treated to an uplifting afternoon performance in the octagonal, light-filled sanctuary of Winnetka Covenant Church on Sunday, February 11. Music Director Tom Tropp and North Shore AGO Dean Robert Woodworth introduced the program, which highlighted themes of the Epiphany Season and Transfiguration. The repertoire showcased the harmonic palette of the 1973 Wicks organ (37 ranks, with additional digital stops by Erickson, Christian and Associates, 2012). Settings of “Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern,” by Dietrich Buxtehude, Hugo Distler, Paul Manz, and Sigfrid Karg-Elert, were performed by Robert McConnell, Bridget de la Pena, and Ethan Mellema.
The organ’s chimes sounded the melody “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light,” in a Partita by John Behnke, performed by Michael Gagne. The breadth and depth of the organ’s dynamic range was featured in Oliver Messiaen’s “Apparation de Eglise eternelle,” performed by Board Member Matthew Doran. The recital featured the works of several 20th and 21st century composers in addition to Messiaen, including Hugo Distler, Paul Manz, Joe Utterback, John Behnke, Dan Miller, and Buck McDaniel. In addition, Michael Gagne began his set with a festive original composition, “Fanfare.”
Members are invited to the Chapter’s next event, 3:00 pm, Sunday, April 21, 2024, featuring a workshop on continuo playing with David Schrader at First United Methodist Church, Evanston. Free parking is available on Sunday in the City of Evanston Garage on Church Street.