Open House New York Organ Concert (10/20/24)

I attended an Open House New York organ concert played by Michael T.C. Hey at Marble Collegiate Church. It was wonderful. 

Scherzo Symphonique – Pierre Cochereau (1924–1984) – transcribed/arranged by Jeremy Filsell
Cortège et Litanie, Op. 19, No. 2 – Marcel Dupré (1886–1971)
Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582 – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Lay My Burden Down – Iaian Farrington (b. 1977)
  IV. Steal Away
  V. Every Time I Feel the Spirit
Pageant – Leo Sowerby (1895–1968)

The organ case and keyboard were in the balcony at the back of the church (the pipes, 6,000+, were scattered throughout the building). There was an organ cam – we could see Mr. Hey on a big screen near the altar. There was also a picture-in-picture pedal cam, so that we could see his fleet footwork. His black-and-white-striped socks reminded me of the Wicked Witch of the West, but I digress.

The Cochereau opened with a blast of sound (probably a good start) with a brisk tempo. Scherzo means joke—and this piece had serious humor. I believe Mr. Hey played from memory.

The Dupré began with an intro, then a theme and variations. (Playing from a tablet score?) It was calmer and softer than the previous Scherzo, and included an orchestral chime stop—a pipe designed to sound like an orchestral chime (see 6,000+ pipes, above). Because we had an organ cam, we could see that the theme moved from place to place on the keyboard, even moving to the left hand at one point.

The Bach used an old-fashioned paper score—very wide. I am quite familiar with these, as I lived with an organist for 31 years and was often the designated page-turner. The theme was introduced in the pedals and then moved to many places elsewhere. Mr. Hey turned his own pages and only had one minor mishap.

Iaian Farrington is a British composer who made/took American spirituals and made them his own—and ours. The first was ethereal and mysterious, with modern harmonies at times, especially at the ending. The second movement was almost a jazz arrangement, quite playful. Hmm, a modern scherzo!

Pageant was designed as a tour de force for the pedals. It had a Tin Pan Alley–esque theme, then variations introduced by the pedals. The pedals were featured predominantly throughout, including at least two featured pedal cams, striped socks and all.

Can you tell I had a great time?

ConcertMeister