Past Series Events
Sunday April 22, 2012 at 5:00 p.m.
Sunday Tea (4:00 p.m.), Choral Evensong (5:00 p.m.) and a half-hour Organ Recital (Approx. 5:45 p.m.) Feel free to come for any or all of the afternoon; a brief break following Evensong permits easy coming and going. A video screen shows the organist's hands and feet during the Recital.
April 22: Sung by the Anglican Singers.
Introit: Sing my soul, his wondrous love – Ned Rorem
Responses: Martin Neary
Psalms 114 and 115 Anglican Chants by George Mursell Garrett and Gerald Knight
Evening Canticles: Herbert Howells “Sarum”
Anthem: Greater love hath no man – John Ireland
Organ Recital by Joseph Ripka, Calvary Church (Episcopal), Stonington.
PROGRAM:
Evocation II---Thierry Escaich (b. 1965)
Suite Pour Orgue Op 5Maurice Duruflé
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Prélude(1902-1986)
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Sicilienne
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Toccata
Joseph Ripka is organist and choirmaster at Calvary Church in Stonington where he directs the adult and youth choirs and serves as artistic director for the Calvary Music School. He is also organist for the Anglican Singers and assists Kevin Jones at Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford for services of choral evensong. He was previously organ scholar at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Fairfield, Connecticut, organist/choirmaster at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Kansas City, and organist/choir director at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Parma, OH. During the 2006-2007 academic year, Joseph served on the piano faculty at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. Joseph has served as a jurist for the 2010 L. Cameron Johnson Memorial Competition for high school organ students and the North American round of the 2009 Tariverdiev International Organ Competition. As the first prize winner of the 2008 Dublin International Organ Competition, the 2008 Fort Wayne National Organ Competition and the 2008 San Marino/Elizabeth Elftman National Organ Competition, Joseph Ripka has earned national and international recognition as one of today’s finest young organ talents. Joseph was awarded first prize at the Dublin competition by a unanimous decision of all five international jurors. Joseph is in demand as a concert organist and has performed recitals throughout the United States. He received high praise in a review from the Boston Musical Intelligencer for his performance at Holy Cross College in Worcester Massachusetts on the renowned Taylor and Boody Opus 9 instrument, and most recently, received praise from the New York publication “Lucid Culture” for his performance at St Thomas Church 5th Avenue in New York City. Joseph has performed with the New World Symphony, the Boston Philharmonic, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra under conductors Michael Tilson Thomas, Benjamin Zander, and Alan Gilbert. Mr. Ripka’s recitals have been aired on American Public Media's Pipedreams several times; he was invited by Michael Barone to be the featured artist for the 25th anniversary celebration of Pipedreams in 2008 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. During the summer of 2009, Joseph made his European concert debut with recitals at St. Sulpice in Paris, Bavo Kerk in Haarlem, Oude Kerk in Amsterdam, and Hooglandse Kerk in Leiden, Netherlands. Joseph has since played recitals at Westminster Cathedral in London, St. Michael’s Church in Dun Laoghaire, St Paul's Cathedral in London, St Columb's Cathedral in Derry, Noorderkerk in Amsterdam, Kings College Cambridge and many more. Mr. Ripka received the prestigious Artist Diploma in organ from the Oberlin Conservatory where he studied with James David Christie. He holds Master of Music degrees in piano and organ performance from the University of Kansas and Bachelor of Music degrees in piano and organ performance from Saint Cloud State University, MN. His previous teachers include James Higdon, Charles Echols, Jack Winerock, Carmen Wilhite, and Yakov Gelfand. He has coached with Olivier Latry, Marie Claire Alain, Wilma Jensen, Jean-Baptiste Robin, John Scott, and Phillipe Lefebvre. Joseph recently completed further graduate studies at the Yale Institute of Sacred music, where he studied organ with Martin Jean and organ improvisation with Jeff Brillhart. At Yale, he was the recipient of the Robert Baker stipend, which is given to a student deemed to be among the top 1 or 2 percent of the young organists in the country, the 2010 Charles Ives Prize by the Yale School of Music as the most outstanding organ student, the 2010 Mary Baker scholarship in organ accompanying by the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, and the 2011 Alumni Prize awarded by the Yale School of Music. www.josephripka.com
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Sunday April 29, 2012 at 10:30 a.m.
Excerpts from Missa Gaia (Earth Mass) will be sung during the 10:30 a.m. service in a liturgical celebration of Earth Day, with the Adult and Youth Choirs, percussion, and the pre-recorded sounds of wolves and seal pups!
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Sunday March 25, 2012 at 5:00 p.m.
International Celebrity Organ Recital by Wilma Jensen. A Lenten program tracing the path from Palm Sunday to Easter. General admission $10; students and seniors $7. Two for one admission (or half price single ticket) when you show your Let's Go Arts card (a program of the Greater Hartford Arts Council). Reception following. (Dr. Jensen's biography follows this program listing.)
Dr. Jensen will also teach a Public Masterclass on Friday, March 23 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., featuring three students from the Hartt School of Music already selected. This Class may be audited for $5.00. A video projector will show the students' hands and feet during the masterclass.
PROGRAM
Méditation à Ste-Clotilde Philip James (1890-1975)
Symphonie VI, Op. 42 Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937)
Allegro
Kindly hold applause until the conclusion of the remainder of the program.
THE SUNDAY OF THE PASSION: PALM SUNDAY
Pour la Fête des Rameaux sur Jeanne-Angèle-Désirée-Yvonne Joulain (1920-2010)
“Hosanna Filio David”
THE LAST SUPPER
The Washing of the Feet
Meditation Ubi caritas “Where charity and love prevail” Larry Visser (b. 1962)
The Holy Eucharist
Panis Angelicus “Bread of Angels” Pierre Camonin (1903-2003)
THE PASSION
Scène of the Passion Daniel Lesur (1908-2002)
Passion Symphony Paul de Maleingreau (1887-1956)
The Tumult in the Praetorium
Passion Symphony Marcel Dupré (1886-1971)
Crucifixion
Herzlich tut mich verlangen “My heart is filled with longing” Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Chorale Prelude, Op. 122, #10
THE RESURRECTION
Mors et resurrectio “Death and resurrection” Jean Langlais (1907-1991)
Resurrection Larry King (1932-1990)
Lament
The Rising
Ecstasy
Reflection
Fantasie-Improvisation sur le “Victimae Paschali” Charles Tournemire (1860-1939)
“The Paschal Victim” ed. Maurice Duruflé
WILMA JENSEN
An extensive career as a concert organist has taken WILMA JENSEN throughout the United States to play on such well-known instruments as those at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, The Riverside Church in New York City, and the West Point United States Military Academy. Having played for several Regional Conventions and three National Conventions of the American Guild of Organists, she is in demand as a recitalist, lecturer and clinician for choral workshops, church music workshops and organ master classes. Numerous European tours have taken her to Norway, Sweden, Denmark, West Germany, France, Poland, The Netherlands and England. In addition, she has made a recording for West German Broadcasting, Sender Freis Berlin.
Dr. Jensen earned her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where she was a student of Catharine Crozier and Harold Gleason. During that time she received the highly coveted Performer’s Certificate in Organ. The artist received an Honorary Doctorate from Piedmont College in May 2004. Recognized as a successful teacher, Wilma Jensen has been on the faculties of Oklahoma City University, the Blair School of Music of Vanderbilt University, Scarritt Graduate School, and Indiana University, where she was a tenured professor.
With a long, active musical career, Dr. Wilma Jensen has always had a focus in three directions- Church Music, Teaching and Performance. Now Choirmaster/Organist Emerita of St. George’s Episcopal Church, she was for 19 years Choirmaster/Organist, building the choir to a musical level which included an invitation to sing for the National Convention of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and an extended tour in Europe. On that tour, Dr. Jensen conducted St. George’s Choir in their singing of the Sunday morning Mass at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. The Mass featured the Vierne Messe Solennelle, which was written for choir and two organs for Notre Dame Cathedral. Before the service, the choir sang an extended group of a cappella repertoire.
Dr. Jensen has made two professional solo recordings; Mors et Resurrecto (Arkay label) and Sketches and Improvisations (Pro Organo label), which is in the French Tradition. Both recordings were made on the Casavant Organ at St. George’s Church. She also made two recordings conducting St George’s Choir on the Pro Organo label.
Wilma Jensen has resumed her concert career performing extensively the last two years in organ recitals, conducting church choral and organ music workshops, and teaching organ master classes. In the 2004-2005 season she preformed at The Riverside Church in New York City, in Jacksonville, FL, Oklahoma City, Atlanta, Perkasie, Pennsylvania, and at First Congregational Church in Los Angeles on one of the largest church pipe organs in the world.
Wilma Jensen was Dean of the Nashville Chapter of the American Guild of Organists for 2006-2007.
In June 2005, the artist traveled to France where she played an organ recital at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris on Sunday afternoon, June 26. This was her fourth concert appearance at the Cathedral. The summer Sunday organ recitals often draw a crowd of approximately 5,000 people.
Dr. Jensen has just released a 2 DVD set Teaching Video entitled ORGANIZING NOTES IN SPACE - Developing Organ Technique and Musicality. On the Video she explains the development of various touches and teaches seven of her former students.
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Sunday April 1, 2012 at 5:00 p.m.
A Bach organ Vespers for Holy Week. Played by St. John's Music Director Peter Stoltzfus Berton, an hour of music of J. S. Bach, also tracing the path from Palm Sunday to Easter.
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Thursday February 16, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.
Passion and Folly in Baroque Song. Marian Maccarone, soprano and Tim Stella, harpsichord, in a Valentine's Day-themed concert to feed the heart and soul. General admission $10; students and seniors $7. Two for one admission (or half price single ticket) when you show your Let's Go Arts card (a program of the Greater Hartford Arts Council). Reception following.
Marian Maccarone and Tim Stella excite audiences with this concert of varied baroque music. Even though they perform at a high level of expertise, their rapport with each other and the audience generates energy with passion and fun. Both Marian and Tim enjoy speaking directly to the audience, sharing fascinating tidbits about the music or composer, putting the selection in a context to make it even more enjoyable. Audiences leave a performance enlightened and delighted.
Click here to order tickets online
PROGRAM
Nymphs and Shepherds Henry Purcell (1658-1695) from The Libertine Oh sleep, why dost thou leave me? from Semele, HWV 58 Verdi Prati from Alcina, HWV 34 Piangero la sorte mia George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) from Giulio Cesare, HWV 17 Pavana Dolorosa, harpsichord solo Peter Philips? (1560-1628) Oh, had I Jubal’s lyre George Frideric Handel from Joshua, HWV 64 Lasciatemi morire Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) from Ariana Lascia ch’io pianga George Frideric Handel from Rinaldo, HWV 7 Gia il sole dal Gange Alessandro Scarlatti (1659-1725) The Carman’s Whistle, harpsichord solo William Byrd (1543-1623) Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, BWV 147 Bist du bei mir, BWV 508 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Ombrai mai fu George Frideric Handel from Xerxes, HWV 40 Vittoria, mio core Giacomo Carissimi
The harpsichord used in this concert was built in 1997 by Carl Dudash and decorated by Marilee Dudash. It incorporates a design feature found on just a handful of extant instruments from the 16th and 17th Centuries. The jacks that pluck the strings are arranged in three rows, or registers, that spread apart toward the bass. This produces great contrasts in timbre between registers giving the player an interesting variety of sounds from which to choose.
The instrument was originally commissioned by the late Richard P. Garmany, a great patron of the arts and a fine amateur musician. Before his death in 2008, Mr. Garmany established a fund to support both the arts and medical research.
Sunday February 5, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. (Tea), 5:00 p.m. (Evensong), and 5:45 p.m. (30 minute Organ Recital)
Evensong sung by the St. John's Youth and Adult Choirs. Recital by Graham Schultz, Lloyd Cast Organ Scholar, The Cathedral of All Saints, Albany, NY
Evensong:
Organ: Fugue on 'How brightly shines the morning star' Max Reger
My soul doth magnify the Lord, S. 643 Johann Sebastian Bach
Introit: O nata lux Thomas Tallis
Preces and Responses William Smith
Psalms 48 and 87 Anglican Chants by Edward Elgar and Jonathan Battishill
Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in D George Dyson
Anthem: When to the temple Mary went Johannes Eccard
Organ: Lord God, now open wide thy heaven, S. 617 Bach
Recital:
Sonata III in A Major, Op. 65 Felix Mendelssohn 1809-1847
I. Con moto maestoso
Ave Maria, Ave Maris Stella ( 3 Paraphrases grégoriennes, Op. 5) Jean Langlais 1907-1991
Chorale No. 3 in A minor César Franck (1822-1890)
Graham Schultz, originally from Fayetteville, Arkansas, received his Bachelor of Music in organ performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music studying with Mr. Todd Wilson. Prior to studying in Cleveland, Graham attended the Interlochen Arts Academy. A dedicated church musician, Graham served for five years as the Organist and Choirmaster at St. James Church, Cleveland while also serving as an Assistant Organist at the parish of the Immaculate Conception in Cleveland. For four years he was the accompanist and director of the training choir for the Ohio Boychoir.
Sunday November 13 at 4:00 p.m. (Tea), 5:00 p.m. (Evensong), and 5:45 p.m. (30 minute Organ Recital)
Tea, Evensong and Organ Recital. The first of the 'regular format' Sunday Evensongs at St. John's [the October 15 Evensong was a Saturday with special hospitality in honor of The Rev'd Joseph L. Pace]. English Tea in the Parish Hall, then the renowned Choir of the Church of the Advent, Boston, directed by Mark Dwyer, sang Evensong. A recital of Elgar's complete Enigma Variations, transcribed by Daniel Stipe, Assistant Organist, Trinity Church, Princeton, NJ followed.
Evensong:
Prelude: Priere Cesar Franck (Daniel Stipe, organ)
Bring us, O Lord God William H. Harris
Preces and Responses William Smith
Psalms 46 and 19 Anglican chants adapted from Martin Luther, and by John Goss
Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis for Worcester Cathedral Herbert Howells
Love of love and Light of light William H. Harris
Postlude: Te lucis ante terminum Marcel Dupre
Thursday November 10 at 7:00 p.m.
Candlelight Concert. J. S. Bach's intimate Cantata 78 and John Rutter's lyrical Requiem, an evocative meditation on life and death in observance of All Saints Day and Veterans Day, featured the Adult and Youth choirs of St. John's with organ and chamber orchestra. Preferred Reserved Seating $30; General admission $15; students and seniors $10. Two for one admission when you show your Lets Go Arts card (a program of the Greater Hartford Arts Council). A candlelight reception followed.
Friday October 28 at 7:00 p.m.
Pipescreams, A Halloween concert co-presented by the Greater Hartford Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. The music of DEAD composers was performed by local keyboard wizards making mischief in a wacky, video-enhanced program. Special guests included the Seven Deadly Sins and the St. John's Youth Choir. Treats followed; costumes were welcome! $5 suggested donation, or food for the local Food Bank.
THE PROGRAM WAS:
Toccata and fugue in d minor BWV 565 Johann Sebastian Bach
Peter Stoltzfus Berton, with cameo appearances by Lady Gaga and St. John’s Youth Choir
Theme and variation from Sonata VI (with the Seven Deadly Sins) Felix Mendelssohn
Cheryl Rita Wadsworth
Toccata from Pieces de Fantasie Op 53 Louis Vierne
Angela Salcedo
Allegro maestoso from Symphony III Louis Vierne
Monica Czausz
Funeral March of the Marionettes (Costume parade) Charles Gounod, arr. W.T. Best
Kari Miller
Toccata from Suite Gothique Leon Boellmann
Meg Smith
Chatanooga Choo-choo arr. Cheryl Wadsworth
Cheryl Wadsworth
The Great Gate of Kiev from Pictures at an Exhibition Modest Mussorgsky
Eugenia Sullivan
Strange Meadowlark Dave Brubeck
Toccata in b minor Eugène Gigout
Natasha Ulyanovsky
Ride of the Valkyries Richard Wagner, arr. Clarence Dickinson and Charlotte Mathewson Lockwood
Peter Stoltzfus and Peter Berton (ghost duet)
Saturday October 15 at 5:00 p.m.
Choral Evensong The combined choirs of St. John's and Trinity Church, Hartford sang Evensong in celebration of the Rev'd Joseph L. Pace's 20 years as Rector of St. John's. Passacaglia, a new organ work by Peter Stoltzfus Berton, in honor of Fr. Pace, premiered as the Prelude at 4:50 p.m. A reception followed.
A recording of this service has been posted here: http://stjohnswesthartford.podcastpeople.com/
Prelude Passacaglia, Op. 20 Peter Stoltzfus Berton
Introit When rooks fly homeward Arthur Baynon
Preces and Responses Anthony Piccolo
Phos Hilaron Hymn 31 Dunedin
Psalms 110:1-5, 116, 117 Anglican Chants by G. Thalben-Ball, W. H. Havergal, C. Dearnley
Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in C Charles Villiers Stanford
Hymn 521 Put forth, O God, thy Spirit's might Chelsea Square
Anthem Thou, O God, art praised in Sion Malcolm C. Boyle
Hymn 525 The Church's one foundation Aurelia
Postlude Apparition de l'Eglise Eternelle Olivier Messiaen
Thursday September 22, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.
Concert by Trio Cantabile. A program of sacred and secular favorites with soprano (Margaret Beers), piano (Stacy Cahoon) and harp (Amanda Evans). The program included many combinations of these three musicians, with instrumental solos and a duet for piano and harp. Highlights were Mozart's Alleluia, Bach-Gounod's Ave Maria, a Debussy duet for piano and harp, a Brahms piano solo, excerpts from The Marriage of Figaro and The Merry Widow, Maurice Ravel's unusual and ravishing "Kaddisch" from Two Hebrew Melodies, and Leonard Bernstein's "A Simple Song." A reception followed. Click to download the complete program including listings of our patrons and advertisers: TrioCantabile092211.pdf
(Photo: Gay Ayers)
Tickets were General admission $10, Seniors/students $7, with Two-for-one admission when you show your LetsGoArts card (a program of the Greater Hartford Arts Council).
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