In March, I will be out of town for about two weeks. First, I’ll be playing an organ concert at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. I’m excited about this, because while the organ is rather new, it was built using models and techniques heavily researched, that were used by 17th century European organ builders, and is perfect for the kinds of music I love to play. Read more at baroqueorgan.cornell.edu. I’ll also be able to combine this trip with a visit to Paige Convis and her husband, in nearby Schodak Landing, NY. Then I’ll be flying to Germany, where I haven’t been since the summer of 2014, to play two organ concerts, in the cathedral in Magdeburg, and in the Marktkirche (Market Church) in Hanover. I’m also looking forward to seeing some old friends, since Hanover is not far from Bremen.
And before I set out on this adventure, I wanted to share with my Hope Church friends some of the music I’ve been preparing for these concerts, but which I can’t quite find spots to play in a normal worship service. Thus, a new idea – the Post-Pizza-Pre-Concert-Tour-Recital! On February 26 there will be a pizza Sunday. After we’ve all had our pizza and a bit of time to chat with friends, I invite you to join me back in the sanctuary for a short (aprox 30mins) recital of music I’ll be playing in my concerts in NY and Germany. There will be a range of music, from Baroque to Modern. The concert will start about 1pm (but no pizza allowed in the sanctuary please!)
During Tulip Time this year, for the first time, there will be an organ concert at Hope Church as part of the official Tulip Time activities. I’ll be playing Dutch organ music on Sunday, May 7 at 7pm. The Tulip Time committee was very excited to hear my proposal of a concert focused solely on Dutch music, since, despite the many musical offerings at Tulip Time, no one plays Dutch music! So I’m putting together a program that starts with Sweelinck, a famous Baroque organist and composer, continues through the romantic period, and culminates with the music of Ad Wammes, a living Dutch composer who writes in a jazzy and accessible style. You can read more at https://www.tuliptime.com/events/organ-concert/.
This is a ticketed event, and you are welcome and encouraged to buy your tickets through Tulip Time for $15, but I am also needing folks to help out that evening, as ushers, ticket takers, and sellers of CD’s and books. So, if you’d like free admittance to the concert, talk to me about getting on this list of helpers.
~Rhonda Edgington, Organist & Associate Director of Music