Faculty recital to feature pipe organ

A Northwestern College faculty recital on Friday, Jan. 30, will feature the pipe organ in celebration of 2008–09 being International Year of the Organ, as designated by the American Guild of Organists (AGO). The recital, which begins at 7:30 p.m. in Christ Chapel, is free and open to the public.

Recital participants will include MaryLou Wielenga, lecturer in music and college organist; trumpeter Richard Bogenrief, lecturer in music; flutist Sue De Haan, lecturer in music; soprano vocalist Linell Gray Moss, lecturer in music; cellist Dr. Kimberly Utke Svanoe, associate professor of music; and pianist Lori Vande Brake, staff accompanist.

The repertoire will include baroque music for trumpet and organ; an aria from Bach’s Saint John Passion for soprano, flute and organ; a Hebrew prayer, Hear Our Voice, by Max Janowski for soprano and organ; organ solos, including music of Max Reger; a group of pieces by Minnesota composers commissioned by the AGO for organ and various instruments; and two cowboy songs by Minnesota composer Libby Larsen.

Wielenga and De Haan will perform Ornaments of Grace by Bernard Wayne Sanders, a piece written for organ and one instrument which won the International Year of the Organ composition competition. Wielenga will also perform Daniel Burton’s Rex, King of Instruments for organ and narrator, which humorously explains and demonstrates the sounds of the organ. Dr. Heather Josselyn-Cranson, assistant professor of music, will narrate.