with Douglas Major, Organist
Wednesday, May 13, 2015, 8:00 p.m.
Presented by USI
Welcomed by Rodgers Organs of St. Louis
It is with great sadness that we share the news of the sudden death of Rolf Smedvig, founder and lead trumpet of Empire Brass. Mr. Smedvig passed away very suddenly at his home Monday evening, April 27, 2015. Cathedral Concerts, in consultation with the remaining members of the group and their management, has decided that the concert will go on and be dedicated to the memory of Rolf, as he would have wanted it.
The players in the concert will be:
Derek Lockheart – trumpet
Eric Berlin – trumpet
Victor Sungarian – horn
Greg Spiridopoulos – trombone
Kenneth Amis – tuba
Douglas Major – organ
We hope you will join us as we honor the memory of Rolf Smedvig and his incredible artistry.
The Empire Brass enjoys an international reputation as North America’s finest brass quintet, renowned for its brilliant virtuosity and the unparalleled diversity of its repertoire. The five musicians – all of whom have held leading positions with major American orchestras – perform over 100 concerts a year in cities such as New York, Boston, Chicago, Washington, London, Zurich and Tokyo.
With their best-selling recordings on the Telarc label they have introduced an even larger audience worldwide to the excitement of brass music that ranges from Bach and Handel to majestic antiphonal works that Gabrieli composed for St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice.
Douglas Major, organist, is a prominent American composer of sacred music and concert organist. He is the former choral director and organist at the Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C., where he frequently performed on nationally televised services and state occasions.
Program:
Basse Dance Bergeret by Tylman Susato
Rondeau by Jean Joseph Mouret
Es ist ein Ros’ entsrpungen by Michael Praetorius / Johannes Brahms
Prelude Fugue and Chaconne by Detrich Buxtehude (organ solo)
Jupiter from The Planets by Gustav Holst
Rondeau, from Abdelazer, or the Moor’s Revenge by Henry Purcell
March, from The Married Beau, or The Curious Impertinent by Henry Purcell
Prélude, from Te Deum in D major by Marc-Antoine Charpentier
Intermission
Canzona Bergamasca by Samuel Scheidt
Pastime with Good Company by Henry the VIII
Contrapunctus No. 1 and No. 9, from Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Toccata in F by JS Bach (organ solo)
Fantasia in C major, BWV 570 by JS Bach
Sleeper’s Wake by JS Bach
Ein’ feste Burg ist unser Gott, from Cantata No. 80, BWV 80 by JS Bach