CONCERTS AT ST. CHRYSOSTOM’S

BACH & THE FISK

CLICK HERE FOR THE YOUTUBE L IVESTREAM

THOMAS COLAO ORGANIST

SUNDAY , 14 FEBRUARY 2021

7:00 P.M.

ST . CHRYSOSTOM ’S CHURCH

CHICAGO

BACH & THE FISK

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JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH

1685-1750

Prelude & Fugue in C BWV 545

Three Orgelbüchlein Chorales

Herr Christ, der einge Gottes-sohn

Ich ruf zu dir

In dir ist Freude

Prelude & Fugue in e minor BWV 548

Trio Sonata No. 3: II. Adagio

Prelude & Fugue in G BWV 541

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Johann Sebastian Bach certainly needs no introduction to you, our viewers. His brilliant music forms the core of our musical heritage. He is certainly the most important composer for the organ and his music is an essential and central part of every organist’s repertoire. Organ music existed, of course, before Bach and has continued to be written since Bach. But it is Bach by whom all organ music is measured. Indeed, his prolific and massive body of work has been admired and respected by every major composer since his death. This evening we hear several works from his mature periods in Weimar and Leipzig. His most advanced and interesting Preludes & Fugues spring from his prolific and inspired tenure in Weimar, showing his mastery of invention and counterpoint. His later project, the Orgelbüchlein, gives us a glimpse of the brilliance of his improvisatory skills in the chorale prelude form. Although his improvisations upon the chorale preludes in the services at his church caused comment because of their daring use of harmony and decoration, we, at this vantage point, can see their ingenuity, intricacy, and worth. The majestic Prelude & Fugue in C is one of his shorter works in this form, the Prelude only two pages, the Fugue is three pages long. The Prelude opens with a brilliant cascading pedal figure answered by chordal harmonies in the hands. It continues this theme with flourishes in the hands and feet. The Fugue which follows opens with a noble and lyric 11-note subject. The Orgelbüchlein, one of only a few works actually published during Bach’s lifetime, is a collection of chorale preludes written for each of the liturgical seasons of the church year. The collection opens with chorales for Advent, continuing with chorales for Christmas and the New Year, Epiphany, Lent, Passiontide, Easter, Ascension, Pentecost, and chorales for the general church year. Each chorale setting is brief, intended to line out the melody for the congregation to hear, recognize, and prepare to sing. Each sets the chorale melody quite clearly in inventive music, presenting the melody in an instantly understood manner. One can actually sing the chorale tune and text to most of these settings. Bach uses every baroque device to brilliantly paint the intent of the chorale’s texts. Herr Christ, du einge Gottes-Sohn (Lord Christ, God’s only Son), sung during Christmas-tide, places the melody in the soprano voice, accompanied by flowing 16th notes in the lower voice and an especially vigorous pedal line. The melody is heard clearly with a few embellishments. Ich ruf zu dir (I call to thee, Lord Jesus Christ), sung in Lent, sets this chorale’s melody in two voices. The melody is heard in the right hand on a solo stop, unadorned. The left hand plays 16th notes in the familiar Baroque “sighing” pattern. The pedal plays a pizzicato bass line.

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In dir ist Freude (In Thee is gladness) is the largest setting of the chorales included in the Orgelbüchlein. The phrases of the chorale tune are heard as the opening notes of the counterpoint (Vorimatation) and the pedal part is virtuosic. Bach keeps us intrigued as to what the entire chorale melody is as he only lets us hear the first four notes of this joyous, dance-like work. Eventually the entire melody is lined out in the soprano voice. This charming carol is associated with the coming of the Saviour and the beginning of the new year. Bach’s monumental Prelude & Fugue in e minor is one of his later most developed and astonishing works. It is a massive work and stands with the Passacaglia as the summit of Bach’s works for organ. The Prelude progresses in three sections which are repeated in related keys. The opening displays large chords interspersed with descending scale passages, the second section is played on a contrasting principal chorus in the manuals only, the third section is a development of new but related material. It is one of his longer and intense Preludes, powerful and dark. The Fugue is equally massive, also famous for its fugue subject which expands from its opening note in intervals beginning with smaller thirds, progressing to an octave, thus its nickname the “Wedge” fugue. As in the prelude, three distinct sections are heard in virtuosic writing and playing. Bach wrote six organ trio sonatas, after the Italian chamber music model: the hands and the feet each playing one equal contrapuntal voice. Although these were written primarily as teaching pieces and an intellectual exercise, they are delightful music, presenting formidable technical challenges in music of charm and grace. Each Sonata has three movements and requires skill and a highly developed sense of musical architecture. We hear the second movement of the Third Sonata in d minor. One can clearly the Italian influence here in the gracious lyric melody, imagining a violin and Oboe d’Amore trading these elegant phrases. The Prelude & Fugue in G Major is one of Bach's later major works. A joyous prelude opens with cascades of brilliant arpeggios in the hands and continues with a bright theme over virtuosic pedal writing. The Fugue is stated in a declamatory subject, Bach at his assertive best.

WELCOME TO ST. CHRYSOSTOM’S _____________________________________________________________

We are delighted to virtually welcome you online to St. Chrysostom’s Church as we continue our 2020-2021 season and our celebration of the 15th anniversary of the arrival of C. B. Fisk’s Opus 123. This concert is the eleventh this season celebrating this glorious instrument and the eighth of several concerts we are presenting online each month. Please see the announcement on Page 10 of upcoming concerts and information about this season’s concerts.

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Join us online each Sunday for our livestreams broadcast on YouTube. You can watch via the link on our Facebook page posted at 10 :45 A.M. each Sunday: https://www.facebook.com/StChrysChicago

or go directly to our YouTube Channel : St. Chrysostom’s https://bit.ly/stchrysyoutube 10:55 A.M. Organ Prelude 11:00 A.M. Holy Eucharist A carillon recital is played each Sunday at 12 :15 P.M. by Kimberly Schafer or Jim Fackenthal on our beautiful 43-bell Gillett & Johnston carillon. It is livestreamed from our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/StChrysChicago

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Stay up-to-date with St. Chrysostom’s music events by joining our email list :

- Send an email to richard@saintc.org and we will include you in music mailings. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram:

- Twitter: @MusicStChrys - Instagram: @musicatstchrysostoms

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Thomas Colao enjoys a diverse musical career as an organist,

conductor, and classical singer.

He was appointed the Associate Director of Music at St. Chrysostom’s Episcopal Church in Chicago in September 2019, where he helps to lead all aspects of the church’s renowned sacred music program, including overseeing the Children’s Chorister program, assisting in the direction of the professional Choir of St. Chrysostom’s Church, as well as the volunteer Parish Choir, and playing the church’s landmark organ, Fisk Op. 123, in worship services and recital programs.

Prior to this appointment, he served as Director of Music & Organist at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Princeton, New Jersey, where he oversaw all aspects of the church’s active music ministry, including a re-built Children’s Chorister program as well as one of the premier Adult Choir programs in the Diocese of New Jersey. During this time, he also served as Associate Conductor of the Continuo Arts Foundation in Summit, NJ; as Music Director for then-Princeton based Opera MODO; and as accompanist for the Princeton Pro Musica symphonic chorus.

Since relocating to the Chicago area in August of 2018, he has been active as an organ recitalist and collaborative pianist, and also serves as Associate Conductor of the Northwest Choral Society. He held the post of Principal Organist & Choral Accompanist at Grace Church in Naperville, Illinois, from 2018 - 2019.

As a professional choral artist, he is currently on the roster of the Grammy®-nominated Kinnara Ensemble, based in Princeton and Atlanta (for which he has also served as accompanist), and the choral ensemble Brevitas, based in Salt Lake City. Colao attended the Mannes College of Music, where he studied choral conducting with Mark Shapiro and vocal performance with Beth Roberts, as well as Westminster Choir College, where he studied organ with Matthew Lewis, and was a member of the renowned Westminster Choir, serving as a singer and accompanist on two national tours, and appearing with the Choir at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC, where he made his professional operatic debut as ‘Le Chansonnier’ in Charpentier’s Louise.

He holds the certificate of Associate of the American Guild of Organists, which he received in 2016. In his spare time, he enjoys composing and arranging for choirs and instruments, and is also an avid outdoorsman.

THE FISK ORGAN _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The culmination of a 2-year project to rebuild or replace the 1979 M. P. Moeller organ, our glorious new organ, built by C. B. Fisk Organs of Gloucester, Massachusetts, was installed September 2004 and dedicated February 25, 2005.

On a bright, sunny day – September 12, 2004 – a huge semi-truck from Gloucester, Massachusetts pulled up to our curb at 10:58 A.M. and after the 11 :00 A.M. service, we all gathered in the courtyard to enjoy Ron Franklin’s BBQ. After lunch 112 of us began to carry the thousands of organ parts into the church. The truck was empty by 9:30 P.M. that evening, and early next morning the assembly of the organ began. About five weeks later we heard the first voiced stop (8’ Octave of the Great) at a service.

The organ is direct mechanical action with electric slider chests for certain large pipes. The handsome case, designed by Charles Nazarian, is African mahogany, the console is quarter-sawn white oak, the draw-knobs are Cocobollo wood, the keys are bone and ebony, the front pipes are polished and hammered lead.

There are 24 voices, 33 ranks, 1,729 pipes, the manuals are 58-notes, the pedalboard is 30-notes, straight and concave. The stop-action is electrically controlled solenoids. There are 262 levels of SSL memory.

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C. B. FISK , INC . – OPUS 123

GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS

Michael B. Kraft - President Steven A. Dieck – Chairman of the Board

David C. Pike – Senior Vice President & Tonal Director Gregory R. Bover – Vice President for Operations

Andrew X. Gingery – Vice President-Project Manager

Pedal Great Swell 16’ Contrebasse 16’ Prestant 8’ Viole de Gambe 16’ Prestant Great 8’ Octave 8’ Voix Céleste 16’ Soubasse 8’ Spire Flute 8’ Bourdon 8’ Octave 4’ Octave 8’ Flûte Traversiere 8’ Bourdon 4’ Open Flute 4’ Prestant 4’ Super Octave 2’ Fifteenth 4’ Flûte Octaviante 16’ Trombone IV-VI Mixture 1 1/3’ 2’ Octavin 8’ Trumpet 8’ Trompette IV Plein Jeu 2’ II Cornet 16’ Bombarde 8’ Trompette 8’ Hautbois

The Organ is maintained by Dean Christian, Inc. With special thanks to Dean Christian, Martin Hill, and Ray Davidson

MUSIC AT ST. CHRYSOSTOM’S _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Concerts at St. Chrysostom’s Church are made possible by the generosity of parishioners and friends. We thank all those who have contributed to and supported Concerts at St. Chrysostom’s.

We are profoundly grateful to all.

DANIEL ROTH – 4 FEBRUARY 2020 We thank the following parishioners and friends

whose gracious support has made this concert possible

David E. McNeel Lindsay Roberts & Richard W. Shepro

Thomas C. & Pamela Sheffield Gretchen & Michael Zook A Faithful Parish Family

THE F ISK SOCIETY We acknowledge and thank the following who have supported Music at St. Chrysostom’s

with significant and sustained annual gifts

Anne Brinsmade Mark & Pamela Marks John Covell & Constance Frydenlund Leland & Karen Meader Caroline Cracraft Alice Moss Jean & Victor Elting Thomas C. & Pamela Sheffield Mark & Laura Fisher Richard W. Shepro & Lindsay Roberts Richard & Marilyn Helmholz Jason Williams A Parish Family Gretchen & Michael Zook David E. McNeel

Clara & Gordon Lang – for their gracious gift of a Mason & Hamlin grand piano

THE FRIENDS OF MUSIC AT ST. CHR YSOSTOM ’S

John Bankhurst & Ryan Kin Martha & Rick Gano The Luby Family Anne Brinsmade Ginger & Del Hall Tobin & Libbet Richter Jeffrey J. Chester Laurie Hammel Jane Nicholl Sahlins John Craib-Cox Diane & David Hartt Karen & Mary Seda Susanna Jane Craib-Cox The Heaton Family Judith Stockdale & Jonathan Boyer James & Marilynn Fredericksen Michel & Ann Kadinsky-Cade The Van Alyea Family Hollis Fromm Katherine & James Kenny Angela Yorath

FUND-A-SUNDAY 2020 Friends of Music who supported our Choral Music for the Summer

Jon & Barbara Brightman The Fershee Family Leland & Karen Meader Anne Brinsmade Mrs. Helen Fisher Alice Moss Alexander & Isabelle Carpenter Mark Fisher Thomas C. & Pamela Sheffield Macol & José Cerda Karen Hagberg Lindsay Roberts & Richard W. Shepro Victor & Jean Elting Barbara T. Jones Gretchen & Michael Zook Tom & Liz Kohlbeck

CONCERTS AT ST. CHRYSOSTOM’S

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- CONCERTS AT ST. CHRYSOSTOM’S -

PRESENTED ON YOUTUBE AT 7:00 P.M.

February 14 - Thomas Colao plays Music by Bach Chorales Preludes and the Preludes & Fugues in C, G, and E

March 14 - Music for Lent Richard Hoskins & Thomas Colao

April 18 - Music for Easter Richard Hoskins & Thomas Colao

May 16 - Chicago Composers Richard Hoskins plays music by Edward Eicker, Keith Kalemba, Marianne Kim,

Morgan Simmons, Leo Sowerby & Florence Price

ST. CHRYSOSTOM’S CHURCH

1424 NORTH DEARBORN PARKWAY

CHICAGO , ILLINOIS 60610

WWW .SAINTC .ORG

PHONE 312-944-1083

The Rev. Wes Smedley Rector

The Rev. Peihan Peggy Lo Assistant Priest Richard Barrick Hoskins Director of Music & Organist

Thomas Colao Associate Director of Music & Organist The Choir of St. Chrysostom’s Church

St. Chrysostom’s Singers

The Children’s Choirs

Kimberly Schafer Carillonneur

James Fackenthal Carillonneur Erica Schuller Voice Teacher