Visiting artist Thomas
Fielding, director of music and liturgy at St. Augustine Cathedral in
Kalamazoo, MI, presents an ‘illuminated’ concert performance of the picturesque
organ suite, Esquisses Byzantines/Byzantine Sketches by French composer Henri
Mulet (1878-1967). Mulet briefly served as organist at several
Parisian churches. Something of a conservative, he considered the organ
equivalent to "a stained glass window. Its tones of imposing and
embracing calm flood the air of our cathedrals, in the same way that
...stained-glass windows bring down meditation upon the congregation." The ten pieces in Mulet’s famous suite either
depict or evoke various aspects…architectural or emotional…of the landmark
Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Sacre Coeur) which overlooks the entire city of
Paris from its perch on the summit of Montmarte.
Tuesday,
March 7, 2023 in the main sanctuary of Saint Olaf Catholic Church, 215 Eighth
Street South, Minneapolis.
Mr. Fielding will provide illustrated background on the composer, his colorful composition, and the notable venue which inspired it. Some movements of the suite, particularly the charming Noël for Christmas and the vigorous concluding toccata, Tu es petra/Thou art the rock, are repertoire staples and audience favorites. The 61-stop Lively-Fulcher pipe organ at St. Olaf Church, with its French-inspired tonal makeup, is ideally suited to this repertoire. Don’t miss out on a rare integral performance of this remarkable music…
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