At St. Olaf, we are blessed to have a magnificent 67-rank pipe organ. This fall, it will be showcased in a series of recitals on Wednesday afternoons, immediately following the noon Mass. Come hear the organ thunder with might and whisper gently as talented organists showcase a variety of repertoire.
Wednesday Organ Recitals run from October 20 through May 18, and will be approx. 30-40 minutes long. Freewill donation.
Program:
Anthem by Paul Halley
Steve Swanson, piano
Jennifer Anderson, organ
Two Organ Pieces by Mark Fax
Quintessence of refinement
Elemental – but not quite primitive in nature
Prayer by Paul Halley
And the Earth Spins by Paul Halley
Steve Swanson, piano
Jennifer Anderson, organ
Trivium by Arvo Pärt
Music written in the time of pandemic
“Solace” by Shruthi Rajasekar
Composer’s note: In March 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a
pandemic. Unwell myself, I found it difficult to participate in normal
activities; instead, I spent the initial days with my family via phone and
internet. Despite my physical isolation, I felt connected to them through
our conversations. I found solace in one particular anecdote, in which
they and their neighbours exchanged groceries and essential supplies.
Even though they had been out of touch, this situation immediately brought
everyone together, and the care and compassion in the community had never been
stronger. These are times of overwhelming loss, but I feel anchored by
the stories of love and support.
“Strong Deliverer” setting of Cwm Rhondda, written “for God's strength during
the 2020 Covid19 outbreak”, by Phil Lehenbauer
BIOS:
Jennifer Anderson, organ
Jennifer M. Anderson is the Director of Music and Youth Ministries
at Central Presbyterian Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the Founding
Artistic Director of VocalPoint. She has performed with Lumina, for the
Schubert Club, the First Readings Project, and at Musforum’s national conference.
She currently is the Sub Dean of the Twin Cities American Guild of Organists,
and the chair of the Program Committee. A contributor to the PC(USA)’s Mission
Yearbook, Jennifer also co-chaired the Daily Worship Committee for the National
PC(USA) convention held in Minneapolis. For several years she has co-directed
the Synod School Choir at Buena Vista University, and enjoys collaborating in a
variety of ways with composers and other musicians. Dedicated to building
community through music and to use it as a powerful medium for social change,
she has led Justice Choir sing-a-longs in venues as diverse as the front-steps
of an inner-city church to a national Chorus America conference.
Steve Swanson, piano
Steve Swanson (he/him) is a pianist based in St. Paul.
He is an active freelancer, frequently collaborating with choirs, vocalists,
and instrumentalists throughout the Twin Cities. Choirs he has accompanied
include The Singers, VocalPoint, One Voice, Singers in Accord, Chorus Polaris, and
the MMEA All-State Choirs, as well as numerous high-school and college choirs
throughout the metro area. He has premiered works by Jocelyn Hagen and Joshua
Shank. He recorded his first album of art song, "Songs from the
Heart" with soprano Melissa Holm-Johansen, in 2020.
In addition to
his freelance work, he holds a position at Central Presbyterian Church. He
graduated from Concordia College in 2004, and he obtained a Master's degree in
collaborative piano performance from the University of Minnesota in 2010.
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