GREAT MUSIC IN A GREAT SPACE: Cathedral of St John the Divine, NYC: Organ Concert by David Briggs

GREAT MUSIC IN A GREAT SPACE - The Cathedral of St John the Divine, New York: Organ Concert by David Briggs (Artist in Residence) - Tuesday 11th January 2022
The program begins in rambunctious style with Sir William Walton’s swashbuckling "Spitfire" Prelude and Fugue, in a virtuoso transcription made by British organist Tom Winpenny. English pomp and circumstance, but with added turbochargers!
By way of complete contrast, David marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of César Franck with a performance of the Premier Choral (1890). Proof-read by the composer weeks before his death, this music reaches the absolute heart of César Franck’s romantic spirit and is touching, expressive and majestic in equal measure.
The concert concludes with one of the towering masterpieces of the German Romantic era, Julius Reubke’s Sonata on the 94th Psalm. Reubke, a pupil of Franz Liszt, died at the tragically early age of 24 and left behind this extraordinary chef d’oeuvre, which taxes the technique of the organist to the absolute limit.
Message from David Briggs:
"One of St John the Divine’s multitudinous gems is the way it cares for those who are hungry, not only spiritually but also in terms of nutritional sustenance. Our Sunday Soup Kitchen is a world-renowned, vital and efficient part of the cathedral’s mission. If you have enjoyed this free concert, I’m wondering if you would be kind enough to consider a small donation? Just $5 or $10 would be enough to sooth somebody’s hurt, even just for a few hours. It’s very easy with a Credit Card and shouldn’t take more than 90 seconds. Thank you very much, in advance, for your generosity."
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Other Upcoming Events:
We hope you'll also join us for our upcoming GMGS events in February, March and April. For more information, visit our website and Facebook pages!
David Briggs on February 1, 2022 at 7:30pm - Join David Briggs for a program of works by Johann Sebastian Bach.
Rose of the Compass and the Cathedral Choir on February 22, 2022 at 7:30pm - Come to sunny Portugal for an exploration of rarely heard works, including the remarkable 13th century female-voiced Cantigas de Amigo, symphonies of the converso Jewish heiress Isabella Duarte, as well as sacred and secular works of the 16th century by composer Vicente Lusitano.
Daniel Ficarri & Stella Chen on March 1, 2022 at 7:30pm - Associate Organist Daniel Ficarri and violinist Stella Chen perform a program that includes the world premiere of Ficarri's Gothic Hymn for organ and violin, a musical reflection on the architectural and acoustical features of the Cathedral.
Musica Sacra Chorus & Orchestra on March 22, 2022 at 7:30pm - Arvo Pärt’s enchanting and stirring Te Deum resounds! Musica Sacra Chorus and Orchestra also perform music of Viktor Kalabis on the occasion of his centennial, along with an a cappella motet of Johannes Brahms and the world premiere of a piece by Wang Jie.
The Cathedral Choir & Orchestra on April 5, 2022 at 7:30pm - The Cathedral Choir and Orchestra perform a concert spanning from Vivaldi's Concerto in D Minor to the a cappella Stabat Mater by Alissa Firsova. Other works include an orchestration of Poulenc's Litanies to the Black Virgin and Jose Mauricio Nunes Garcia's Requiem.
Samuel Kuffuor-Afriyie & Raymond Nagem on April 26, 2022 at 7:30pm - Organ Scholar Samuel Kuffuor-Afriyie and Raymond Nagem, former Associate Music Director at the Cathedral, share this program of organ delights, with music by Chelsea Chen, Karg-Elert, Alfred Hollins, Thomas Kerr, and Ad Wammes.