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July 7, 2008
Guest artists enliven organist recital series

By eric rangus

Emory’s annual University Organist Recital Series organized by University Organist Timothy Albrecht features an array of guest artists and the popular presentation of Bach’s “Musical Offering” on Superbowl Sunday with the Atlanta Bach Ensemble.

Organist Melissa Plamann kicks off the 2008–09 organ season of free one-hour public concerts with a performance on the Casavant organ in Glenn Memorial Auditorium. Plamann received her Master of Music degree under Albrecht’s tutelage at Emory and returns for the fall 2008 semester as an instructor.

Plamann’s recital will feature works by some of the best known composers in history such as Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) and Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847), as well as newer works by living composers Petr Eben (b. 1929) and William Bolcom (b. 1938). Her program features Bolcom’s 1987 composition From Gospel Preludes, “Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child”; Brahms’s Chorale Prelude and Fugue “O Traurigkeit, o Herzeleid” (1856); Mendelssohn’s Sonata Op. 65, No. 3; “Pneuma” by William Albright (1944–1998); and “A Festive Voluntary: Variations on Good King Wenceslas” by Eben.

The season continues as one of America’s leading organists, Paul Jacobs, will perform a repertoire spanning five centuries on Emory’s Jaeckel Opus 45 organ in the Schwartz Center’s Emerson Concert Hall.

In the spring noted organist John Scott, the director of music and organist for the St. Thomas Church in New York, will close out the organ season.

For information call the Arts at Emory box office at 404-727-5050, or visit www.arts.emory.edu.