Synopsis
In 2008, the National Convention of the American Guild of Organists was held in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and for the occasion a Minnesota Organ Book was commissioned. The idea was that six Minnesota composers should each write a short piece for organ plus one solo instrument, all suitable for use at a Sunday service.
One of the composers selected was Carol Barnett, who thought to herself, “Well, probably everybody else will do something slow and lovely, so I’m going to do something fast, which means a Recessional. The whole idea of a Recessional is, ‘We are done. We’re out of here!’”
She selected a bright, beautiful, but decidedly unusual extra instrument for her piece: the steel pan.
The steel pan is a chromatically-pitched concert instrument related to the calypso steel drums heard of Trinidad. Its bright, metallic sound blends surprisingly well with the pipe organ, holding its own against the organ’s mighty voice. Moreover, its calypso associations evoke a sense of joyful release — perfect for a recessional, in Barnett’s opinion.
She titled her piece Praise, and it received its premiere performance on today’s date in 2008 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis, with organist Jonathan Gregoire and percussionist Jay Johnson.
For the record, the six composers and pieces included in The Minnesota Organ Book are:
Cary John Franklin: "Morning Light" (for cello and organ)
Monte Mason: "The Dances of Our Lady" (for soprano saxophone and organ)
Janika Vandervelde: "Hachazarah: The Arousal of the Return" (for violin and organ)
Linda Tutas Haugen: "Invocation and Remembrance" (for trumpet and organ)
Carol Barnett: "Praise" (for steel pan and organ)
David Evan Thomas: "Psalm and Dance" (for flute and organ)
Music Played in Today's Program
Carol Barnett (b. 1949): Praise; Jay Johnson, steel pan; Jonathan Gregoire, organ; Augsburg Fortress Music CD (with ISBN: 9780800679118)
On This Day
Births
1824 - German pianist and composer Carl Reinecke, in Altona
Deaths
1956 - Soviet composer Reinhold Glière, 80, in Moscow
Premieres
1972 - David Ward-Steinman: Sonata for Piano Fortified, by Gary Wolf at the University of South Florida, Tampa
1982 - Persichetti: Harpsichord Sonata No. 2, in Cleveland, by harpsichordist Elaine Comparone.
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About Composers Datebook®
Host John Birge presents a daily snapshot of composers past and present, with timely information, intriguing musical events and appropriate, accessible music related to each.
He has been hosting, producing and performing classical music for more than 25 years. Since 1997, he has been hosting on Minnesota Public Radio's Classical Music Service. He played French horn for the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra and performed with them on their centennial tour of Europe in 1995. He was trained at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Eastman School of Music and Interlochen Arts Academy.