It will be a case of pulling out all the stops – or at least a lot more than usual – for a special concert featuring the pipe organ at St Paul’s Anglican Church in Stanthorpe on Sunday 15 September.
Organisers are hoping generous donations will be the order of the day from audience members attending the recital which will start at 2pm. It’s a double act for the organ, which will be the main feature of the concert and also the recipient of the funds raised for maintenance work.
Two visiting organists, Peter Stiller and Michael Lynch, will be special performers for this concert.
While the organ is played for the church’s weekly services, Sunday’s concert will be a triumph of sound with such pieces as Bach’s famed Toccata and Fugue in D Minor and the Hallelujah chorus from the Messiah to be played by Peter Stiller. The placid and much loved Air on the G String and Karl Jenkin’s beautiful Benedictus will show the gentle sounds that can also be coaxed from the instrument.
Among Michael Lynch’s offerings will be the Prelude in Classic Style by Gordon Young, Ricercare on St Anne by the same composer and the simple beauty of In Green Pastures by Harold Darke.
To start off the concert, one of the church organists, Peggy Channon, will play Dialogue, by Louis Marchand.
The event will also feature the Occasional Players, a popular Southern Downs chamber group. Their pieces will include Pachelbel’s Canon, Ave Maria by Schubert and a contemporary audience favourite, You Raise Me Up.
Local vocal group Hollytops will perform a short selection including Pitoni’s Cantate Domino and the Barnby lullaby Sweet and Low.
All music lovers are invited to attend the concert which also celebrates 60 years since the organ was installed at St Paul’s Church. Entry is by donation.
