Summer Festival of Sacred Music at St. Bart's Continues 7/26

The 21st annual Summer Festival of Sacred Music at St. Bartholomew's Church continues on Sunday, July 26, at 11 am with Louis Vierne's Messe Solonnelle in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 16.

Louis Vierne (1870-1937), French organist, composer and teacher, was the organist at Notre Dame in Paris from 1900 until his death. Although blind from birth, Vierne demonstrated a rare gift for music and eventually studied organ at the Paris Conservatoire with César Franck. His music is considered to be the epitome of the French Romantic Style of organ composition, a style whose greatest champions were César Franck (St. Clotilde) and Charles-Marie Widor (St. Sulpice). This style was driven by the extraordinary organs built for Parisian churches by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, the pioneering French organ builder of the latter half of the 19th century.

Vierne's Messe Solonnelle is scored for SATB choir and two organs and was first premiered at St. Sulpice in Paris in 1901 with Widor playing the principal organ part from the west end gallery, and Vierne playing the accompanying choir organ part from the choir area. Vierne creates dramatic effects using the massive west end organ (Grand Orgue) to play powerful introductions and interludes interspersed with the choral sections. From the passion of the Kyrie to the tenderness of the Agnus Dei, Messe Solonnelle remains one of the masterpieces in this genre of composition.

St. Bartholomew's Choir will be conducted by William K. Trafka. Organist Jason Roberts will consolidate both organ parts and accompany on St. Bartholomew's magnificent Aeolian/Skinner pipe organ, the largest pipe organ in New York City.

The Summer Festival of Sacred Music, St. Bartholomew's Church at the corner of Park Avenue and 51st Street. Subway: 6 to 51st Street. For more information, call (212) 378-0222 or visit http://www.stbarts.org/music/summer-festival-of-sacred-music/ for the complete schedule.

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