Christ Church (Episcopal), the Richards, Fowkes & Co., Organ Builders and the Chattanooga Chapter, American Guild of Organists will present concert and recording artist Christa Rakich in a masterclass and concert designed to help church organists “Improve Your Improv.”
The events will be presented on Christ Church’s Richards, Fowkes & Co. Opus IX, dedicated in 1998, 663 Douglas St. at McCallie.
The Thursday masterclass will focus on simple, straightforward techniques that any keyboard player can use to embellish hymn tunes. Ms. Rakich will present ideas she published in a series of articles on improvisation in The American Organist magazine. She has been a member of the A.G.O. National Committee for Organ Improvisation, and appears regularly as a performer, presenter and judge at AGO conventions and competitions. The free workshop is sponsored by the Chattanooga Chapter, American Guild of Organists. Both participants and auditors are welcome and will equally benefit, said officials.
Her concert on Friday evening will include an improvisation utilizing these techniques, as well as sets of variations showing how other composers (Bach, Haydn and contemporary Dutch composer Margaretha Christina de Jong) have dealt with embellishing an existing melody. Works by Clara Schumann and New England composer James Woodman complete the program.
A donation of $10 is suggested. A reception will follow.
Ms. Rakich studied in Vienna with Anton Heiller for two years as a Fulbright Scholar. She holds Bachelor’s degrees in Organ and German from Oberlin College (Phi Beta Kappa), and a Master’s degree with honors from New England Conservatory, where she subsequently taught, ultimately serving as Organ Department co-chair. A prizewinner at international organ competitions (notably Bruges 1976), Ms. Rakich has received particular acclaim for her interpretations of the music of J.S. Bach. With keyboardist Peter Sykes, she performed a complete cycle of Bach’s keyboard works in a series of 34 concerts from 2003 to 2005 aptly named Tuesdays With Sebastian. Her discography includes a celebrated recording of J.S. Bach’s Leipzig Chorales, a 2-CD set of J.S. Bach’s Trio Sonatas, Deferred Voices: Organ Music by Women Composers, Transcriptions from St. Justin’s; and Christa Rakich in Recital at St. Mark’s Cathedral, a live recording of her performance at the 2000 National AGO Convention in Seattle. Her most recent recording, From the Ashes, features the Richards, Fowkes & Co. Opus XXI in Somers, Ct, where Ms. Rakich is artist-in-residence.
Ms. Rakich’s performing career has taken her throughout North America and Europe.
The Improve Your Improv Masterclass will be Thursday from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and is free. Participants and auditors should RSVP to Sarah Harr, sarahharr@ymail.com. Duelling Organists, with Keith Reas is Friday at 7:30 p.m. Suggested donation at the door is $10.
PROGRAM
(subject to change)
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Aria and 5 Variations, BWV 988 (“Goldberg”)
Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) String Quartet Op. 76, No 3, in C (“Emperor” )
II. Poco adagio; cantabile For organ four hands
Clara Schumann (1819-1896) Prelude & Fugue in B-flat major, Op. 16 No. 2
Margaretha Christina de Jong (* 1961) Praeludium, Choral Partita & Fugue on
Jesu, meine Freude, Opus 63 (American premiere)
Improvisation
James Woodman(* 1957) Sonata in Sea: Cape Cod (2003)
Barnstable
Wellfleet
Provincetown3
For more information: http://www.christchurchmacon.com/internationally-acclaimed-organist-christa-rakich-in-concert/
Karla Fowkes, Christ Church: karlafowkes@gmail.com
Christa Rakich: http://christarakich.com
Richards, Fowkes & Company: http://www.richardsfowkes.com/