By Carolyn N. White
On Sunday, Nov. 1, at 3 p.m., John A. Wolfe will present a free organ recital on the recently-refurbished 1958 Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ at The Congregational Church of Manhasset. This wonderful instrument is an exemplar of the American classic style of organ building, with four keyboards and sixty-nine ranks totaling more than 3,500 individual pipes.
Wolfe has selected a program of French and French-inspired music that he believes will showcase the organ’s vast range of coloristic possibilities.
The recital will begin with J.S. Bach’s Piece d’Orgue, a tribute to the grand tradition of French Baroque opera. Also included will be Cesar Franck’s Piece Heroique, an intensely dramatic Romantic work in a similar vein to Richard Wagner’s epic operas. The concert concludes with selections from Olivier Messiaen’s 1984 Book of the Holy Sacrament, a profound meditation on the miracles of the Christian faith. One of the movements from this cycle is The Joy of the Grace, which consists entirely of birdsongs the composer transcribed on his trips around the world.
Bookended by melodies derived from Gregorian chant, Wolfe believes this music has the capacity to communicate a message of peace surpassing the possibilities of the spoken word.
Wolfe is a native of Gettysburg, PA, and currently resides in Manhattan. He is an honors graduate of Vassar College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in organ performance. In May 2014, he earned a master’s degree in organ performance at the Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College. In the fall of 2014 he began his doctor of musical arts degree in Organ Performance at the Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University.
Wolfe is an active member of the American Guild of Organists, serving as the Sub-Dean of the Brooklyn Chapter and as a voting member of the New York City Chapter.
As an organist, choral conductor, concert producer and music educator, Wolfe’s performance credits span the greater New York City metropolitan area. An experienced church musician, he has performed for many mainstream Christian denominations and for Jewish worship as well.
On Sept. 1, Wolfe joined the Music Staff of The Congregational Church of Manhasset, where he works with Music Director, Craig Tocher, and accompanies the church’s volunteer and professional choir. The community is extended a cordial invitation to attend this free upcoming recital performed by an outstanding organist on one of the finest pipe organs in the greater New York area.
The Congregational Church of Manhasset is located at 1845 Northern Blvd. The church is handicapped accessible and there is ample free parking.
Call 516-627-4911 or visit www.uccmanhasset.org, for additional information.
