THE CHURCH of the

COVENANT PRESENTS

JONATHAN WILLIAM MOYER Organ

SUNDAY ARTIST SERIES OCTOBER 13, 2019

4:00 P.M.

The McGaffin Carillon is one of about 200 cast-bell carillons in North America and the only one in the city of Cleveland, Ohio. Its 47 bells were cast in The Netherlands in 1968 from 15,000 lbs. of bronze and are played by a person at a console high in the tower. The playing action is totally mechanical and allows for a complete range of musical expression. This unique voice has serenaded University Circle since 1968. It has pealed for celebrations and tolled for tragedy. During summer concerts, the audience brings blankets, lawn chairs, and picnics to the lawns surrounding the tower.

George Leggiero has served as Covenant and University Circle Carillonneur, since 1973. In that capacity he has provided carillon music before and after Sunday worship. His playing has also celebrated weddings and marked University Circle celebrations.

Friends of the McGaffin Carillon in University Circle has recently been formed to support the programming and upkeep of this extraordinary musical instrument. As in many European communities, The McGaffin Carillon makes a unique contribution to the soundscape and cultural life of this Cleveland neighborhood. The Friends’ future plans include a complete renovation of the instrument and expanded programming. To learn more about the carillon, this project and how you can be part of it see our website – www.ucbells.org Visiting carillonneur Keiran Cantilina hails from Stewartsville, New Jersey. He is a recent graduate of the Royal Carillon School in Mechelen and was a finalist in the Queen Fabiola International Carillon Competition held this past July. Keiran was first introduced to bell instruments during his university years, where he was a player of Cornell University’s historic twenty-one bell chime. During his graduate studies, Keiran began studying the carillon with Dave Johnson at the House of Hope carillon in St. Paul, Minnesota. For the past year, he studied in Belgium with Koen Van Assche on a scholarship from the Belgian-American Education Foundation. Keiran greatly appreciates the opportunity to perform on the McGaffin Carillon, and he looks forward to playing for the community.

Friday Lunchtime Carillon Concerts and Tours Every Friday through November 22 at 12:15 P.M.

THE CHURCH OF THE COVENANT 11205 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106

www.CovenantWeb.org 216-421-0482

THE MCGAFFIN CARILLON 3:30 P.M.

Keiran Cantilina, visiting carillonneur

Overture, from Suite 1 Joost Boutmy, arr. Jos D'hollander

Preludio Cou Cou Matthias van den Gheyn

Prelude and Morceau Fugue Matthias van den Gheyn, arr. Koen Van Assche

Julia Florida Augustin Barrios Mangore, arr. Mary Jo Disler

Largo, BWV 1056 Johann Sebastian Bach, arr. Koen Van Assche

To Zanarkand, Theme from “Final Fantasy X” N. Uematsu, arr. J. Lehrer

Auld Lang Syne arr. Koen Van Assche

The Rainbow Connection from The Muppet Movie Paul Williams, Kenneth Ascher, arr. S. S. Warner

THE NEWBERRY ORGAN 4:00 P.M.

Jonathan William Moyer, organ Praeludium und Fuga Johann Heinrich Buttstett (1666–1727) Loth to Depart Giles Farnaby (1560-1640) Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, BWV 662 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) Chorales from the Lüneburger Orgeltabulatur, mid 17th-century Anonymous

Meine Seele erhebet den Herren (Versus I, II, III)

Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ

Praeludium in G minor, BuxWV 148 Dieterich Buxtehude (1637–1707)

THE CHANCEL ORGAN Livre du Saint Sacrement Olivier Messiaen VIII. Institution de l’Eucharistie (1908-1992) Three Pieces for Organ (world premiere) Jonathan W. Moyer I. Fantasie (b.1975) II. Merry Fugue III. Passacaglia

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Following the concert, you may greet today’s artist in the narthex of the church. Free-will offerings can be left in the plates near the exit doors.

Your gift enables the ongoing operation of the Covenant Concert Series.

PROGRAM NOTES Today’s program presents a retrospective collection of works that reflects my experience here

at the Church of the Covenant over the past 11 years. The pieces represent both old and new perspectives - memories and aspirations. The first half of the program features two composers (Buttstett and Buxtehude) played on the dedication recital of the Newberry Organ on May 12, 2013 by James David Christie. The beautifully ornamented chorale Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr by J.S. Bach was one of the very first preludes I played upon my arrival in September of 2008. The short chorales of the Lüneburger Tabulatur represent my family’s sojourn in Lübeck, Germany this past winter and spring.

My journey into the world of musical composition has been a circuitous one, through which I have gained a greater realization of the values that form my musical personality. Above all I am a colorist, moved deeply by the emotional impact of melodic and harmonic sound qualities. This was first revealed to me by my piano teacher when I was 13, as he demonstrated how by touching the piano keys with creative intent, one can formulate a sound color that can move the soul. This has always been a source of inspiration for me that no doubt led me to the greatest colorist of musical history, Olivier Messiaen. The complexities of his immense range of harmonic color founded in his modes of limited transposition are like Abbot Suger’s gothic windows in St. Denis (Paris), a veiled portal through which we encounter divine light. To accompany this glistening display are the songs of birds, God’s “little messengers of joy.”

The Three Pieces for Organ are my first attempt at large scale forms. The Fantasie is divided into three sections or tableaux followed by a coda. The work begins with succinct melodic gestures punctuated by complex chords. This serves as an introduction to the main melodic motif of the work, a simple five-note scale in g-sharp minor that flows incessantly in dotted rhythms. Following its first cadence a storm of trills and scale passages climaxes on the sub-dominant tone, which fades into a single note in the pedal. In the distance emerges a new rhythmic theme that develops into a frenzied scherzo and climaxes on the fierce harmonies of the introduction.

A lonely voice emerges played on the 4’ flute like a bird that incessantly chirps the rhythm derived from the scherzo. Underneath emerges a second melancholy voice accompanied by the dotted rhythms of the first tableau. As this dialogue subsides the chirping voice grows in intensity and variation over a tapestry of chords played on the voix celeste - like a distant chorale. This third tableaux subsides with a single melodic strain on the cornet. Another brief storm emerges, and like a distant memory, the g-minor scale of the first tableaux continues on its journey like the farewell of a departing friend.

The “Merry Fugue” is inspired by the precocious nature of many 17th century canzonas and fugues. It takes its name from the description of Matthias Weckmann’s audition at Hamburg’s famous St. Jacobi Kirche in 1665, along with a subtle tribute to another famous German organist born in 1685.

The Passacaglia theme was inspired by the Christian feast of Easter, and expresses the journey of life through simple and complex textures, harmonies, and melodic refrains. It is divided into 21 variations.

THE ARTIST Jonathan William Moyer maintains a dynamic career as church musician, concert organist, and pedagogue. The Baltimore Sun has described his playing as "ever-expressive, stylish, and riveting." He is the David S. Boe Chair and Assistant Professor of Organ at Oberlin College and organist and associate director of music of the Church of the Covenant in Cleveland, Ohio. He performs widely throughout the United States and Europe, having most recently performed in Lübeck, Hannover, Alkmaar, Norden, and Budapest. In 2019 he was a visiting professor of organ at the Hochschule für Musik in Lübeck, Germany. His recent recording “Voices of the Hanse” was recorded on the 1637 organ by Friederich Stellwagen in the Jakobikirche, Lübeck. Dr. Moyer received degrees in organ and piano from the Peabody Conservatory of Music, the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and Bob Jones University. He studied the organ with Donald Sutherland, James David Christie, Olivier Latry, Susan Landale, and Gillian Weir, and at the piano with Ann Schein and Laurence Morton. In 2008 he won second prize at the International Musashino Organ Competition (Japan). He has concert representation by Windwerk Artists. “Moyer skillfully chose registrations that showed the range of color the instrument can produce and suited them perfectly to the music at hand…It's delightful to hear an organ recital where everything seems so right and the playing so much in the service of the instrument and the repertoire.” Cleveland Classical.com "Moyer revealed the composer's musical genius as vividly as his spiritual richness, taking full advantage of the cathedral's organ.” The Baltimore Sun

www.jonathanwmoyer.com ______________________________________________________________________________

This program is made possible through the generosity of the

CHARLES H. TEARE AND CLIFFORD K. KERN FUND of the Cleveland Foundation.

and

THE COVENANT FRIENDS OF MUSIC FUND

THE CHURCH OF THE COVENANT 11205 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106

www.CovenantWeb.org 216-421-0482

OUR INSTRUMENTS

THE NEWBERRY ORGAN Richards Fowkes & Company Organ Builders

WERKE Quintadena 16' Principal 8' Hohlflöte 8' Octava 4' Quinta 3' Octava 2' Tertia 1 3/5' Mixtura Trommet 8' BRUSTWERK Gedackt 8' Rohrflöte 4' Waldflöte 2' Dulcian 8' PEDAL Principal HW 8' Subbaß 16' Trommet HW 8' Posaunenbaß 16' 3 couplers Tremulant Pitch a' = 415hz Temperament: modified meantone after Norden Mechanical stop and key action The Newberry Organ that resides in the sanctuary’s rear gallery was named the Newberry Organ as a memorial to the generosity and artistic vision of Elizabeth “Betty” Hitchcock Rose (1915-2013). The instrument is modeled after the historic organs of 17th century Holland and northern Germany. Its unique tuning, pitch, and timbre enable the performer to recreate both solo organ repertoire and collaborative instrumental works from the baroque and renaissance eras with astonishing authenticity. The Chancel Organ was built by the Ernest M. Skinner Organ Company from Boston in 1931. It was later renovated by the Aeolian Skinner Organ Company in 1959 in keeping with the tenets of the organ reform movement that was sweeping across the United States. In 1996, the ailing console was replaced by the Holtkamp Organ Company (Cleveland).

CHURCH OF THE COVENANT COVENANT CONCERT SERIES 2019-2020

Mark your calendars and join us for these upcoming events. . . .

Tuesday Noon Organ Plus Concerts Every Tuesday through December 17,

and from January to June 2020 featuring local, regional, and international artists

Sunday Artist Series November 3, 4:00 P.M. Andrew Sords, violin Anita Pontremoli, piano

Having collaborated with 300 orchestras, American violinist and Shaker Heights resident

ANDREW SORDS has a celebrated career as a soloist on 4 continents and in performances with his trio.

Sords has been cited for combining visceral virtuosity with a ravishing tone. Together with CIM collaborative piano faculty member, Anita Pontremoli, the duo will

present works by Beethoven, Bloch, and Franck: a romantic smorgasbord of flowing melodies

and a nod to Beethoven's 250th year.

Holiday CircleFest Carol Sing Sunday, December 8, 4:00 P.M.

featuring the combined choirs and handbells of The Church of the Covenant,

Case Western Reserve University, Plymouth Congregational Church,

the Cleveland Guitar Society Orchestra, The Orion Brass Quintet,

organ, timpani, and carillon.

THE CHURCH OF THE COVENANT 11205 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106

www.CovenantWeb.org 216-421-0482

Friday Lunchtime Carillon Concerts & Tours through November 22

Sunday Artist Series March 31, 4:00 P.M. Jean-Baptiste Robin, organ

Robin is one of the leading French organist-composers of his generation and is

organist titulaire of the Royal Chapel of Versailles.

Beethoven @250 Case Covenant Collaboration Concert Saturday, April 18, 8:00 P.M.

featuring the Covenant Chancel Choir, the Case Concert Choir, & the Heimat String Quartet

with the Beethoven Festival Orchestra.

Mass in C (selected movements) “Hallelujah” from Christ on the Mount of Olives

Fantasie, Op. 80 “Choral Fantasy” with CIM faculty member

Gerardo Teissonnière as piano soloist

“A Silence Haunts Me” by Jake Runestad based on Beethoven’s Heiligenstadt Testament,

a letter to his brothers describing his despair at his increasing deafness

Sunday Artist Series April 19, 4:00 P.M. Heimat String Quartet

Hear these brilliant young chamber musicians play string quartets by Beethoven and Haydn.