The Organ Virtuosos Program

Thursday, September 24th, 2026

Artists

---

Concert Program

Walter Greenwood

Herman Schroeder

Flor Peters

J.S. Bach
(1685-1750)

J. Pachelbel
(1653-1706)

C.S. Lang
(1891–1971)

Jean Langlais
(1907–1991)

Richard Wagner
(1813–1883)

Rick Mazurowski

Richard Strauss
(1864-1949)

George Frederic Handel
(1685-1759)

attrib. J.S. Bach
(1685-1750)

Ennio Morricone
(1928-2020)

J.S. Bach
(1685-1750)

David N. Johnson
(1922-1987)

J.S. Bach
(1685-1750)

Taisei Iwasaki
(b.1979)

Hans Zimmer
(b.1977)
arr. Richard McVeigh

---

Program Notes

— by Mary Ann Warfield, Dramaturg, Cultural Resource Historian

Intermezzo, op. 9, no. 6 by Herman Schroeder (1904-1984)

Schroeder’s 6th and final movement of his collection titled Kleine Präludien und Intermezzi (Six Short Preludes and Intermezzos), Op. 9, was composed by the German organist in 1932. It is written in the Neoclassical / 20th-Century German Church Music, while  blending traditional polyphonic structures with modern, crisp harmonics. Schroeder’s main accomplishments as a composer was in Catholic church music, where he attempted to break free of the lingering monopoly held by Romantic music. His works are characterized by  medieval elements: Gregorian chant, modal scales, and fauxbourdon (false drone), which he combined with fourth and fifth harmonic structures and 20th-century polyphonic linear, sometimes atonal writing. His catalog includes much organ music as well as folk-song settings, German settings of the Ordinary and Proper of the Mass, as well as chamber music (especially with the organ). 

Aria, op. 51 by Flor Peeters (1903-1986)

Franciscus Florentinus Peeters (Baron Peeters) was a Belgian composer, organist and academic teacher. He was director of the Conservatorium in Antwerp, Belgium, serving as the organist at Mechelen Cathedral from 1923 to his death in 1986. Written in 1943, his Aria, Op 51 was widely regarded as a deeply moving, beautifully poised neoclassical work which has been praised by critics and organists for its simplicity and emotional sincerity. He later arranged the piece for violin, cello, and solo organ, with the solo organ version becoming by far the most frequently performed and recorded iteration. Flor Peeters was a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium and an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music in London. With Olivier Messiaen he was nominated adviser for the Vatican Council II, but neither of them was ever consulted. 

Wachet Auf, BWV 645 by J. S. Bach (1685-1750)

First published in 1599, Wachet Auf is a score reduction of a movement in Bach’s cantata Wachet auf, BWV 140, which is based on the Lutheran hymn by Philipp Nicolai, “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme”  translated in English to “Awake, the voice is calling us.” The tenor melody of the original cantata movement is featured prominently in this chorale prelude, floating above an intricate and lively counterpoint. Bach later transcribed the fourth movement for organ (BWV 645), and it was subsequently published along with five other transcriptions Bach made of his cantata movements as the Schübler Chorales.

Choral Fantasie vom Himmel Hoch (From Heaven High) by Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706)

Vom Himmel Hoch was composed to a famous 1534 Christmas hymn written by Martin Luther in 1534. Pachelbel based his organ setting on this Christmas hymn during the Middle Baroque period as part of his collection of chorale preludes and grand chorale fantasia. Composed while in Erfurt’s Predigerkirche (Protestant church) around 1693, where his music deeply influenced neighboring central German musicians, including the Bach family. In 1747, J.S.Bach would go on to compose his own version of Vom Himmel Hoch. 

Tuba Tune in D major, op. 15 by C. S. Lang (1891-1971)

Craig Sellar Lang aka C. S. Lang was a New Zealand-born British organist, composer and music teacher. Written in the grand, ceremonial British tradition and published in 1929, Tuba Tune in D major, Op 15, is one of his most widely recognized and frequently performed organ compositions. In 1929 he was appointed Director of Music at Christ’s Hospital school in Horsham, West Sussex, to where the choristers of Westminster Abbey were briefly evacuated during the Second World War. His obituary, written in 1971, recorded his “personal magnetism” and determination to awaken “the budding musicianship of every sort of pupil”. 

Chant de Paix (Song of Peace) by Jean Langlais (1907-1991)

Langlais was a French composer of modern classical music, organist, and improviser. Langlais became blind when he was three years old and was sent to the Institut National des Jeunes Aveugles in Paris, which is considered the first school for blind children in the Western world. His advanced studies in the organ were completed under the guidance of André Marchal. He progressed to the Paris Conservatoire, obtaining prizes in organ and studying composition with Marcel Dupré and Paul Dukas. He then returned to teach at the Institut National des Jeunes Aveugles in Paris.

Tannhauser Festmarch (Grand March) by Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

Also known as the Grand March, is a famous orchestral piece from Act II, Scene 4 of Wagner’s 1845 opera Tannhäuser. It accompanies the entrance of the guests into the singing contest at the Wartburg castle. Wagner was a German composer, theatre director, essayist, and conductor, best known for his operas, although his mature works are often referred to as music dramas. Unlike most composers, Wagner wrote both the book and music for all of his stage works. He first achieved recognition with works in the Romantic tradition but revolutionised the genre through his concept of the Gesamtkunstwerk (“total work of art”), which sought to unite poetry, music,  visual and dramatic elements.

Sunrise from Also Sprach Zarathustra (Thus Spoke Zoroaster) by Richard Strauss (1864-1949)

Richard Strauss’ Sonnenaufgang or Sunrise is the initial fanfare played here. It is the highly recognizable introduction to Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 film, “2001: A Space Odyssey.” The English translation for the composition “Thus Spoke Zarathustra or Zoroaster” first appeared as a philosophical novel written by German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, between 1883-1885. Inspired by Nietzsche’s novel, Strauss composed this tone poem in 1896.

Allegro Maestoso from Water Music by George Frederic Handel (1685-1759)

Handel’s “Water Music” was commissioned by King George I as a political statement to reinsert his popularity status over his son, the Prince of Wales. On July 17, 1717, a 50 piece orchestra consisting of French horns, Trumpets, Oboes, Strings and Bassoons floated on a large barge from Whitehall Palace. The King and the royal court were on a second barge with members of the aristocracy on a third. The flotilla traveled up the Thames from Whitehall towards Chelsea. The event became known as the Great River Excursion of 1717. The King instructed Handel to play it continuously, beginning at 8pm, lasting well past midnight.  “Allegro Maestoso” (aka “Alla Hornpipe”) is the second movement of Suite No. 2 in D major. 

Prelude and Fugue in A minor from Eight Little Preludes and Fugues, BWV 559 attributed to J. S. Bach (1685-1750)

Although attributed to J. S. Bach, scholars have concluded that the exact composer could have been one of Bach’s students, including Johann Tobias Krebs (most likely); his son Johann Ludwig Krebs; or Bohemian composer Johann Caspar Ferdinand Fischer (1656-1746) due to the similarity in many of Fischer’s other compositions for organ. While full credit may be elusive, compositionally this piece is an excellent tool for teaching the organ. 

Gabriel’s Oboe by Ennio Morricone (1928-2020)

Gabriel’s Oboe was composed  for the 1986 film, “The Mission” which has become the most popular oboe composition worldwide. Additionally, it is among the top film scores in motion picture history superseding another Morricone score for the Clint Eastwood film, “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. The rich harmonic overtones of the oboe produce a human-like quality of devotional vocals. Listen for this quality through the sounds of the organ.  

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, BWV 147 by J. S. Bach (1685-1750)

Perhaps one of the most widely known of Bach’s compositions, written between 1719-1723, this piece is the closing chorale movement of J. S. Bach’s 1723 cantata, originally titled Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben (Heart and Mouth and Deed and Life), BWV 147. In 1926, the concluding choral section of Bach’s cantata, as arranged by the British pianist Dame Myra Hess, was given the English title, “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” and was later performed on the Moog synthesizer by Wendy Carlos (b.1939),

Trumpet Tune in D major by David Johnson (1922-1987)

David N. Johnson was an influential American organist, composer, educator, choral clinician, and lecturer, He wrote over 300 works focusing primarily on church and organ music. “Trumpet Tune in D major” is a vibrant, energetic organ piece composed in 1962 in a classic Baroque style. It is a festive processional for church services and weddings. This piece gained widespread prominence after being used as a processional for the 1971 wedding of Tricia Nixon, daughter of President Richard Nixon, in the White House Rose Garden.  

O Sacred Head Surrounded from St Matthew Passion, BWV 244 by J. S. Bach (1685-1750)

The tune is from a much older secular melody of a German love song named “Mein G’müt ist mir verwirret,” or “My mind/heart is confused” written by composer Hans Leo Hassler in 1601. For “O Sacred Head, Surrounded,” Bach reharmonized the composition with four-voice harmonies and used it five times in his St. Matthew Passion, first performed in 1727. The use of the organ’s synthesizer and chimes enriches the full experience of the composition. It remains a staple organ piece that is used during the Lenten season through Good Friday.

A Million Miles Away by Taisei Iwasaki (b.1979)

From the soundtrack of a Japanese Anime film “A MIllion Miles Away,” or Hanarebanare no Kimi e (はなればなれの君へ), is the final song from Mamoru Hosoda’s animated musical film Belle. It was composed by the youngest composer in our repertoire tonight. The film had its World Premiere on July 15, 2021, at the Cannes Film Festival where it notably received a 14-minute standing ovation. Please enjoy this instrumental rendition of the closing song of this timely anime film. 

Interstellar Suite by Hans Zimmer (b.1957)

“Interstellar Suite” is an orchestral arrangement of music for the science fiction film Interstellar released in 2014. The original score has sixteen tracks of which four are presented tonight. Interstellar Suite  was composed by Zimmer with contributions and production work from collaborators, Alex Gibson and Ryan Rubin. Because of its precise registration, suggestions, and fidelity to Zimmer’s textures, it has become a staple for concert organists worldwide. This performance is based on an arrangement for organ by Richard McVeigh (age not given), who is a British organist. Tonight you will hear four of the original 16: Stay; Cornfield Chase; Dust/Day One; and No Time for Caution.