Tom Hyde and Janis Dunson Wilson (Photo: Roy Crockett)

WILSON AND HYDE SHINE IN AGO RECITAL AT INCARNATION

The third program in the series of pipe organ mini recitals at Church of the Incarnation Nov. 13 featured Janis Dunson Wilson on the 33-rank Cassavant instrument with assisting artist trumpeter Tom Hyde. Or should we say trumpets, as there were four different trumpets played - an American and a European “straight” trumpet and an American and a European ‘piccolo’ trumpet. The timbre of the European trumpets is more mellow and rounded than the American version. The program that Ms. Wilson put together ranged from Baroque to modern, allowing the audience of 26 to experience in a short amount of time a variety of colorful music and virtuosity.

The combination of trumpet and organ has been popular over the years, and one of E. Power Biggs best-selling recordings was of brass with organ. For the Incarnation program, Ms. Wilson and Mr. Hyde performed compositions of Handel, Telemann and Hovhaness and Wilson. Handel’s “Let the Bright Seraphim” also featured soprano soloist Jamie Thomas, who alternated with the trumpet. Ms. Thomas sang radiantly. Originally an interlude from a 1946 opera “Etchmiadzin,” the Hovhaness “Prayer of St. Gregory” was a surprise with its modal themes transferring from organ to trumpet, back and forth. The arranger of the work was not noted in the program.

Ms. Wilson, a seasoned organist and composer, wrote the majority of the pieces performed on the program. The works ranged from a delightful opening “Sound of the Trumpet” to a three-part contrasting triptych of the Trinity, consisting of Creator, Christ, and Spirit, where Mr. Hyde used the English darker-toned trumpet in the second movement, contrasted with a bright, full organ toccata character in the third movement.

Two solo organ pieces by Ms. Wilson rounded out the evening, both recently issued by Wayne Leupold Publishing. Her final piece was her own hymn, “God of Sand and God of Sea”, which demonstrated the brilliance that the trumpet offers against the rich harmonics of the organ.

All in all, this was a top-rate recital focusing on a genre of music that usually is heard on Easter or in the Christmas season. It was a delight to hear the range and musical styles that the trumpet and organ duo offer.