Organist Beth Zucchino at Church of the Incarnation

EIGHT VIERNE MINIATURES FEATURED IN ZUCCHINO ORGAN RECITAL AT INCARNATION

The opening recital of the third season of twilight pipe organ mini-recitals, in Santa Rosa’s Church of the Incarnation, was skillfully played September 9 by Sebastopol organist Beth Zucchino.

Sponsored by the Redwood Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, the concert featured just one composer and composition, Louis Vierne’s collection titled 24 Pièces en Style Libre, Opus 31, Pour Orgue ou Harmonium. Each of these 24 “miniature sketches,” written in 1913, was dedicated to a different pupil or friend of Vierne, and composed with the characteristics and memories of these various individuals in mind. Eight varied pieces or “personalities” were presented in this 30-minute recital.

Following the recommended instrument registrations of the composer, Ms. Zucchino was able, with the wide variety of French style stops available on the Incarnation Casavant organ, to convey how the pieces were conceived for French audiences. Particularly noticeable is the use of reed stops, carefully contrasted with the ‘flue’ (flutes, strings, and diapasons). This coloring allowed one to imagine the contrasting personalities being portrayed. Note that the pieces were originally written for the Harmonium (or reed organ) as well as pipe organ, and would likely have been played in a more intimate setting rather than a large church or cathedral.

The elegant stained glass windows in the early evening setting of the Church lent an authentic rendering of the music. The recital barely happened due to a power outage Friday afternoon in downtown Santa Rosa. Fortunately, the electricity was restored a several minutes before the recital and the 50 attendees were able to take in the assured playing, careful registration choices and musical interpretation the organist injected into these “Miniatures”.

Following the recital, as in all programs of the series, interested audience members joined the artist for dinner.

The next recital in this unique series will be October 14 at 6:00 PM at Incarnation, when Sebastopol organist Janis Wilson will be joined by two trumpet players for a program of “Organ and Trumpet.”