A Gospel Pair
It has been a few weeks since I have submitted an article for the weekly
E-mmanuel. Simply, work life and home life got too overwhelming in December, universally the busiest month in the life of a church musician. As our parish has grown, and our programming increased, the responsibilities and duties required of the organist & choirmaster are on the cusp of more than one man or woman can handle alone. Yet, with the grace of God, and the assistance and dedication of the many volunteers in our music ministry, we offered witness to God’s love through music to the highest level of my service here at Emmanuel this fall.
I want to take this moment to thank each and every one of our parish musicians – choir members, cherub singers, choristers, bell ringers, and instrumentalists – who worked so hard this fall 2024 season. While the music offered Sunday to Sunday was refined and brought beauty to our liturgies, I thought that the offerings of the Rutter Requiem for All Saints’ Day and the music offered on Christmas Eve – Vivaldi Magnificat and beloved Christmas carols – could not be surpassed in even the largest metropolitan area, where music of such a caliber is normative. This was only possible through the incredible work of our parish musicians, the financial support of our parish, your gifts to the music ministry, and your prayers and support and love. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
This past week I was able to find some time to edit and release the December Bach’s Lunch Recital performed by Logan Duke in his solo piano recital debut. If you missed that beautifully prepared and presented program, or would like to enjoy it again, here is the link to the YouTube video:
https://youtu.be/rzeAPRppZII?si=wXxjlUbWQxnxjZ8l
Next Friday, January 31st at 12 Noon, our Bach’s Lunch Recital Series will continue with a program for violin and organ offered by violinist extraordinaire Amanda Ferguson. The program will feature works by Josef Rheinberger, Billy Strayhorn, Calvin Taylor, and Graham Ferrell.
Last weekend I received a phone call notifying me that Graham had passed away in December after a cardiac episode. I met Graham in the mid 2010s through his cousin, Margaret Page. Graham was a native of Pinebluff, received the Master of Music degree from Yale University, where he concentrated in organ, harpsichord and composition. He pursued a career as an organist, conductor, pianist, music editor, and teacher. He concertized extensively, both as an organ soloist and with a jazz trio. His works are published by E. C. Schirmer, C. F. Peters and Hinshaw Music. He was baptized at Emmanuel Episcopal Church on September 14, 1941, and in his youth studied organ at Emmanuel, and later served as organist for brief periods.
Graham became a cherished friend, and I became an advocate for his compositions, which often brilliantly weaved a hymn tune with a jazz-inspired secondary melody and underlying harmony. For the Emmanuel Choir, Graham composed a setting of Psalm 150 in memory of his cousin Margaret. He was incredibly creative, and I will miss him. In his memory, Amanda and I will perform his “A Gospel Pair,” composed in 2015 for the 10th anniversary celebration of the C.B. Fisk organ at Furman University. The pieces, which use the hymn tunes Bradbury and Solid Rock, were first offered at Emmanuel in the 2016 dedicatory concert I gave for our C.B. Fisk Opus 145 organ. Graham was in attendance that night, and for him to hear his music performed in the space where he was baptized and where he was musically and spiritually formed, was particularly meaningful. Rest in peace, good and faithful servant.