Final organ recital in Offaly church's summer series

THE final organ recital of 2025 was given by the imaginative and expressive Christos Thiel who was born in Kassel, Germany and received his first organ lesson at the age of 13.

Christos dedicated his recital to his friend Pfarrer Reinhold Kircher who first encouraged him to play the organ and who was celebrating his 85^th birthday around this time. Today Christos is organist and choirmaster at the Frauenfriedenkirche and the Catholic University Comminity in Frankfurt am Main.

The evening began with Cortege et Litanie by Marcel Dupré (1886-1971), a French organist, composer and pedagogue. This was followed by Sonate 2, Il ruhig bewegt by Paul Hindemith who wrote sonatas for almost every instrument. Hindemith , born near Frankfurt am Main,(1895-1963) was one of the principal German composers of the first half of the 20^th century and a leading musical theorist.

César Franck(1820-1890) was a French Romantic composer, pianist, organist, and music teacher born in Liege in present-day Belgium. His Chorale 2 filled the church showing the variety of tone, tempo and volume of the great Frobenius organ and the exceptional skill and outstanding talent of Christos Thiel.

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Another French composer followed with Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) giving us three short pieces - Ma Mere l’oye arranged by Thomas Ospital, Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant and Le Jardin Féerique. Ravel , a prolific composer is probably best known for his Bolero.

Richard Giez (1926-2014) , a virtually unknown composer gave us a very melodic, slow and reflective piece with Choralprelude Wenn wir in hochsten Noten sein. A chorale prelude is a short setting for organ of a German protestant chorale melody used to introduce congregational singing of the hymn (chorale).

Marie-Ange Leurent (b1965) was our living composer. A friend of Christos Thiel we heard her Chaconette, another reflective ,melodic composition. The evening finished with Songs of Praise, Toccata for Organ by Robert Prizeman (1952-2021). Described by Christos as almost a party for the organ, it was a terrific finale for a wonderful concert and a fitting ending for the TISOS series.

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Our Artistic Director, Charles Marshall, thanked everyone involved in organising the recitals particularly the Trench Trust and Offaly Co Council who sponsor the series. Fr Joseph Gallagher, Parish Priest of Tullamore was thanked for his ongoing help and support as was sacristan Regina Daly who was a constant support each night. Chairperson Tony Monaghan was thanked for leading a committee of Brid Broderick, Geraldine Byrne, Gretta Flynn, Máire McKay, Peter Moloney and Jo Rodgers. Alex Aubin kindly took photographs for the group and was also thanked.

Special thanks to loyal friends of the series and to the very many people who came to each recital. It is very encouraging to see a growing audience each year for what is a very unique musical experience. Giving us all this experience our thanks must go to organists and musicians who were with us in 2025. Carole O’ Connor, the choir of St Ann’s Church, Dawson St., Thomas Charles Marshall, Bogdan Sofei on violin, Peter Barley, Megumi Hamaya and Christos Thiel.