Magical duo enchant Offaly music group's gathering
Two talented musicians perform for Tullamore Gramophone Society members
THOMAS Charles Marshall ,organist and Artistic Director of TISOS joined forces with Bogdan Sofei, leader, violinist and founding member of the celebrated Con Tempo Quartet to bring Tullamore Gramophone Society a wonderful concert blending violin and organ.
Charles opened the evening with one of the most famous works in the organ repertoire, Toccata and Fugue in D minor by Johann Sebastian Bach.
This piece is known for its majestic sound, dramatic authority and driving rhythm - all very much in evidence on Tuesday 8th July. The Italian composer Marco Enrico Bossi (1861-1925) wrote more than 150 works for various genres including choral and chamber music , oratorios , five operas and piano and organ pieces.
His compositions have remained largely unknown except for his organ works. In this centenary year of his death we were treated to two of his pieces. We heard Adagio Opus 84 and Entrée Pontificale Opus 104 no 5. Organ and violin blended beautifully here.
Joseph Haas (1879-1960) was an eminent German composer and pedagogue. Again, with Bogdan and Charles combining their music we heard Kirchensonate Opus 60 no 2.
Josep Muset i Ferrer a Jesuit composer (1889-1957) gave us two organ pieces Foederis Arca and Speculum Justitiae . At one stage the music sounded like a stream rippling on a warm day.
Otto Olsson (1979-1964) a native of Stockholm was one of the most renowned organ virtuosos of his time and wrote in the Romantic style. We heard his 1924 composition Romance Opus 24. It is hard to put into words the magnificence of this piece. The music filled the church with rich melody. As well as sound we could watch Charles Marshall use hands and feet while playing the organ. Thanks to Tony Monaghan, chairperson TISOS for organising sound and visuals each week. It makes a great difference to see the performers in the gallery on large screens in front of the altar. We could also see two eminent musicians in their own right helping Charles with the organ stops. Organist Carole O’ Connor , who opened the series was on one hand while composer and cellist Adele O’ Dwyer was on the other. Again, fascinating to watch and listen.
Vocalise Opus 34 no 14 by Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) was the highlight of the evening for many in the audience . (This writer loved Olsson best!) It was composed and published in 1915 as the last of his 14 Romances.
Thanks to Charles and Bogdan for their music. They are both regular and much-admired participants in the July organ series over many years.
Our next recital will be on Tuesday 15th July with Peter Barley as organist. Megumi Hamaya will play on July 22nd. Do please join us for a delightful hour of rich music and join friends afterwards for refreshments in the parish centre.