The Complete Organ Symphonies of Louis Vierne...

[KB7DQH]

Idlewylde Church, Memphis, Tennessee...

The first program in the series The Complete Organ Symphonies of Louis Vierne will be presented on March 4 at 4 p.m. Featured on the program will be organists Uwe Bestert, music director of the St. Gertrud Church in Hamburg, Germany, and Ted Gibboney, organist and director of music at Idlewild.

Bestert and Gibboney met some 25 years ago as students in Northern Germany, and have performed together in Germany, France and England.

Bestert's career has taken him throughout Western Europe as an organist and choir director, and he currently directs music at St. Gertrud Church in downtown Hamburg, Germany.

Gibboney, in his ninth year as music director at Idlewild Presbyterian Church, is responsible for the active worship schedule, graded choir program and concert series.

The Idlewild pipe organ, built in 1988 by the Bedient Organ Company, is especially suited for the presentation of symphonic organ music. Modeled after instruments built in French cathedrals in the late 19th century, its 69 sets of pipes fill the Neo-Gothic sanctuary at Idlewild with sound to match the magnificence of the architecture. The solo colors and expressive effects mimic the romantic orchestra of the time and match its pathos.

The series "The Complete Symphonies of Louis Vierne" will consist of four programs presented over the next year. In this first program Symphony #3 and Symphony #5 will be performed by Bestert and Gibboney, respectively. Subsequent programs will include not only two programs featuring the remaining organ symphonies, but a program titled "The Other Vierne," which will provide a fanciful opportunity to explore Vierne's choral, chamber and solo repertoire.

There is no admission charge to this public concert, which will be in the Idlewild sanctuary, 1750 Union. More information can be obtained from the church office at (901) 726-4681 or online at the church's website, idlewildchurch.org.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/feb/24/music-idlewilds-pipe-organ-will-get-symphonic/

Eric
KB7DQH