Arts and Entertainment

School of Music bids farewell to Esber Recital Hall organ

A fixture since the 1960s, the Esber Recital Hall organ will be removed during the summer due to construction and renovation. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State faculty, student and alumni musicians will bid farewell to the Holtkamp organ in Esber Recital Hall at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 4. The organ, a fixture of Esber Recital Hall since the 1960s, will be removed during the summer because of upcoming new construction and renovation.

The diverse program ranges from baroque to gospel and will highlight the organ in both solo and chamber settings. Repertoire will include works by Dietrich Buxtehude, Johann Sebastian Bach, Charles Gounod, George Friderich Handel, Carl W. Haywood, and Richard Strauss.

Featured organists are faculty members Mark Ferraguto and Anthony Leach, 1966 alumnus William Neil, and current student Maeve Berry. Additional performers are Naomi Seidman, flute; James Lyon, violin; Langston J. Fitzgerald III, trumpet; and a brass ensemble conducted by tuba/euphonium professor Velvet Brown. Admission is free.

Program

Anthony Leach, organ; Brass Ensemble

  • Feierlicher Einzug - Richard Strauss, arranged by Brian Buerkle

Naomi Seidman, flute; William Neil, organ

  • Sonata in E-flat Major, BWV 1031 - Johann Sebastian Bach

Maeve Berry, organ

  • "Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist", BuxWV 208 - Dieterich Buxtehude

James Lyon, violin; Mark Ferraguto, organ

  • Chaconne in G Minor - Tomaso Antonio Vitali, arranged by Charlier/Auer (after Ferdinand David)

Mark Ferraguto, organ

  • Sonata in D Minor, Op. 65, No. 6 - Felix Mendelssohn

James Lyon, violin; Mark Ferraguto, organ

  • Vision de Jeanne d’arc - Charles Gounod

Langston J. Fitzgerald III, trumpet; William Neil, organ

  • Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Major - George Friderich Handel

Anthony Leach, organ

  • Improvisation on "We Shall Overcome" - Carl Haywood
Last Updated March 31, 2017