— Organists and Organ Playing —

Wow. Just Wow.

March 20, 2022

This afternoon was Alcee Chriss’ phenomenal recital at Central Union Church, and all I could say about it is “Wow. Just Wow.”

Calling him a virtuoso is woefully inadequate. Not only did he bring infinite colors to the tonal palette, his use of the organ and his jazzy improvisatory technique was so far beyond human mortals I’m at a total loss for words.

When I met Alcee in person on his first trip to Hawaii, he said he knew about me as far back as 2014 when I heard him play at the AGO National Convention in Boston. Back then I wrote on my blog, “I must say that the future of organ playing is certainly bright if these young organists are any indication. I actually was blown away by the playing of Alcee Chriss from Region VII, and he immediately got a standing ovation for his performance of Jeanne Demessieux’s Victimae paschal laudes and Maurice Duruflé’s Suite, Op. 5, all memorized and performed brilliantly. He is one to watch for a stellar career! 

Hey, I can foretell the future!

Here is the program he played at Central Union Church this afternoon:
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): Prelude and Fugue in D Major, BWV 532
Robert Schumann (1810-1856): Six Canonic Studies, Op. 56, No. 4 in A-flat Major
Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) transcribed by organ by Alcee Chriss III (b. 1992)
Symphonic Dances, op. 45: I. Non-Allegro
Rachel Laurin (b. 1961): Epilogue
Intermission
Marcel Dupré (1886-1971): Symphonie-Passion, op. 23, I. The World Awaiting the Savior
Harold Arlen (1905-1986): Arranged by Alcee Chriss, Somewhere over the Rainbow
Frederick Swann (b. 1931), Four Hymn Improvisations for Organ, II. Amazing Grace
Florence Price (1887-1953): Retrospection
Max Reger (1873-1916): Fugue on B-A-C-H, op. 46b

At the Aeolian-Skinner organ at Central Union Church. Alcee said this organ was his favorite so far this year!
The Hawaii AGO Executive Board. (L-R) Karl Bachman, Elizabeth Wong, Katherine Crosier, Alcee Chriss, Margaret Lloyd, Paul Lillie, Steven Severin (Miki Yamamoto had to leave early)

The entire program was incredible but one of my favorite pieces was the Bach “Prelude and Fugue in D major,” which opens with an ascending pedal scale. Alcee’s articulate playing was absolutely as “clean as a whistle,” with lots of changes of manuals and no smeared notes, truly a joy to hear.

Alcee, at the end of the concert

His crowd-pleasing encore was his signature “Tea for Two,” which I am embedding here:

With Nyle Hallman, organist emerita of Central Union Church

Tonight, five of us went out for Chinese food at Little Village, then came back to my condo where Alcee played my little organ.

Relaxing in my condo
Jieun, myself and Alcee. By the way, I discovered who the Secret Santa was who gave me this beautiful blouse and left it in my box at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu. It was Elizabeth Wong from the AGO Executive Board. She left it in my box TWO YEARS AGO, and I only discovered it last week!

What a great week this has been!

1 thought on “Wow. Just Wow.”

  1. Sounds like a spectacular organist! I enjoyed Tea for Two and would have loved hearing the recital.

    All best to you, Cathy!

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