As you can guess, I’ve been pretty busy the last few weeks, with my husband’s illness and hospitalization, his death, the funeral, and the aftermath. So it is only now that I’m able to share my excitement about the New York City American Guild of Organists opening concert which took place on September 8, 2014.
I actually received an invitation to this event through FaceBook, and my first reaction was, why is there a picture of McNeil Robinson with Joey Fala? As I read further, this was a description of the event:
The evening begins with a recital at 5:30 PM on the magnificent 4-manual Casavant Frères instrument (2005) by Joey Fala, winner of the Chapter’s 2013 organ playing competition.
The second part of the evening will take the form of a champagne reception honoring the life and career of McNeil Robinson. Regarded as legend in his own time, McNeil has been one of New York’s most visible musicians for over fifty years. Stephen Tharp will lead the ceremonies.
The people that put this event together probably didn’t know that the link between the two organists was the Crosiers! Yes, it was McNeil Robinson who came to Hawaii in 1975 to dedicate the Beckerath organ at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu and it was he with whom I took about 20 hours of lessons on how to play a tracker organ. He came back two years later in 1977 to do a concert series: an all-Bach recital at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, followed the next weekend by an all-Franck recital at St. Andrew’s Cathedral. Neil stayed a third weekend — and that was to play the organ at our wedding on July 15th, 1977.
And it was my former organ student, Joey Fala, who as a fifth grader, came to hear me practice every week before Iolani School’s chapel service, and whose journey to play the organ is still continuing. Go back and read my post, “[Screams of Delight]”, on my excitement over his winning the New York City chapter’s competition. On the September 8th program, Joey played works by William Mathias, Keith Chapman, J. S. Bach, Louis Vierne, Max Reger and Jeanne Demessieux.
I’m happy to be able to post the live videostream of Joey’s concert, which you can view by clicking here. Thanks to Wyatt Smith, who gave me the heads up on the live videostream. You can be sure that we are popping our buttons with pride over our hometown hero!
Be sure to watch the closing piece by Jeanne Demessieux — you will be blown away, as I was!
Here is what was posted on the pipe organ listserv from someone who attended the concert: Today’s artist was Joseph Fala, he is a fifth year student completing his
bachelors in architecture and masters in lighting at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, while pursuing organ studies independently
with Alfred Fedak and Christian Lane. Originally from Hawaii, Fala began studying organ with Katherine Crosier of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu
and served as organ scholar at Central Union Church. He took second prize in the 2013 American Guild of Organists Region II competition and has
since been appointed organist and choir director at First United Presbyterian Church, in Troy, New York. His programme was:*
*Recessional
William Mathias (1934-1992)*
*Gaelic Air
Keith Chapman (1945-1989)*
*Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 541
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)*
*Symphonie No. 3, Op. 28
Louis Vierne (1870-1937)*
* IV. Adagio*
*Six Études, Op. 5
Jeanne Demessieux (1921-1968)*
* IV. Octaves*
*I’m not sure if I have heard Mr. Fala play in this area before, [but] being a
student of Christian Lane, I may have. Today he played an excellent
concert, the Mathias was new to me, I did like it and he played it well.
The Chapman was interesting, a lovely setting of the ancient air. The Bach
was excellent and worked well on the organ, obviously very careful
registration was used. The Vierne was excellent well played and very
enjoyable. The Demessieux I have heard before but not in a long time, it
is a fiery piece that just shoots along at a fast pace, Mr. Fala did an
excellent job playing this piece. Applause was withheld until the
completion of the concert and Mr. Fala received an
excellent round of applause. An good concert on a sunny Fall -like day.
Next week the artist will be Wesley Hall. Concerts start at 12:15 P.M.
and last approximately 30 minutes.*