Organ Music for Lent  

Lent - the weeks in the liturgical calendar leading up to Holy Week, the Triduum, and Easter - is a time of reflection as we prepare to celebrate the Resurrection. All too often, though, this season is associated only with a cappella (unaccompanied) choral music. In this episode, we hear instrumental music, specifically organ music, which could be appropriate for thoughtful meditation in the Lenten season. Some pieces explicitly for Lent, such as some chant-based works on Jesu Dulcis Memoria, and others just in their harmonic feel such as Hindemith's second organ sonata.

Interfaith Choral Festival & Prayer Service – Part 2 

This year, Christ Cathedral continues to celebrate the return of the famed Hazel Wright Organ. Hazel was heard by millions of viewers around the world and certainly by viewers of all faith traditions. In honor of Hazel's diverse and global viewership, part of this year's Organ Dedication events included an Interfaith Choral Festival, where ministers and clergy from many different traditions came together in a prayer service musically featuring a choir made up of singers from many various faiths accompanied by the Hazel Wright Organ. For this special occasion, the Director and Organist from the largest Christian worship space in this hemisphere - St. John the Divine in NYC, were brought in to lead the music for this service. Christ Cathedral was honored to host this event led by world-renowned choral conductor Mr. Kent Tritle and organist-composer Daniel Ficarri who led the choir through a diverse selection of choral warhorses as well as the West Coast premiere of a new Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis by Mr. Ficarri himself. Join us over 3 episodes as we listen to this event with commentary from some of its featured participants - Sopranos Lauren McCaul and Alyce Reynaud, and of course our own organist, Mr. David Ball.

Interfaith Choral Festival & Prayer Service – Part 1

 Experience a multitude of singers from all faiths coming together to make beautiful music under the direction of Guest Conductor and Clinician Kent Tritle, who serves as director of music and cathedral organist at St. John the Divine in New York. He is also the organist for the New York Philharmonic.

He will be joined by St. John the Divine Associate Organist Daniel Ficarri whose piece “Fanfare-Introduction in D” was the first music played on the Hazel Wright Organ in February 2022 after its refurbishment was complete. Built in 1982 in what was originally the Crystal Cathedral, the organ was heard around the world through Reverend Robert Schuller’s “Hour of Power” broadcasts.

For more information on the Interfaith Choral Festival and Prayer Service, visit christcathedralmusic.org/yearofhazel

Episode No. 34: Enjoy “Part 2” of our very special Christmas at the Cathedral 2022!