GUILFORD — Friends of Music at Guilford, now in its 51st Concert Season, is preparing for its ninth annual Spring Recital in the Organ Barn at Tree Frog Farm, the site of its founding event in 1966.
Each season begins with an organ concert in this intimate barn on Labor Day Weekend. Over the past decade, a sort of “bookended” concert towards the end of FOMAG's season has given the organization a second opportunity to celebrate its roots. This spring's concert is at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 28, followed by an optional holiday cookout.
Located off Packer Corners Rd. in idyllic rural Guilford, the barn is home to the organization's c. 1897 Tracker Organ. One of FOMAG's founders, the late A. Graham Down (1929-2014), purchased the instrument in Maine, moved it to the barn, invested in its restoration and improvements over the years, and performed the first concerts on it, as well as a few in his final decade.
In honor of organ history in Southern Vermont, guest organist Justin Hartz is bringing an Estey style JJ portable organ (1918) with him to play some selections for this program. Organ Barn audiences may recall Hartz from his virtuosic performance at the Barn in September 2009.
The May 28 program begins with two works by J.S. Bach: the chorale prelude In dulci jubilo and the Concerto in C Major, the latter inspired by Vivaldi's Concerto in D Major ("Grosso Mogul") for violin, strings, and basso continuo. Daniel Pinkham's Revelations for Organ follows in three movements.
In a tribute to Brattleboro's Estey Organ Co. (1846-1955), Hartz will perform two chorale preludes by Johannes Brahms on the Estey portable organ: Schmucke dich, o Liebe Seele and Es ist ein Ros entsprungen. The program ends with Franz Liszt's Prelude and Fugue on B-A-C-H. Listeners will be treated to Hartz' insights on the works and their composers.
Justin Hartz, a native of Bucks County, Pa., was educated at Westminster Choir College and earned his M.M. from The Juilliard School. He has been an E. Power Biggs Fellow of The Organ Historical Society, and since 1989 has been playing popular Christmas Carol sing-alongs and recitals on the 10,010 pipe Aeolian pipe organ at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pa.
His recordings include Hartz and Flowers, recorded at Longwood Gardens, and Deck the Halls, recorded on the E.M. Skinner pipe organ at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C. Having a lifelong interest in historical keyboard instruments, Hartz enjoys selecting music which displays the unique characteristics of each one.
The post-concert cookout, held on the back deck and lawn, or inside the barn if the weather is inclement, offers grilling options for carnivores and vegetarians alike and assorted salads, sides, sips, and sundaes with classic toppings; attendees are welcome to bring their preferred picnic beverage.