BRATTLEBORO — Epsilon Spires presents Dr. William Tortolano, of St. Michael's College, to play the historic Estey 300 pipe organ in the Sanctuary at 190 Main St., on Wednesday, Sept. 1 at noon.
The free concert inaugurates an ongoing live Lunchtime Organ Series continuing every first Wednesday, featuring accomplished organists from near and far.
“Audiences are invited to bring lunch, find a comfortable spot, and become immersed as the music fills this acoustically exceptional hall,” event organizers write in a news release.
The organ served the congregation of the First Baptist Church for more than 100 years and now being cared for under the management of Epsilon Spires, which now owns the sanctuary.
It was donated to the church in 1906 by the grandchildren of Estey Organ Company founder Jacob Estey and his wife, Desdemona, who were First Baptist Church supporters and congregants.
Over the years, the organ was rebuilt twice to extend the tonal range of the instrument and keep it up to date, although its original electro-pneumatic parts still work today as they did in 1906.
The organ's last rebuild took place in 1958 by Elroy E. Hewitt, an organ builder from Brattleboro who worked for the Estey Organ Company. He replaced the old console with the one in use.
Today, the organ boasts 29 ranks of pipes, three manuals, and four divisions, making possible a full orchestral sound.
A 50-year faculty member at Saint Michael's College, Tortolano is professor emeritus of fine arts.
At age 91, Tortolano says he refuses to considers himself retired and relishes the task of putting this program together.
“This is an unusual presentation - individual pieces you don't usually hear, in a unique combination,” he said. “The pieces juxtapose a quick and light classical toccata with Middle Eastern sounds and Gregorian chants, traditional spirituals spiced with jazz harmonies, and the spontaneity derived from an appreciation of African American folk music.”
The recital will explore the many tonal colors of the organ in such diverse compositions as “Three Synagogue Preludes,” by Reuven Kosakoff; American folk melodies by the jazz musician George Shearing; three African American–inspired pieces by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor; the Gregorian chant suite “Mariales,” by Lebanese-French composer Naji Hakim; and “Toccata in D minor,” a classical composition by Johann Froberger.
Of particular interest to Tortolano is the resurgence in popularity of Coleridge-Taylor, born in London of African-English descent, whose “sweet compositions were an inspiration to American Black people and his relationship to American Black music ran deep,” he noted.
“He died quite young, at age 37, and it is a shame he didn't have more time to explore this music, as it moved him greatly,” Tortolano added.
Tortolano holds degrees from Boston University, the New England Conservatory of Music, and his doctorate from the Université de Montréal. His career included four visiting fellowships at Cambridge University and Yale University.
His work has included more than 60 editions of music, six books, and in his younger days, concerts at Notre Dame, Paris, as well as recitals in the United States, Canada, Holland, England, Scotland and Italy.
On Oct. 6, the Lunchtime Organ Series continues with Gavin Klein, who transfixed a Brattleboro audience in 2020 while still a sophomore in high school, introduced to the area by the Estey Organ Museum.