Renowned Musician to Perform on Rice’s Grand Organ

Renowned Musician to Perform on Rice’s Grand Organ

BY DAVID KAPLAN
Rice News Staff
Nov. 5, 1998

When internationally renowned organist Michael Velting thinks of Rice University,
Paris comes to mind.

Paris is the site of Saint Sulpice, a church that houses an organ that’s been
a favorite among great French composers of organ music. Velting lived and studied
in Paris for several years and says that the Shepherd School of Music’s Grand
Organ in the Edythe Bates Old Recital Hall reminds him of the magnificent organs
in France.

Velting, who has performed throughout Europe and the United States, is organist
and choirmaster at Christ Church Cathedral in Nashville and previously was assistant
organist and choirmaster of Washington National Cathedral. While living in France
he was organist of the American Cathedral in Paris.

On Nov. 8 and 9, the musician will perform on the Grand Organ of Edythe Bates
Old Recital Hall. The concert is co-presented by the Houston Chapter of the
American Guild of Organists.

As a performer, Velting is known for his virtuosic technique, rhythmic precision
and sensitivity to registration.

Velting will perform Bach’s "Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542";
Howells’ "Master Tallis’s Testament"; Clerambault’s "Suite du
premier ton"; and Widor’s "Symphonie VI."

Velting notes that Clerambault and Widor both held the position of organist
at Saint Sulpice, although, he notes, their tenures were a century apart. He
says he’s including the composers in the concert to show how beautifully these
two vastly different styles of music work on the Rice organ, much as they do
on the present organ at the Church of St. Sulpice.

He notes that the Shepherd School’s Grand Organ was built to have a similar
spirit and character as the Saint Sulpice organ–essentially a French romantic
instrument that, he says, incorporates some French Classical overtones.

Velting first heard the Shepherd School Grand Organ when he attended a Shepherd
School organ symposium on the French composers Franck and Vidor and their contemporaries
in the summer of 1997.

"Everyone [at the symposium] raved about the instrument," says Velting.
"It’s really a feat for [Professor of Organ] Clyde Holloway and the university
to have had this magnificent hall built specifically to house this splendid
instrument–and to have it devoted completely to organ teaching and performance."
Says Velting: "I would rank it as one of the best organs in the country."

The Michael Velting concert will begin at 8 p.m. General admission is $15;
$10 for students and seniors.

On Nov. 12, there will be another performance at Edythe Bates Old Recital Hall.
A faculty recital will feature Kenneth Goldsmith, violin; Thomas Jaber, organist;
and Robert Atherholt, oboe.

The 8 p.m. program will include Rheinberger’s "Suite for Violin and Organ,
Op. 166"; Kirchner’s "Two Pieces for Violin and Organ, Op. 91";
Schroeder’s "Concertino for Violin, Oboe and Organ"; Liszt’s "Prelude
and Fugue on B-A-C-H for Organ"; and Karl Goldmark’s "Air."

General admission is $7; $5 for students and seniors.

For tickets or more information about either event call (713) 527-4933.