Gary Rtherford will perform on a baroque-style organ Thursday.

Gary Rtherford will perform on a baroque-style organ Thursday.

Master organist to perform on church’s pipe organ

PORT TOWNSEND — Master Organist Gary Rutherford will perform on the new pipe organ built to emulate a German organ of the baroque period during Thursday’s Candlelight Concert.

The concert will be performed at 7 p.m. at Port Townsend’s oldest Victorian Church, Trinity United Methodist Church, 609 Taylor St. Doors will open at 6 p.m.

Admission will be a suggested $10 donation with children admitted free.

Refreshments will be served after the performance.

This is Rutherford’s first performance on the organ, a copy of an instrument built by Gottfried Silbermann in 1735 in Reinhardsgrimma, Germany.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Silbermann was a friend of Johann Sebastian Bach, who influenced the musical design of his instruments.

The Silbermann organ is designed to play baroque music (1650-1750) such as that by Bach, Handel and Vivaldi.

This music necessitates the use of several different types of pipes some of which use reeds, organizers said, adding that the sound is broad, deep and authoritative.

Rutherford’s Candlelight performance, “Organ Connections,” will include music selections from four centuries of composers, beginning with Prelude in G Major BWV 572- Pièce d’Orgue by J. S. Bach, ca. 1708 and culminating with a contemporary piece by George Akerley, A Sweet for Mother Goose, which will be narrated by Terry Reitz, Organist Emeritus of Trinity United Methodist Church.

Other selections include Franz Liszt’s, Prelude and Fugue on the Name of B-A-C-H; Marcel Dupré’s Cortège et Litanie; César Franck’s Pièce Héroïque and Toccata from 24 Piéces de Fantasie, Opus 53 No. 6, by Louis Vierne.

“This is similar to the notion of ‘six degrees of separation,’ ” Rutherford said.

“The continuity of our musical evolution follows a series of related yet often insignificant relationships,” he explained. “Through a small number of well-known organ compositions, we’ll consider a few examples of connections that have influenced the direction of organ repertoire.”

Rutherford is a native of Phoenix and began his musical life with four years in the Phoenix Boys Choir, touring throughout the U.S. and Europe.

He studied organ under David N. Johnson at ASU, and completed degrees in music, biology and computer science.

After a 33-year career in information technology, Rutherford retired from SRP power utility in 2013. Simultaneously, he held organist/choirmaster positions at several churches throughout the Phoenix area.

During his last position at Faith Lutheran Church in Phoenix, Rutherford oversaw the refurbishing and installation of a 57-rank Möller pipe organ originally built for Ohio University.

He now divides his time between residences in Phoenix and Poulsbo, performing concerts and serving as a substitute organist, pianist and choir director.

Rutherford is a member of the Peninsula Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO).

For more information, call 360-774-1644 or email rdanpurnell@msn.com.

More in Entertainment

Rachel Lee Priday will be the guest soloist for the Port Angeles Symphony’s first concert of spring on Saturday. (Lisa-Marie Mazzucco)
Soloist to play with symphony Saturday

UW music professor to join Port Angeles group

Luke Bulla will perform at the Palindrome on Sunday.
Bulla to perform at Palindrome on Sunday

Rainshadow Concerts will present Luke Bulla in concert at… Continue reading

Cast members, top row from left, Rick Mischke, Rebecca Gilbert, Mary Kaye O’Brien and, in front, from left, Rich Hendricksen, Susan Bjork and Steve Henrickson, at a rehearsal for “The Man in the Green Truck.”
Port Angeles Community Players to stage production this weekend

The Port Angeles Community Players will stage a production… Continue reading

Garden show tops list of weekend Peninsula events

A garden show, performances on stage and music concerts highlight this weekend’s… Continue reading

Colin Urwin will present “Irish Concert: Irish Stories and Songs” at the Port Angeles Community Playhouse on Wednesday.
Irish stories, songs to be presented

Colin Urwin will present “Irish Concert: Irish Stories and… Continue reading

Sachinmayi Menon plays Sandra in Allycea Weil’s Caged at 3 p.m. on Sunday. (Port Townsend Film Festival)
Garden show set this weekend at Boys & Girls Club

Soroptimist International of Sequim will host its 26th Gala Garden… Continue reading

Port Angeles Fine Arts Center seeking submissions

The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center is seeking artwork… Continue reading

The Hot Club to perform at Concerts in the Woods

The Hot Club of Port Townsend will perform at Concerts… Continue reading

Guest performer set to play at Monday Musicale

Monday Musicale will meet at noon Monday at Joshua’s… Continue reading

Maya de Vitry will perform at Rainshadow Recording at Fort Worden on Tuesday.
Maya de Vitry to perform at Rainshadow Recording

Maya de Vitry will perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday… Continue reading

Chris Cain Band to play at Palindrome

The Chris Cain Band will perform at 7:30 p.m.… Continue reading