Emmanuel Episcopal Church to host organ dedication and recital for community

Emmanuel Episcopal Church will sponsor a Dedication Recital featuring its new Makin Thirlmere Digital Organ on Sunday afternoon, June 20, 2018 at 4:00 pm at 122 East Court Street, Woodstock, VA. The organ was installed by R.A. Daffer Church Organs of Jessup, Maryland. Regionally renowned organist and conductor David Lang will perform. Mr. Lang will be joined by vocalists Laura Lazarevich and Kailey Pulos Hoang from Northern Virginia. Charlene Romano, adjunct professor of flute at Shenandoah University, will also perform with Mr. Lang.

The recital program will feature English Heritage composers such as Handel and Vaughn Williams. The program will focus on the organ as an instrument used to enhance and support worship. There will be two congregational hymns, several hymn settings, and a trumpet tune by David German. Additionally, there will be several works by the great Protestant organ composer, Johann Sabastian Bach, and a finale by Charles-Marie Widor that features the Toccata from his Symphony No. 5.

The Makin Thirlmere digital organ is a two-manual (keyboard) instrument built in the English style. Its stops (selective pipe sounds) are sampled from actual English organs. Most of these sound recordings came from existing Willis and Harrison & Harrison organs. These two organ companies are considered to be the finest contemporary English pipe organs. Initial voicing (adjustment of pipe sounds) was made by Professor Ian Tracey, Organist and Director of Choristers at the Liverpool Cathedral and consultant to the Makin Organ Company.

Of local interest, Christ Episcopal Church in Old Town Alexandria, VA, has contracted Harrison & Harrison to build and install its new pipe organ. Christ Church was the Parish church of George Washington. The Makin Thirlmere instrument was custom-made for Emmanuel Church, Woodstock, by the Makin Organ Company, England, under the parent company Global Organ Group of the Netherlands. The company also builds Rodgers Organs. As one church member said, “I can’t believe what a difference it makes (for our worship).” Another said, “It looks like it has always been here (in the church Sanctuary).”

All members of the community are invited to this celebration. The Reverend Kathleen Murray will lead the dedication. There will be a free will offering.