Congratulations to Wesley Methodist Church on their successful Organ Spectacular on October 19, featuring Dr. Charles Callahan (organist), The choir of Wesley Church, The Ensemble Singers, and Lloyd Matthew, director.

Dr. Callahan opened the concert with a serious 'Fugue' from Sonata II by Eugene Thayer. The fugue subject, the tune to 'God save the Queen' or 'My Country, 'Tis of Thee', begins in the pedal. This piece displayed the organ's power,or ability to be really loud, and the pipes of the newly renovated organ blended beautifully

The next work was an 'Allegretto' by Giovanni Battista Peschetti. This early Italian piece calls for manuals (hands) only. Dr. Callahan chose a light flute registration, and made several manual changes which showcased various flute combinations. At the end, he added the zimbelstern, a toy stop which sounds like a set of bells. The overall effect was fun and lighthearted.

His third selection was a 'Sicilienne' by Maria-Teresa von Paradies, a blind composer. Dr. Callahan brought out the lyrical melody on diverse solo registers: first on the reeds, then the strings, and finally a high-pitched flute with tremulant. Dr. Callahan also used registration changes to create distinctions between the variations in Charles Wesley's 'Air and Variations'.

When the audience was invited to join the choir in singing the hymn, 'All People that on Earth do Dwell', Dr. Callahan made use of the crescendo feature on the organ and added the 32' in the pedal. For the last verse, it sounded as though Dr. Callahan had "pulled out all the stops". What a rumble that 32' makes!

Then Dr. Callahan played one of most organ aficionados' favourite pieces, the 'Toccata and Fugue in d minor' by J. S. Bach. The end of the toccata was very exciting. He began the fugue on a quieter registration to which he added until reaching a thunderous climax at the end.

The choirs joined Dr. Callahan to perform the 'Hallelujah' from Beethoven's 'Mount of Olives'. This exultant piece was most enjoyable. The choir sounded clean and blended well, though for Beethoven, it would have been nice to have had a larger ensemble.

Sir Henry Walford Davies's 'Solemn Melody' is aptly titled. Dr. Callahan brought out the rumbling bass and string sounds on the organ for this sombre piece. He then added the reeds and more stops until reaching roaring heights, returning to a softer sound over a reverberating bass to end the piece.

The quirky and fun character of the 'Cantilene' by Theodore Salome offered a pleasant contrast to the previous piece before returning to a more contemplative mood in César Franck's 'Cantabile'. The slow, quiet, calm of this piece; the haunting melody; and Franck's moodiness were all a welcome addition to the concert.

Dr. Callahan followed the 'Cantabile' with another work by Franck: 'Piece Héroique'. The organist, the organ and the music did not fail to impress. This orchestral piece gave Dr. Callahan a chance to show off the grandness and versatility of the organ. Fluctuating between incessant, driving rhythms played on the reeds and quiet lyrical passages, this piece took the listener on an emotional journey.

The next four selections were compositions by Dr. Callahan. He wrote the two hymn-tune preludes in contrasting styles. In the prelude on 'Let Us Break Bread Together', the organist brought out the soothing caress of the strings and the lyricism of the reed solo.

In the second hymn-tune prelude, brilliant flourishes in the manuals cascaded over the tune for 'Old 100th', booming in the pedals. Dr. Callahan's 'Aria' sang from the first note.

It varied from lush harmonies to a heart-rending melody played on the sweetest flute, while the booming 'Rejoicing' danced victoriously.

Finally, the choirs and Dr. Callahan brought the concert to a joyous close with Sir Charles Villiers Stanford's 'Te Deum Laudamus'.

Dr. Callahan provided a very diverse selection of music, and did well to show off the capabilities of the newly restored organ at Wesley Methodist Church. The choir sang pleasantly under the direction of Lloyd Matthew. It was delightful to see an organ recital again, as there are so few in Bermuda.

I hope to see more in the near future.