St. Hilda's second organ recital last Saturday night followed the Coast Recital Society's brilliant opening concert beginning two hours earlier at the Raven's Cry Theatre in Sechelt.
St. Hilda's concert featured Matthew Cron of Amherst Massachussets. He has served since 1989 as organist and music director of Immanuel Lutheran Church. He started his concert with J. S. Bach's Toccata in F Major, all stops out, describing it as "a warm-up piece used to show the organ off."
Cron's introductory comments illuminated the concert. He featured music by Mozart, Mendelssohn and Louis Vierne (1870 to 1937), organist at Paris' great Notre Dame Cathedral for 37 years.
Cron ended with five settings of spirituals by African-American composer Adolphus Hailstork (b. 1941). These were a marked contrast to the rest of the program. "Lord, I Don't Feel Noways Tired" sounded rather like the fabled Fats Waller (1904-1943).
Thanks to the passion of St. Hilda's rector Clarence Li and organist/music director Tom Pollack, the church is already a noted mecca for local music. Li is committed to regular organ recitals; number three is set for Oct. 15. Kellough may give the fourth before Christmas.
Grade 7 Halfmoon Bay student Emily Picard will be at them all. She continues to take organ lessons with Pollock. In the future we can hope for a recital from her.
