Camille Gavin: It's pipes, pedals, perfection as church dedicates organ
| Wednesday, Mar 25 2009 09:04 PM
Last Updated Monday, Mar 30 2009 04:23 PM
ORGAN DEDICATION CONCERT
Who: Robert Tall, guest soloist
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: First Presbyterian Church, 1705 17th St.
Admission: Free
Information:325-1518
'GET SMART
When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: Bakersfield Community Theatre, 2400 S. Chester Ave.
Admission: Adults, $10; children, $8
Information:831-8114
ARTS COUNCIL OF KERN
What: “Glassworks” opening exhibit
When: 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: Younger Gallery, 1430 Truxtun Ave., Suite 105 (Bank of America building)
Admission: $5, free for ACK members
Information:622-4243
Images
Meg Wise, the organist at First Presbyterian Church, gets comfortable with the new organ, a reported $250,000 machine that combines the existing unit with a new digital console.
Robert Tall will be the soloist for the first concert on First Presbyterian Church's new organ on Saturday.
Robert Tall rehearsing on the new organ at First Presbyterian Church.
A detail shot from the new organ at First Presbyterian.
The organ at First Presbyterian Church downtown.
While getting ready to do the final tuning on the newly enhanced organ at the First Presbyterian Church in downtown Bakersfield, Robert Tall took a moment to explain in layman’s terms the expertise it takes to know which stops to pull, which knobs to turn, and which pedals to push.
“It’s kind of like being a chef who’s creating a new recipe,” he said with a smile. “You have to remember where in the cupboard you put the oregano — in other words, where did you put the French horn?”
Probably no one knows the answer to that question better than Tall himself. He and his company, Robert Tall & Associates of Glendale, designed and created the new installation. And after hearing a brief but stirring preview, I can tell you the sounds he brought forth from the instrument were truly magnificent.
The new organ will be dedicated at a free concert Saturday evening and Tall will be the soloist. At subsequent weekly services, Meg Wise, the church’s resident organist will be at the console, and she’s looking forward to it.
“It’s wonderful to have all these choices, so many things we didn’t have before,” said Wise, who also teaches second grade at Rio Bravo-Greeley. “And I love the fullness of it — it’s so mellow and smooth.”
Jeff Chandler, the church’s senior pastor said the new organ is a welcome addition. “We know that music always brings more joy to the worship service,” he said.
Church member Robert Petker headed a committee that began two years ago investigating options for improving the church’s 25-year-old Austin organ, or purchasing a new one that could have been $1 million or more. The committee opted for improvement and the contract with Tall’s company was approved at a cost of $250,000.
As a result, the 43 ranks, or sets, of pipes of the church’s existing organ were interfaced with 180 digital ranks of the new Rodgers console, bringing the total to 223. This also means that an organist can draw upon the digitally recorded pipes of such famous cathedrals as Notre Dame in Paris.
Tall, who received his Ph.D. in music and psychology from the University of Utah in 1967, performed at the Mormon Tabernacle during his student days. After moving to Los Angeles, he was the principal organist for the Hollywood Bowl sunrise services for 12 years. In 2008 he traveled to Europe to perform concerts in Berlin and Prague. His concert at First Presbyterian will include traditional pieces for the organ as well as “I Am an American,” a stirring musical and video presentation adapted by Tall, narrated by David Demers and produced by Jerry Reinhardt.
'GET SMART' AT BCT
“Get Smart,” a take-off on the popular television show of the same name, opens Friday at Bakersfield Community Theatre for a two-weekend run. It’s based on an episode in which Maxwell Smart, played by Mike Bedard, is trapped by the evil Mr. Big, the head of KAOS.
This is a BCT Youth Theatre production but Michael Pawloski, the director, said audiences shouldn’t think of it as “a cute and cozy teen show but as a re-creation of a brilliant television show brought to life and given true justice.”
Others in the cast are Liz Belsky, Andrew Price, Philip Rodriguez, Sarah Walter, Katie Giertz and Emma Jordan-Scott.
Palowski said the production was made possible by a grant from the Arts Council of Kern.
YOUNGER GALLERY
A juried exhibit featuring California artists from Napa, Los Osos, Del Mar and Bakersfield opens Thursday evening at the Younger Gallery. Those who entered were asked to submit their interpretation of the title, “Glassworks.” The exhibit includes painted, hand blown and fused glass.
“The public is invited to come meet the glass artists, as well as other art patrons and collectors,” said Sue Deininger, spokeswoman for the Arts Council of Kern, which operates the gallery. Refreshments will be served and a no-host wine bar will be available.
The gallery is located on the ground floor of the Bank of America building and faces Truxtun Avenue. Parking is available in the garage adjacent to the building with entry on 17th Street.
Starting on April 1, admission is free during regular hours, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.The exhibit will be up through May 29.
