MATTHEW WHITEHOUSE AT FONDREN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MAY 27, 2001

   This was a December-January event for Whitehouse; December in that
he has concluded his time as organ scholar at Fondren Church as a
student of Judy Sclater (and piano student of Sandra Polanski at APAC),
and January to mark the beginning of his time as an organ major at the
University of South Carolina in Columbia. His program began with a
congregational hymn "New Songs of Celebration Render"
(Tune: RENDEZ A DIEU) - I wish more organ recitalists would do
this - and continued with Gordon Jacob's Festal Flourish. Chorale
preludes by Hermann Schroeder and J.S. Bach followed, and the first
part concluded with Bach's Prelude and Fugue in a Minor (BWV 543).
Whitehouse evoked well the timelessness inherent in this piece, with
a steady rhythm and consistent phrasing. The next part began with
Hindemith's Sonate I, in which the registration was so skillfully
selected as to make one think Hindemith had this particular organ in
mind! A second hymn was sung - "Come, Holy Spirit" (Tune: VENI CREATOR
SPIRITUS) and the recital was closed with the powerful Pepping piece
based on it: "Komm, Gott Schoepfer, heiliger Geist" (Grosses Orgelbuch
III). Whitehouse is already an exciting and polished performer, and
we look forward to hearing more from him as he continues his study.

                                                - Glenn A. Gentry





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