The “Organ-Music & Historical Festival 2010” is dedicated to Toronto’s and Music History. The Festival will be celebrated in the Historical and Musical Heart of Toronto on July 9 - July 12, 2010 at The Cathedral Church of St. James, Toronto’s most prominent venue and other sites.
The Festival welcomes four renowned musicians from three countries:
Andrew Ager (Director of Music and Composer in Residence at St. James) Toronto / Canada
Manfred Dippmann (French horn) Cottbus / Germany
Reinhard Seeliger (Organist and Director of Music) Görlitz / Germany
Henri Ormieres (Organist) Carcassonne / France
R. Seeliger is one of Germanys most prominent Organists and Chief initiator of the reconstruction of the famous “Sun-organ” / “Sonnenorgel” of Görlitz from 1703 at St. Peter and Paul Church. Seeliger has been it’s organist since 1997 and gives his debut in Toronto.
The Organ-Music and Historical Festival 2010 presents well-known music from the Baroque and Romantic by German and French composers in seldom heard arrangements for French horn and Organ and Concert pieces for Church organ played for four hands.
The Festival took inspiration from immigrants to Toronto which arrived here during the last 200 years many times with nothing more than a song on their lips and music in their hearts. These people established early musical life in Toronto and formed the historical cornerstone for a blossoming Canadian music tradition. In this context the Festival offers well-known compositions i.e. by Bach, Mozart, and Saint-Saëns which were influential in developing Canadian’s own Music Culture.
Contributing to the Canadian contemporary music culture the four-day Festival will showcase the World Premiere of “Sonata for French Horn and Organ” by Andrew Ager (Director of Music at St. James).
The Festival honours Toronto’s history and musical tradition with two walking tours. One is arranged with City Historian Bruce Bell in Downtown Toronto and provides a synopsis of Toronto’s 200-year history and another Walking-and-sight-seeing tour leads to “The oldest Organ in Toronto” at St. John’s York Mills Anglican Church.
The Festival remembers as well German and French Immigrants to Toronto who contributed greatly to our city. German and French institutions, foremost the Consulates General of both countries, and congregations are invited to join this festival.
The Festival received a warm welcome from the city’s Mayor David Miller.
Finally, the Festival promotes the Town of York Historical Society scientific and educational approach of research, interpretation and promotion of the history of the town of York and early Toronto.
Friday July 9 6pm Concert “French horn and Organ”
St. James Cathedral
Saturday July 10 10am City walk with Historian Bruce Bell
Meeting Point: St. Lawrence Market
Saturday July 10 3pm Guided tour: The Warren-Organ of 1863/89 at St. James
St. James Cathedral
Saturday July 10 6pm Concert “Organ Music of the Baroque and Romantic”
St. James Cathedral Concert pieces for Church organ played for four hands
Sunday July 11 11am Musical participation: Sunday Service
St. James Cathedral
Sunday July 11 4pm Guided tour: “The Oldest Organ in Toronto”
St John's York Mills Anglican Church
Monday July 12, 2010 12.15pm Music Monday – Concert for French horn and Organ
Church of the
Trinity Square
