| Powers and Hall: Honored in their Native Land |
| RUTHERFORD NJ--Well, it's sort of their native land. Jonathan Hall is a native of Manhattan who lived for years in Chicago and on Long Island. Bill Powers hails from Kansas. But Rutherford, New Jersey--a small borough about six miles west of Lincoln Center--has become a loving home to them since they arrived in 2005. On Sunday, December 16, 2007, they presented their third annual fall recital at Grace Church. This time, the program not only featured the church's versatile Austin pipe organ, but also a Yamaha digital piano. This new instrument appeared for the final work on the program, a set of "Tableaux de Provence" by French composer Paule Maurice. The entire program comprised works arranged from the organ repertoire and composed directly for this magical combination of instruments. Recit de nazard (from Suite du deuxieme ton) Louis-Nicolas Clerambault Sonata (1994) Denis Bedard i. Invention ii. Barcarolle iii. Humoresque Two by Bach: Lente from Trio Sonata 6 Fuga canonica in epidiapente from Musical Offering Tableaux de Provence Paule Maurice i. Farandoulo di chatouno ii. Cansoun per ma mio iii. La boumiano iv. Dis Alyscamps l’amo souspire v. Lou Cabridan The church is a gorgeous 19th century English country parish, with a Tiffany window over the high altar. An increasingly popular venue for weddings, it is also home to a lively and growing congregation, which is treated weekly to a rich variety of sacred music led by Hall and his choir. Despite snow and rain, the church was nearly full, largely thanks to an excellent, large feature in the Leader, the local Meadowlands newspaper. After the concert, the happy audience was treated to a wonderful reception prepared by the choir, where sushi was by far the most popular offering! Grace Church welcomes new singers into its choir, and visitors are always encouraged. The church is located at 128 W. Passaic Street, west of the Post Office; it hopes to launch a website early in 2008. |