Playing the Fisk and Casavant Organs at First Presbyterian Church, Charleston WVA

WORSHIP IN CHARLESTON

I appreciate the invitation from Rev. Nancy Kahaian, Transitional Pastor at First Presbyterian Church, Charleston, WVa to come lead worship on Sunday February 16 playing their TWO amazing pipe organs, the three-manual mechanical-action FISK organ located in the Gallery and the three manual electric action CASAVANT organ in the chancel.  The church facility is historic, celebrating their 200^th year, and is beautifully cared for.  I enjoyed witnessing families come and select their seats for worship and appreciated a variety of ages as well as a good number attending worship on that day. 

I’ll say a few words about the service music.  I began on the Casavant with Clokey’s Bell Prelude.  It begins quietly and ends triumphantly.  The piece lets folks hear the quiet strings, the zimbelstern, flutes and foundations as it builds to full organ and the start of the service.  The first hymn—Holy Holy Holy, I played on the Casavant beginning with a unison introduction and foundations, a quieter second verse on strings and principals in a sustained fashion with alto on top.  Third verse back to principal chorus with mixtures and lots of “roaming thirds to add motion and excitement”, then a modulation and Full Reed Chorus to “drive the hymn home”.  I loved that the singing increased to “triumphant” level with some sopranos adding a non-rehearsed descant part. 

Following a prayer was a short response “There is a Redeemer” led by a worship band of mandolin, bass and piano.  With their permission, I surprised everyone by playing the Casavant “pipe organ” WITH the worship band—GASP, UNHEARD OF!  I provided a “string celeste padding” effect to fill out the band and give cohesiveness and sustained beauty behind their rhythm.  I could see smiles on the choir faces.

For offering, I played Raney’s Come Thou Fount, featuring lots of flutes.  Then for the Sermon Hymn, we sang Be Thou My Vision.  I actually began with all the manual reeds coupled, playing open fifths in the bass and a single melody line for the introduction, a BAG-PIPE effect!  Then traditional rendering of the hymn.  Being back in WV, I remember my first organ teacher LOIS SKEANS of Huntington, WV playing this hymn and me watching her on one of the first times I ever heard a pipe organ!  She was totally amazing on this more difficult pedal part and never even thought of missing a note!  I felt her presence and instruction as I attempted to duplicate her memory.

I moved to the FISK organ for the closing hymn.  A challenge of the FISK is the mechanical stop action with no pistons—and I like to play with lots of variety!  I began with an 8,4,2 Foundation Chorus with Swell to Great Coupled, and then drew additional mixtures on each of the two upcoming verses.  I moved between manuals and added/subtracted pedals to provide contrast.  The Postlude was BULL’S RONDO IN G-and I let it fly!  The GREAT MANUAL provided the PLENUM for the Rondo, with the SWELL a small mixture chorus and the Positiv with Flutes 8 and 1 for echos.  The congregation had not heard this organ for a while and I enjoyed many folks staying and listening and their applause at the end! 

I appreciated my dear friends Ralph and Sonia Mills being present and supporting me.  Ralph was an amazing mentor, and gave me many opportunities as a young organist which I will always appreciate!  Following I appreciated folks saying: they heard so many sounds today, some they had not heard before.  AND, that as I interpreted the hymns, I “took” them places!  This made me so happy, as that is exactly what I set in mind to do as I agreed to play these instruments for this worship experience!  I’ll hope and look forward to a return trip here!