A newly discovered Concerto in C Minor for Organ and Orchestra, composed by Robert Elmore in 1938, will be given its world premiere performance at the First United Methodist Church of San Diego on March 18 at 7:30 pm. Robert Plimpton, a former student of Dr. Elmore, will perform the work with the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra conducted by Randall Tweed.
Scored for a very large orchestra, the work is vintage early Elmore, with big lush harmonies, driving rhythms, virtuosic writing, and his signature chromaticism. There are two big pedal cadenzas. The third movement is in jazz-swing style, one of the earliest examples of the use of jazz in serious organ music.
A hand-written copy of the score and parts was discovered in the University of Pennsylvania Archives. A performance with the Philadelphia Orchestra was planned but never materialized.
Robert Plimpton is currently resident organist of the First United Methodist Church of San Diego and San Diego Civic Organist Emeritus. The 75-member Grossmont Symphony Orchestra comprises music and non-music majors and talented musicians from the community.
The complete program of works for organ and orchestra includes Widor, “Allegro maestoso” from Symphonie pour orgue et orchestre, op. 42bis; Mozart, Adagio and Rondo in C Minor, K. 617; Janáček, Taras Bulba; Elmore, Concerto for Organ and Orchestra in C Minor (1938).
For information: 619/297-4366 ext. 112; umcsd.org/music/musicseries.shtm.
