For the occasion of his venue debut, Stephen Tharp performs the world premiere of his original composition, Disney’s Trumpets - an exploration of the stops on the instrument in Walt
Disney Concert Hall that are traditionally designated “trumpets” in pipe organ vernacular.
Tharp describes the work as a “short, agitato fanfare designed to highlight the various powerful reed stops of this particular instrument, heard both separately by manual (or division) and, at times, all together.” In addition to Disney’s Trumpets, Tharp performs several of his own organ arrangements - two works originally written for orchestra and three works originally for solo piano.
Hailed as “the organist for the connoisseur” (Organ magazine, Germany), “the thinking person’s performer” (Het Orgel), “every bit the equal of any organist” (The American Organist magazine) and “the consummate creative artist” (Michael Barone, Pipedreams), Stephen Tharp is recognized as one of the great concert organists of our age. Having played more than 1300 concerts across 36 tours worldwide, Tharp has built one of the most well-respected international careers in the world, earning him the reputation as the most traveled concert organist of his generation.
Tharp is an important champion of new organ music, and continues to commission and premiere numerous compositions for the instrument. In April 2008, he was named the Official Organist for the NY visit of Pope Benedict XVI, playing for three major events (all of which were broadcast live worldwide), attended by more than 60,000 people.
Preceding the concert is an Upbeat Live event which takes place in Walt Disney Concert Hall’s BP Hall at 6:30 PM and is free to all ticket holders. Thomas Neenan, Lecturer in Music History and Theory at Caltech and Music Director and Conductor of The Chamber Orchestra at St. Matthew’s, hosts.
PROGRAM: THARP Disney’s Trumpets (world premiere)
CHOPIN (arr. Tharp) Scherzo in B-flat minor, Op. 31 br>
JONGEN Prière, Op. 37, No. 3
STRAVINSKY (arr. Tharp) The Fair, from Petrushka
MUSSORGSKY (arr. Tharp) A Night on Bald Mountain
BRAHMS (arr. Tharp) Intermezzo in A major, Op. 118, No. 2
LISZT (arr. Tharp) Totentanz
For more information and a complete artist biography, please visit: www.laphil.com .
WHEN: Sunday, March 13, 2011 at 7:30 PM
WHERE: WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL
111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles
