The Beggar Boys, December 2007

From the Artistic Director

Welcome to the sixth season of Music at St. Alban’s! We are pleased to offer our most exciting series so far, featuring everything from Bach to Broadway, Celtic to Gospel. Our intimate, welcoming seating arrangement and friendly, fun post-concert receptions continue to break down the barriers between artists and audiences, and our expanded outreach programs bring guest artists to schools and community organizations, where they share their passion and talent with those who ordinarily might not have the opportunity to experience and appreciate these musical gifts. We also are reaffirming our commitment to making great music available to young people by offering free admission to all children under age 10, reaching out to schools, and programming family-friendly concerts. Your support allows us to keep our admission prices low in spite of rising costs and curtailed arts funding all around us.

Subscription purchases and additional tax-deductible contributions account for more than half of our operating budget. We are enriching this community through great music – and you can be proud that your contributions make it possible.

-Henry Lebedinsky

Music at St. Alban’s - Our Sixth Season

301 Caldwell Lane Davidson, NC

2009-2010 Concert Series

A world of music right in the neighborhood

(Please print this section and use it when you order your subscriptions.)

BUY YOUR SERIES SUBSCRIPTION NOW and save 40% off the individual ticket price!

Before September 11, 2009: All six concerts @ $9.00 each - Subscriptions at $54.00

Number of Subscriptions ____ x $54.00 = _________ TOTAL DUE

Number of Children’s Subscriptions (under age 10) at no cost: ______

BECOME A FRIEND OF MUSIC AT ST. ALBAN’S

Your tax-deductible contribution will help this exciting and meaningful musical offering grow and flourish.

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Ticket Info

Tickets are available at the door or in advance by calling (704) 941-0650.

Box office hours: 9-4, Monday through Friday

General Admission: $15; Students & Seniors: $10; Children under 12: FREE

Please make checks payable to: “St. Alban’s Episcopal Church”

with “Music at St. Alban’s” in the memo field and send to:

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church

P.O. Box 970

Davidson, NC 28036

The history and craftsmanship of this magnificent 19th century organ is highly noteworthy.  Upon initial completion, the organ had 686 pipes of various shapes and sizes.  Since then, many additional “ranks” or sounds have been added and today the organ has more than 900 pipes.  Each pipe ranges in size; some are as small as a pencil stub while the largest is a nine-foot cylinder big enough for a child to crawl through.  Its case, which is six feet deep and 15 feet high, is finished with tiger-striped white oak, the console is black walnut and the keys are hand-carved from elephant ivory.  The stops also are ivory, with ornate calligraphy carved into them in order to identify each sound or action.

The organ was originally designed and crafted in Boston, which in the 1800s, was the hub of organ building.  In 1835, George Stevens, a highly regarded craftsman and a member of the prominent Boston School.  The Boston School, a group of shops that worked together to create premium organs, were known for their high quality workmanship.  St. Alban’s acquired the organ from the owner; a Methodist church in Hope, Rhode Island, in 2000.

To prepare the organ for its new home, it was taken apart piece by piece and carefully wrapped and shipped to        John Farmer, of Winston-Salem, NC, one of the nation’s top organ restorers. Farmer was responsible for restoring the organ to its full 19th century sound and appearance.  The restoration process included replacing and repairing individual parts, adding pipes, refinishing the case and adding the gold leaf trim to the molding.

The organ was installed in the sanctuary in March, 2003.

“There simply is no way to replicate these materials and this type of handwork today,” said John Farmer.

ORGAN SPECIFICATIONS

George Stevens, East Cambridge, MA, ca. 1865

Richard Hamar, Boston, MA :Restored and enlarged 1974

J. Allen Farmer, Inc. Winston-Salem NC: Rebuilt and Refurbished 2003

              GREAT: 56 notes, C1-G56, unenclosed

1. Open Diapason 8’                    56 Pipes              façade, spotted metal

2. Clarabella (tg) 8’                      37                        open wood

3. Keraulophone (tg) 8’               37                        open metal

    Stopped Diap. Bass 8’             19                        stopped wood

4. Principal 4’                               56                        open metal

5. Flute (tc) 4’                              44                        stopped metal

6. Twelth 2 2/3’                           56                        open metal

7. Fifteenth 2’                              56                        open metal

8. Tierce 1 3/5’                             56                        open metal

              SWELL: 56 notes, 1-12 unenclosed, 13-56 enclosed

9. Open Diapason 8’                    44                        open metal

10. St’p Diapason (tc) 8’              44                        stopped wood

      St’p Diap. Bass 8’                  12                        stopped wood

11. Viola de Gamba 8’                 44                        open metal

      Viola de Gamba Bass 8’         12                        stopped wood

12. Principal (tc) 4’                       44                        open metal

13. Hautboy 8’                             44                        open metal

      Hautboy Bass 8’                     12                        open metal

              PEDAL: 30 notes, 1-30 unenclosed

14. Sub Bass 16’                          30                        stopped wood

15. Octave 8’                                30                        open metal

16. Fifteenth 4’                             30                        open metal

     Tremolo (Tremulant Doux)

     Couplers: Gt/Pd, Sw/Pd and Sw/Gt

     Mechanical key and stop action