Organ Recital: Reflections of Light
Jan 16, 2027 at 3 p.m.
Bachgrounder lecture 35 minutes before concert
Schroeder Hall, Green Music Center
Anne Laver, organ · Wild Rose Treble Ensemble · Directed by Amanda McFadden
Community Partner: Girl Scouts of Northern California
On our bookshelf: A Mixture of Frailties (Robertson Davies)
Jan 16, 2027 at 3 p.m.
Bachgrounder lecture 35 minutes before concert
Schroeder Hall, Green Music Center
Anne Laver, organ · Wild Rose Treble Ensemble · Directed by Amanda McFadden
Community Partner: Girl Scouts of Northern California
On our bookshelf: A Mixture of Frailties (Robertson Davies)
The Wild Rose Treble Ensemble will once again join with Anne Laver on our beloved Brombaugh Organ for a collaboration that focuses on what we have playfully called the “aftermath of Christmas”. Focusing on the experience of Mary with the famous Magnificat text and St. Simeon with the Nunc Dimittis text, we will wrap our arms around the characters that were involved at the birth and upbringing of Jesus. Anne will share organ settings of the beloved chorale "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern" ("How brightly shines the morning star") by J. S. Bach and his favorite student, Johann Ludwig Krebs and Bach's monumental Fugue on the Magnificat.We will sing motets written for Epiphany and Candlemas--perhaps even including some Christmas tunes! Simultaneously, we will recognize the shift from winter to spring with a focus on the coming light.
Community Partner:
Girl Scouts of Northern California
Girl Scouts of Northern California
Sonoma Bach is delighted to welcome local Girl Scouts for a hands-on introduction to our pipe organs. Through an engaging and interactive experience, participants will discover how this remarkable instrument creates its rich and varied sounds, explore its history and mechanics, and hear it come to life in performance. By opening the doors to this unique musical tradition, Sonoma Bach hopes to inspire curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong appreciation for music in the next generation.
Organ Recital: A Mixture of Frailties (Robertson Davies)
Louisa Bridgetower, the imposing Salterton matron, has died. The substantial income from her estate is to be used to send an unmarried young woman to Europe to pursue an education in the arts. Mrs. Bridgetower’s executors end up selecting Monica Gall, an almost entirely unschooled singer whose sole experience comes from performing with the Heart and Hope Gospel Quartet, a rough outfit sponsored by a small fundamentalist group. Monica soon finds herself in England, a pupil of some of Britain’s most remarkable teachers and composers, and she gradually blossoms from a Canadian rube to a cosmopolitan soprano with a unique—and tragicomic—career.
Louisa Bridgetower, the imposing Salterton matron, has died. The substantial income from her estate is to be used to send an unmarried young woman to Europe to pursue an education in the arts. Mrs. Bridgetower’s executors end up selecting Monica Gall, an almost entirely unschooled singer whose sole experience comes from performing with the Heart and Hope Gospel Quartet, a rough outfit sponsored by a small fundamentalist group. Monica soon finds herself in England, a pupil of some of Britain’s most remarkable teachers and composers, and she gradually blossoms from a Canadian rube to a cosmopolitan soprano with a unique—and tragicomic—career.
Dr. Anne Laver is an internationally active concert organist, educator, and advocate whose performances have spanned the United States, Europe, Scandinavia, Central America, and Africa. Currently serving as Assistant Professor of Organ and University Organist at Syracuse University’s Setnor School of Music—and formerly a Visiting Professor at the Eastman School of Music—she has over twenty years of church music experience alongside a distinguished performance record that includes a second-prize win at the 2010 AGO National Young Artist Competition. A passionate champion for the organ and new music, Laver has premiered works by composers like Natalie Draper and directed numerous youth outreach programs to inspire the next generation of organists. Her acclaimed performances have been broadcast on major radio programs like Pipedreams, and she released her debut album, Reflections of Light, on the Loft label in 2019 following studies at Brown University, the Conservatory of Amsterdam, and the Eastman School of Music.
Wild Rose Treble Ensemble is Sonoma Bach’s newest vocal group, focusing upon the pure, shimmering beauty of treble voices and exploring a diverse repertoire extending from early music to contemporary works. With fresh energy, the Wild Rose Treble Ensemble brings a unique and captivating sound, enriching Sonoma Bach’s offerings with radiant artistry and versatility.