The eagerly anticipated concert to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Bairnsdale’s only pipe organ is this Sunday, August 31, at the organ’s home – the Bairnsdale Uniting Church.
It features accomplished organist Christopher Trikilis from St Stephen’s Cathedral in Brisbane. The concert also includes items for organ and trumpet in which Christopher is
joined by popular local trumpeter, John Schmidli.
Having a fine reputation as a leading Australian and international organist, Christopher is quick to praise the calibre of Bairnsdale’s Fincham pipe organ.
“We are privileged to have him travel to help us celebrate, with his fine musical skills and ability to demonstrate the organ’s versatility to a Gippsland audience,” Pipe Organ Music and Events Group’s (POMEG) Margaret
McConachy said.
The organ was rebuilt and refurbished by
the Uniting Church after it was removed from the Methodist Church. Originally installed
there in 1935, it was dedicated to the Pioneers of East Gippsland. It had 628 pipes and a
pneumatic action.
Skilled members of the Uniting Church carefully disassembled, labelled and stored the components. It was rebuilt, refurbished and enlarged by SJ Lawrey Pty Ltd. After reinstallation in the new Uniting Church at Lucknow in 1990 (again with some of the work being done by dedicated parishioners) the organ had 853 pipes in 16 ranks, was electronically controlled and had a new console.
Such an instrument requires maintenance, which is supported by POMEG.
Christopher and John have chosen music from across the ages to demonstrate the organ’s capabilities and how organ and trumpet combine with brilliant festive results.
Included are composers and organists who grappled with early organs still in their developmental stages, with the pedal board still being refined.
Also on the program are later works written for and played on some of the great pipe organs of Europe, the United Kingdom and now Australia, with their multiple manuals and extended pedal boards.
The organ and trumpet are a wonderfully blending combination. Christopher and
John will demonstrate the magic with some of the most jubilant and exhilarating music
in the repertoire.
This celebratory concert is this Sunday
at 2pm.
Pay at the door. Tea and coffee will be available during interval. The concert is free for school students.
