The Shrine is blessed to have a staff so dedicated to Our Lady and the Catholic Church. Scott Turkington was hired nearly a year ago as the Director of Sacred Music and since joining the staff, he has built up and developed the Sacred Music Apostolate of the Shrine. The Apostolate now offers camps including: Choir Camp, Chant Camp For High-Schoolers, Ward Camp, and the Adult Course in Gregorian Chant, and many musical events! Learn more here.
Come for an Afternoon of Music!
This Sunday, July 9, at 3:00 pm, Scott welcomes all to a free organ concert in the Shrine Church. You will hear the organ music of Johann Sebastian Bach, a charming sonata by his son C. P. E. Bach, a popular piece by a famous composer of Notre-Dame in Paris (Louis Vierne), an Ave Maria by the very young Jean Alain (tragically killed in WWI), and a new work by the also-famous and current organist/composer of Notre-Dame, Olivier Latry. Mr. Nathan Romportl, guest tenor, will be the soloist for two of the works.
More about the Shrine's Organ
The Shrine's Noak organ has three manual keyboards and their respective divisions are clearly discernible in the structural design of the case: The “Great” is in the upper part of the main case, the “Swell’’—with louvers controlling the dynamics hidden behind a grille—in the lower main case and the “Chair” division in its own smaller case in the gallery rail. The Pedal division occupies the side “towers” of the main case. In spite of the separation of the parts of the organ, the key action is entirely mechanical with thin wooden rods, so-called trackers, connecting each key to the corresponding valve. This is the system that was common in all organs before the advent of electricity and is still the most desirable one to give the player the best control over the pipes’ speech.
Come and hear this magnificent instrument!
Unable to make it?
Two more concerts coming up
Organ Recital with Christopher Ganza | August 13, at 3:00pm
October Organ Recital with Scott Turkington | October 15, at 3:00pm