Garth MacPhee, organist and conductor more Maurice Duruflé more Quatre Motets Prelude et Fugue sur le nom d’Alain Requiem Sunday, July 11, 2010   7pm 1611 Quadra Street, Victoria, BC 150th Anniversary Concert Series -  Admission by donation more

Garth MacPhee

Garth MacPhee returns to Victoria for a performance of the music of French master Maurice Duruflé. MacPhee, former Music Director of the Church of Saint John the Divine and the chamber choir vox humana, lives in Montreal, where he is Music Director of the Church of Saint John the Evangelist, the oldest Anglo-Catholic Church in Canada. In addition to his liturgical music making, Mr MacPhee is active as a teacher, choral singer and conductor.

Maurice Duruflé

Maurice Duruflé’s music falls in the line of the French organist/composer tradition, which can be traced to Cesar Franck. The Impressionists such as Debussy and Ravel influence his works also. The Prelude and Fugue honours the memory of Jehan Alain the brilliant composer who was killed at age 29 in World War II. Underpinning all Duruflé’s choral works are the ancient Gregorian chant melodies, with their undulating rhythms and lyrical contours. Composed in 1947, the Requiem is widely considered one of the most powerful settings of the Requiem ever written.

The Performance

Mr. MacPhee will perform the Prelude and Fugue on the church’s Casavant organ, and conduct an ensemble of his former choristers from St John’s and the chamber choir vox humana. The Requiem will be accompanied on organ by Saint John’s recently appointed Music Director David Stratkauskas. Cellist Alasdair Money, of the Emily Carr String Quartet, will join the ensemble. This concert is one of a series marking the 150th Anniversary of the Church of Saint John the Divine.