Trinity's Chapel Vibrates With Music of John Rose

Those who missed organist John Rose play in Trinity's chapel this Sunday truly missed a delightful performance. Not only was the program varied and interesting, but Rose's playing was wonderful and the atmosphere was tremendous. John Rose has performed all over the United States as well as in various other locations around the world. He has been Trinity's organist and Director of Chapel Music since 1977. Nine years prior to coming to Trinity College, Rose was the organist and Music Director at Sacred Heart Cathedral Basilica in Newark, New Jersey.

Talent and music aside, there is really nothing like an organ performance. The chapel rumbled, shook, and vibrated with the full, rich chords. The pews moved underneath the audience as they listened in awe and the sound of the organ spread throughout every cavity of the chapel. Both the sheer sound and power of this massive instrument and the coordination necessary to make it play are incredible.

It is impossible to know how Rose so effortlessly plays three keyboards while managing to press pedals and buttons, pull levers and watch the music and nod his head to the page-turner. This was an example of chorography, dexterity, and musical ability at its best.

The small, but eager, audience was released from anticipation when Rose mounted the choir loft and gracefully took his seat at the organ. He began the concert with Fanfare by John Cook. The piece is appropriately named; it is a triumphant fanfare, loud, magnificent and regal. Rose immediately took command of the keyboard and left the audience spellbound. After the Fanfare, Rose greeted the audience on microphone from the choir loft and began to tell them a few words about the next pieces he would be playing.

Reflections on Southern Hymn Tunes by Louis White was a gift to him from a former professor. The southern hymns were beautiful, especially the opening rendition of My Shepherd Will Supply My Need. Rose's playing was soft and spiritual, in tune with the feeling of the piece. Rose also described the third piece of his performance, Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber and arranged by William Strickland, as having a "seamless, eternal sense of continuation." Rose exhibited the strength of Strickland's adaptation with his seamless and flawless playing. The haunting melody started quietly and slowly mounted to a grand sound that resonated throughout the chapel.

These two pieces went quite smoothly, despite the fact that Rose's wireless microphone was picking up sound from a wedding in the Smith House. Luckily, there were members of the audience familiar with the Chapel's sound system who helped turn off the microphone and let the audience get back to the business at hand, enjoying Rose's performance.

The last piece before the intermission was Cesar Franck's Piece Heroique. This amazing piece, reminiscent of a silent film score, took the listener along on the "hero's journey." The menacing villain, the triumphant hero and his journey could all be heard in this piece of music. After a brief intermission, which allowed time for the audience to peruse and purchase the various CDs that Rose's work is featured on, Rose played Louis Vierne's Symphonie III, op. 28. Rose noted that Vierne is able to evoke symphony-like characteristics by using the many different sounds available to him on the organ.

As Rose progressed through the many movements of the symphony, the audience was transported to turn of the century Notre Dame, where Vierne was an organist during the years from 1900-1937. The different movements all showcased Rose's phenomenal musical ability. The small, but very enthusiastic, audience, gave Rose a standing ovation at the end of the symphony. The applause was so overwhelming that one would have thought that every pew in the chapel was full. Because the audience was so supportive and "the weather was so nice," Rose treated the audience and ended the afternoon's program with an encore performance of Bach.

John Rose's performance is the first in this year's Trinity College Chapel Organ Series. Janice Beck will perform next on November 7 at 3 PM.