Pitt Heinz Chapel Pittsburgh Artists Series Concludes March 16 with Handel Concerto, Haydn Symphony, and Parry Fantasia and Fugue

PITTSBURGH-Organist Robert Sutherland Lord, University of Pittsburgh professor emeritus of music, and the University of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, with its director, Roger Zahab, conducting, will perform a program titled "London Symphonies," featuring works by George Frideric Handel, Franz Joseph Haydn, and C. Hubert H. Parry as the final installment of this year's Heinz Chapel Artists Series at 8 p.m. March 16 in Heinz Memorial Chapel, Fifth and Bellefield avenues, Oakland.

Handel's Concerto for Organ and Orchestra in F Major, Op. 4, No. 5; Parry's Fantasia and Fugue in G Major for organ solo; and Haydn's Symphony No. 95 in C minor are the pieces to be featured in the program.

In early 1735, Handel (1685-1759) wrote a series of organ concertos to be included in performances of his oratorios. According to English music historian Charles Burney, Handel invented the genre of the organ concerto. Concerto for Organ and Orchestra in F Major was a revision of Handel's earlier Sonata for Recorder, Op. 1, No. 11. He may have played this concerto in London on March 26, 1735, at the first performance of his oratorio "Deborah."

Haydn (1732-1809) is considered to be one of the greatest composers of the Classical Era in western music. During two separate visits to London-in 1791-92 and 1794-95-some of his best-known works were composed, foremost among them, the 12 London Symphonies.

An eminent English composer, university teacher, and historian, Parry (1848-1918) wrote two versions of the Fantasia and Fugue in G for organ. The first version dates from 1877. In 1912, Parry made major changes, including an entirely new fugue. Bach's Fantasia and Fugue in G minor inspired Parry's work. Parry wrote a critical biography of Bach in 1909.

Among Parry's compositions are "Jerusalem" and the church anthem "I Was Glad," which was composed for the coronation of King Edward VII and has been sung at every British coronation since.

Lord's distinguished career as an organist and educator has spanned nearly five decades. A specialist in the music of French composer-organists, Lord studied with the legendary French composer-organist Jean Langlais (1907-1991) in Paris. Lord retired from Pitt's Department of Music in 1999 but continues to give recitals and remains active in the American Guild of Organists.

Composer, violinist, conductor, and teacher, Zahab has been on the Pitt music faculty since 1993. He also is conductor of the Music on the Edge Chamber Orchestra. Zahab composed "And Stars Will Appear" to commemorate the lives lost in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The work premiered at Pitt Sept. 11, 2003.

The University of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performs not only works of the standard repertoire, but also new compositions, especially works by student composers. Outstanding students appear frequently as concerto soloists, and the personnel comprises music students, students from the University at large, faculty, staff, and members of the community.

Tickets may be purchased at the door for $12. For more information, call 412-624-4157 or visit www.discover.pitt.edu/chapel.

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