Organist Presents Complete Works of Bach
FPC organist, Tom Ingui, is presenting the complete organ works of J.S. Bach in a nine-concert series, beginning in August. All of the concerts are free and open to the public.
The concerts are divided by categories and collections of Bach’s work. Three of the concerts will feature compilations of the best of each of the two major categories of Bach’s organ pieces: free-works and chorale-preludes.
According to Ingui, the nine concerts will include a total combined runtime of approximately 11 and a half hours.
The initial eight concerts will be held on Sunday afternoons at 3 pm in the sanctuary.
The concerts and dates are as follows:
- August 9 – The Little Organ Book and Other Little Pieces
- September 27 – Trio Sonatas
- October 25 – Great Free-works, Part 1
- December 13 – The Leipzig and Schübler Chorales
- January 17 – Chorale Partitas and Variations
- April 4 – The German Organ Mass
- May 16 – Selected Chorale Preludes
- June 6 – Great Free-works, Part 2
- July 10 – Everything Else
The final, July 10, concert will be held from 10 am until 3 pm with lunch provided.
Ingui says he is not the first to have attempted this project. “There is an established tradition of recording and performing the complete organ works of J.S. Bach,” he says.
While serving as FPC’s organist, Ingui is also an internationally acclaimed organist. He placed third at the International organ Competition of St-Maurice and is competing in the Boston Bach International Organ Competition in September.
“Bach is considered one of the most influential figures of Western music history, and his contribution to the organ repertoire in particular is unrivaled in scope, variety, and stylistic consistency.”
“More importantly, he was a devout Christian and signed his manuscripts with ‘Soli Deo Gloria,’ or Glory to God alone,” Ingui says.
Ingui says Bach’s works for the organ, in particular, are mostly chorale preludes which are pieces based on hymn tunes and were written explicitly for use in worship.
“While I would normally only perform two recitals a year, this project is a culmination of a lifetime of diligent study, and I feel led to share that with our congregation and the world in a grand fashion as a celebration of the gifts God has given me,” Ingui says.
“Through this music, the pipe organ sings a transcendent song which, for some, gives a foretaste of the glory of Heaven,” he continues. “To me, presenting these works is not just a music performance, but explicitly a spiritual endeavor. My hope is that all those who join me in these concerts will be drawn closer to God through this glorious music.”
All nine concerts are free and open to the public.
Tom has released a studio album on his YouTube page which includes J.S. Bach’s “Little Organ Book.” View on YouTube