Notes for Sunday's Music

 

Born into a family of musicians, Nicolas de Grigny (1672-1703) succeeded his grandfather and uncle as organist at Reims Cathedral (France) in 1697. He died young, having only published one volume of organ music, his Livre d'Orgue. This collection contains arrangements of plainchant hymns as well as versets to be use in alternatim with a choir (i.e., choir sings a verse, organ plays a verse, choir, organ, etc.). His sumptuous R�cit de Tierce en taille is the fourth of nine couplets from the Gloria in excelsis. The accompanying texture is played on the delicate 8' Stopped Diapason from the west wall Antiphonal division, while the solo "tierce" registration is heard from the Choir division on the north side of the quire. "Tierce" describes the combination of sounds in the registration, which includes a third-sounding rank, hence "tierce." The stops used in this combination are at 8', 4', 2 2/3', 2', 1 3/5' (the Tierce), and 1 1/3' pitches. Together these provide a beautiful, full-bodied sound for the melody. So influential was Grigny that J.S. Bach took the time to copy out the Livre d'Orgue so that he might better understand French Baroque music.

 

The anthem Like as the Hart was written by Herbert Howells in January 1941 after losing his home to the ravages of World War II in England. The longing of the Psalmist is set most expressively and the phrases are so carefully shaped that one can hardly think of those words set in any other way. The tenor and bass voices singing in unison convey a sense of longing and even sadness, which is answered and expanded upon by the soprano voices. It ends in the utmost serenity with one of those long drawn-out cadences, the organ providing a final punctuation. The profound melody accompanied by subtle blues harmonies affords the listener transcendence from time and space.

A native of Princeton, Illinois, John received a Bachelor of Music degree from Northern Illinois University (DeKalb) in 1997 where he studied organ with Robert Reeves and Richard Hoskins, and a Master of Music degree from the Chicago Musical College (Roosevelt University) in 2003, an organ and harpsichord student of David Schrader. He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Cincinnati (College-Conservatory of Music) where he studied organ with Roberta Gary, harpsichord with Vivian Montgomery, and choral conducting with Stephen Coker and Earl Rivers. Linker has performed numerous roles at CCM, and was first place winner in the annual Strader Organ Competition in 2004.

 

Since 2001 Linker has been Organist/Choirmaster of the Church of the Good Shepherd (Episcopal) in Lexington, Kentucky, where he leads a vibrant choir program of professional and volunteer singers of trebles and adults. In addition to the usual rigorous rehearsal and service schedule, the Choir has performed in concert numerous masterworks. National and international tours also occupy much of the Choir's time, and under Linker's leadership the choir has honored four English Cathedral residency invitations, (Gloucester Cathedral, 2003; Lichfield Cathedral, 2006; Durham Cathedral 2006; Ely Cathedral 2009). The Choir has also made many stateside tours including Atlanta, Chicago, Washington DC, New York, and all around Kentucky. This past summer the choirs performed in numerous venues throughout Italy and France.

 

In addition to liturgical work and teaching, Linker keeps busy as a recitalist and chamber musician, making numerous tours in the United States and abroad.  He is an active member of the Association of Anglican Musicians, the American Guild of Organists (former Dean of the Lexington Chapter), the Organ Historical Society, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity. Rekindling an early interest in trumpet music, John also plays organ and trumpet with Kentucky Baroque Trumpets. Linker is married to Lexington native Molly McCann Linker, and both are proud parents to a daughter named Lila and guardians to felines Nigel, Pierre, Tom, and Otis. www.johnlinker.com 

  

The September 2013 issue of The Diapason, a monthly journal devoted to church music, has a wonderful feature about our organ as a noteworthy recent installation here in the United States.  The article describes the concept for this organ in great detail, as well as insights into the world of organ building and matching instrument to the space.  Contributors to the article were Jason Overall (President of Goulding & Wood), John Linker (Organist/Choirmaster), Joe Jones (Chair of the Organ Committee), and Fr. Brian Cole (Rector).

  

The cover photo as well as interior photos were taken by Hans Flueck.

  

Click HERE to see the article. The scan is of low resolution, so you'll need to enlarge the text for a more clear image.