By Myles Boothroyd
It’s that time of year when the Eastman concert schedule winds down and students begin making long-overdue journeys back home. Yet amid the holiday hubbub, the organs in Christ Church will sound through the season and bring in the new year. The “Tuesday Pipes” series continues in the coming weeks, as it always does, to bring fine music to those who venture out during their daily lunch hour.
For those of you not yet in the loop, Christ Church is home to two of the most stunning and historically significant pipe organs in Rochester. The Craighead-Saunders Organ is a scientific process reconstruction of an instrument that still exists today in Vilnius, Lithuania, and dates from 1776. It is, quite possibly, the only instrument in the United States where one can hear the music of Bach as it would have sounded more than two centuries ago. Standing opposite, the Hook & Hastings Organ represents the American Romantic tradition with pipes dating from 1862 and 1893.
Tuesday Pipes concerts are always free of charge and feature short, varied, and unique programs showcasing the talents of Eastman students and faculty. Eastman boasts some of the most renowned pipe organ teachers in the world, and these 25-minute presentations provide a glimpse into the organ universe that extends far beyond what you might hear at a typical Sunday service. This coming Tuesday, December 22, Eastman organ department chair David Higgs will perform alongside former student Malcolm Matthews. Jacob Fuhrman, current DMA candidate, will perform the following Tuesday, December 29.
If you can spare a half hour over the holidays, take a quick shopping break and stop by for sustenance, courtesy of two beautiful instruments and some of the finest organists you’ll encounter in any concert hall. Afterward, step outside and wander along East Avenue to grab a bite at one of many local hotspots nearby. You won’t regret it!
What: Tuesday Pipes
Where: Christ Church, 141 East Ave, Rochester, NY, 14604
When: Tuesdays, 12:10-12:35pm
Admission: Free
For more information, visit our events page or email Myles Boothroyd at myles.boothroyd@gmail.com.