Great Music Day

John Walker, the former organist at Shadyside Presbyterian Church who now works in Baltimore, spent yesterday at St. Paul’s. He participated in the choir’s presentation of Bach’s Cantata 29. This was a wonderful performance that seemed much better than it had a right to be. I suspect that choir members worked hard between the dress rehearsal last Thursday and Sunday’s performance at the 10:30 service. (I know I did.) Tommy Starr initiated our newly acquired tympani in the cantata’s chorale.

John also performed a recital in the afternoon that included mostly 20th- and 21st-century compositions. The concert drew a larger than average crowd. I saw only a few parishioners, but many members of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) attended. A fellow parishioner asked me why, at a church that appears to value music, so few people turn out for events such as the John Walker recital. I had to say that I had no idea.