The enchanting tone of the pipe organ is set to echo through a candle-lit St Mary’s Anglican Church next weekend.
On Saturday November 15, the lights will be turned off and Christchurch Transitional Cathedral director of music John Linker will perform a variety of ethereal pieces on the church’s pipe organ.
The candle-lit concert, called ‘‘Be Enchanted’’, has been organised by Wellington-based music organisation The Zimbelstern Foundation, who strive to promote the pipe organ to people who would not necessarily have the chance to hear it.
Foundation secretary and St Mary’s Church director of music Catherine Anderson said audiences could expect to hear pieces like Bach’s Toccata and Fugue, Grieg’s Hall of the Mountain King and Danse Macabre.
‘‘There won’t be any electric lights in the church, apart from maybe behind the organ itself, but it will be in darkness apart from the candles.
‘‘We’re hoping that will provide a really kind of magical, ethereal type of atmosphere and the music played will match that.
‘‘There might be the odd piece that won’t be so familiar, but it will still be on theme and it’ll just be a nice way of hearing the organ in a different way.’’
It was wonderful to be having John Linker come down to perform, she said.
‘‘He is very much looking forward to the opportunity to try out our organ and give it a run for its money.
‘‘He was actually here a couple of weeks ago for our Seafarers’ service in St Mary’s.
‘‘He brought the Cathedral Choir down and we sang together with the St Mary’s Choir.’’
She said the concert was family-friendly and would last for just over an hour with no interval.
‘‘The point of this concert is to show how fun and accessible organ music can be for anyone of any interest because I think sometimes people think of it as being quite boring.’’
The concert will begin at 7pm, tickets cost $10 and can be purchased on the humanitix website.
Limited cash door sales may also be available.
