SAINT THOMAS CHURCH FIFTH AVENUE

The Reverend Andrew C. Mead, OBE, DD, Rector
John Scott, LVO, D.Mus., Organist and Director of Music
Frederick Teardo, Associate Organist

ORGAN RECITAL SERIES


DR. STEPHEN HAMILTON

Sunday,04 May 2008 at Five-fifteen o’clock


On the Arents Memorial Organ:

L’Ascension (1933)
I. Majeste du Christ demandant sa gloire à son Père
II. Alléluias sereins d’une âme qui désire le ceil
III. Transports de joie d’une âme devant la glorie du Christ qui est la sienne
IV. Prière du Christ montant vers son Père


Litanies, JA 119



Olivier Messiaen
(1908-1992)





Jehan Alain
(1911-1940)
STEPHEN HAMILTON has long been prominent on the American organ scene. The New York Times recently wrote of Hamilton’s performance of Bach’s Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor: “Hamilton, as minister of music at the church, obviously knew the instrument’s sonorous capabilities and brought them powerfully to bear in a rousing account.” The Charleston Daily Mail reviewed: “This performance had to be one of the supreme moments of music making in this year’s or any other year’s Orgelfest offerings.” For the past thirty years, such consistent critical acclaim has earned Hamilton a reputation as a thoroughly engaging and popular artist and has firmly established Hamilton’s reputation as a leading and much sought-after personality. Dr. Hamilton is Minister of Music at the historic Church of the Holy Trinity (Episcopal), in New York City, where he conducts the semi-professional Holy Trinity Choir and is Artistic Director of Music at Holy Trinity, the church’s subscription concert series. Highlights of Hamilton’s career include the premiere performance of Kenton Coe’s Concerto for Organ, Strings and Percussion in France, a performance with the Detroit Symphony with conductor David Zinman, and appearances with numerous regional orchestras. Hamilton has been heard in hundreds of solo recitals and on the nationally broadcast radio program Pipe Dreams as well as WETS-FM’s Pipes, Pedals and Pistons. His compact disc release of Marcel Dupré’s Le Chemin de la Croix met with exceptional reviews from a number of magazines and trade journals including The American Organist and The American Record Guide. In addition to his duties at the Church of the Holy Trinity, Dr. Hamilton is a member of the artist faculties at Hunter, Mannes and Queens Colleges. Dr. Hamilton is in demand as a clinician for master classes and workshops, frequently lecturing on issues related to church music as well as organ teaching, playing and interpretation. Dr. Hamilton was Dean of the New York City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists from 1998-2004, is President of the Alain Association in America and was the program chairman of the Region II AGO convention in New York City in July of 2007.