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The Halloween Organ Recital is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Kane Hall’s Walker-Ames Room. Entry is complimentary.
Stephen Price, a resident artist and leader of organ studies at the University of Washington, will collaborate with students and peers on Friday, Oct. 31, to showcase a concert of eerie organ masterpieces and Halloween merriment.
The performance will commence with “Toccata and Fugue in D minor,” to be executed by Price on the organ. Likely penned by Johann Sebastian Bach during the Baroque era, this piece is closely linked with Halloween and chilling films, including Disney’s “Fantasia.”
“Audiences will surely recognize that piece and anticipate it,” Price remarked. “We will also feature vocalists and musicians from the UW School of Music, highlighting how the organ can serve as an accompaniment, beyond just being a solo instrument. Each organist will infuse their unique character and style into their interpretations.”
Additional selections for the concert include “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd,” “Pink Panther,” the Mexican folk tune “La Llorona,” and the American folk melody “The House of the Rising Sun.”
“Occasions like this are significant because they introduce audiences to organ music that they might not typically seek out,” Price explained. “It’s a highly attended event, centered around popular and recognizable music, which creates an enjoyable atmosphere.”
After completing his studies at Western Connecticut State University, Price was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to Toulouse, France, where he delved into historical and contemporary performance practices of French organ music. He subsequently obtained a master’s degree and a doctoral degree in music.
“I have a colleague here in Seattle who believes that the instrument selects you, and I think there might be some truth in that,” Price shared. “The moment I first witnessed an organist perform, I knew instantly that this was my calling.”
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