Cooman Organ Recital

The organ recital series at the First Congregational Church in Marion will continue on Sunday, May 22 at 4:00 pm with a program of fresh, new music – joyous, sparkling, and evocative of the Renaissance and Baroque.

Performing on the church’s historic George S. Hutchings organ will be Carson Cooman, composer-in-residence at The Memorial Church of Harvard University, whose captivating “Sonatina, Opus 1016” was featured on the November 2015 recital program of Steven Young. Cooman has attracted wide acceptance and enthusiasm for his own engaging compositions and his lively playing of recent organ works, many written especially for him to perform.

As a composer, Cooman has created a catalog of works in many forms, ranging from solo instrumental pieces to operas and from orchestral works to hymn tunes (www.carsoncooman.com). As an organ recitalist, Cooman specializes in the performance of new music. Over 150 compositions by more than 100 international composers have been written for him.

Cooman holds degrees in music from Harvard University and Carnegie Mellon University. He has given premiere performances of works by a number of today’s most distinguished composers and has made many recordings, including recordings of music by Lothar Graap and Carlotta Ferrari, both of whom will be featured on the May 22 program. His own work has been performed on all six inhabited continents and appears on over 40 recordings.

The First Congregational Church in Marion was built in 1841 with the contributions of local ship captains. In 1884, with support from local philanthropist Elizabeth Taber, a new mechanical-action organ by George S. Hutchings was installed. Hutchings was prominent among American organ builders and built organs for the old Boston Music Hall, the Old South Church, and Symphony Hall.

Tickets for the recitals are $10 and may be purchased at The Bookstall on Front Street in Marion and at the door. For more information and reservations, call 508-748-2067. The First Congregational Church, located at 28 Main Street at the corner of Front and Main in Marion, is handicapped accessible.

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