For fans of the pipe organ, Alcee Chriss’ Keyboard Concerts performance will be a musical treat

January 27, 2024

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Centuries before arena rock ‘n’ roll shows offered bone-rattling concerts for fans, there was another way to immerse yourself in music:

Experiencing a live organ concert.

If you’ve never been in the presence of a genuine pipe concert, you might not realize how the music involves you as a listener. You really can feel the notes. You’ll get that chance when Alcee Chriss performs as part of the Philip Lorenz International Keyboard Concerts series (3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28, Fresno State Concert Hall). Chriss is a rising star on the organ.

I spoke with Cactus Harris, who is involved with the San Joaquin Chapter of the American Guild of Organists –a co-sponsor of the concert – about the event.

Q: Why are you excited about this performance?

A: I’m really looking forward to hearing Dr. Chriss in person this weekend! He has many superb recordings online, but nothing does the organ justice like being in the room. Alcee gained notable recognition in the acclaimed 2019 PBS documentary “Pipe Dreams,” which chronicled the journey of several young organists as they prepared for and competed in Canada’s prestigious International Organ Competition. I won’t give any spoilers, but our Organ Guild chapter held a viewing party in preparation for the concert, and it definitely got us excited!

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Q: Why did the San Joaquin Chapter of the American Guild of Organists select Chriss for this season’s slot with Keyboard?

A: As a board, we are always in search of rising stars who bring a fresh approach to an instrument with a centuries-old repertoire. Alcee fit the bill, not only because of his many awards and accolades, but his youthful charisma and eclectic style. Much of his influence comes from Jazz and Gospel music. It’s rare to see a performer who can not only pull out the stops on the great classical works, but someone who can play a mean hammond organ as well!

Q: What is the most traditional work on his program? How about the most “out there” or avant-garde?

A: I always say you can’t have an organ concert without Bach. So, of course Alcee has programmed one of J.S. Bach’s chorale preludes O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß, BWV 622, as well as the Prelude and Fugue in D Major, BWV 532. He will also be playing contemporary Canadian composer Rachel Laurin’s piece Épilogue, Op.50, which is full of twisting harmonies and colors. Knowing his affinity for Jazz, I’m also looking forward to hearing his own arrangement of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow. “Something you probably wouldn’t expect to hear on this Neo-Baroque organ!

Q: As an organist yourself, what will you be watching or looking for in his performance?

A: One of the best things about playing the organ is that no two pipe organs are alike. Each provides their own unique timbres, touch, and challenges. It’s like sitting in a new car each time. Yes, they all drive, but which button turns on the wipers? How sensitive are the brakes? It can be a challenge sitting at a new instrument, especially when you only have 48hrs to acquaint yourself with all that it can do. That is something I’m always looking at, how does the organist manage the instrument? What combinations of stops are they using? Having studied on the organ in the CSUF concert hall myself, it is always a joy to watch and listen to the different approaches these artists take with that instrument.

Q: Anything else you’d like to say?
A: Over the last 75 plus years our chapter has brought some pretty heavy hitters in the organ world to Fresno. From Virgil Fox to Diane Bish, we have had some world class organists. We are looking forward to adding Dr. Alcee Chriss to that list. Be sure to hear our second Organ Artist Series concert of the season, Saturday, May 18, 3 p.m. at The Big Red Church, with organist Dr. Tom Mueller.