20th Anniversary Organ Concert with Ken Cowan
Celebrate the 20th anniversary of the grand Létourneau organ in the Church at a special concert featuring virtuoso organist Ken Cowan. Widely recognized as one of North America’s finest concert organists, Ken is an associate professor of music at Rice University, admired for his dazzling artistry, impeccable technique, and imaginative programming. He performs regularly in leading venues and churches across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. Join us for an unforgettable evening of music, followed by a reception in Sumners Hall. Admission is free, but tickets are required.
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Regarded as one of North America’s finest concert organists and praised for his dazzling artistry, impeccable technique, and imaginative programming by audiences and critics alike, Ken Cowan maintains a rigorous performing schedule that takes him to major concert venues in America, Canada, Europe, and Asia.
Recent feature performances have included appearances at Princeton University Chapel, The Wanamaker Organ in Philadelphia PA, San Francisco CA for the American Guild of Organists national convention, Baltimore MD for the Organ Historical Society’s national convention, Maison Symphonique in Montreal Canada, and St. Paul’s Cathedral, London.
Upcoming performances include recitals in Groton MA, Birmingham AL, Bethesda MD, Chestertown MD, Atlanta GA, Brevard NC, Fort Worth TX, and a performance for the Elgar Society’s gathering in Northeast Ohio.
The Létourneau Pipe Organ and the Role of Music and the Pipe Organ
The more formal liturgies of St. John the Divine make frequent use of the organ since a regular part of our worship makes use of hundreds of years of music composed for English Cathedral services. Our organ faithfully renders the music of the great composers such as George Frideric Handel, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gustav Holst, Benjamin Britten, and many others. It is capable of creating the historic sounds of the English school of pipe organ building and accompanies choirs, soloists, and the congregation in robust songs each week. The requirements of our Anglican music tradition mandate a pipe organ capable of creating the English Cathedral sound.
The Létourneau organ is capable of producing a continuum of first-class quality sound—from the softest whispers at the edge of audibility to the thunderous roar of all the pipes sounding together. The organ has been designed for additional flexibility so it can produce not only English but German and French sonorities and even the sound of the American Romantic organ. With our flexible church worship space, we have the space available to host large choirs and orchestras. St. John the Divine is one of only a couple of venues in Houston capable of legitimately performing the Organ Symphony No. 3 by Camille Saint-Saens, as well as other great works for organ and full orchestra.
Guest organists are welcome during the week to enjoy the sonorities of this great instrument. Guests are additionally welcome to view the console following services, and special tours can be arranged through the music office.
On September 7 and 14, join us by the organ after the 9 am and 11:15 am services to see and hear the organ postlude on our fabulous Létourneau organ! Following the postlude, stick around for a short demo of the organ and a Q&A session with our SJD organists..
