Pipe Organ Inauguration Concerts
The historic event of acquiring a pipe organ for
JLSS was celebrated with two inauguration concerts. The first concert
was held on the First Sunday in Advent on 3 December 2017, and the
second was held on 7 January 2018, both at 5:00 PM.
Both concerts were
kindly arranged and performed by the person behind this very important
project organist Klaus Schulten.
Attending the first concert was Prof. Dr. Herta Däubler-Gmelin (lawyer
and an honorary professor at the University of Berlin, member of the
German parliament from 1972 till 2009, German Minister of Justice
from 1998 till 2002, and member of the EVS Stiftung), Deputy Head of
Mission of the German Embassy in Beirut Dr. Michael Reuss, Rev. Dr. Uwe
Graebe from EVS/EMS, organ builder Gerhard Walcker, Head of the
Municipal Council Mr. Toni Shdied with other dignitaries from Khirbet
Qanafar, Rev. Dr. Habib Badr with members of the local Schneller board
Ms. Leila Dagher, Mr. Richard Abd-el-Karim, and member of the NECB
church council Dr. Sami Nasr, chairperson of the Alumni Association in
Lebanon Mr. Ghassan Shehadah with members of the alumni executive
committee, and many JLSS friends.
The program of the first concert was as follows:
Prologue
Georg Böhm ca. 1700 Partita Ach wie nichtig, ach wie flüchtig...
Part I
Felix Mendelssohn 1820 Prelude d minor
Johannes Brahms 1896 choral preludes:
Herzlich tut mich verlangen
Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen
O Gott, du frommer Gott
Reading PSALM 24
Hymn: WIE SOLL ICH DICH EMPFANGEN
يا رب كيف رح استقبلك
Part II
Address: Rev. George D. Haddad
Hymn: Hark! The Herald angels Sing
مع ملاك الله جند
Part III
Felix Mendelssohn 1837 Praeludium in G
César Franck 1890 6 pieces (G major, G minor) of the collection:
"L'organiste")
1 Poco allegretto
2 Vieux Noël
3 Noël Angevin
4 Quasi lento
5 Noël Angevin (Allegro)
6 Allegretto vivo - Amen
Hymn: ADESTE FIDELES O come all ye faithful
هلم بنا معشر المؤمنين
Epilogue
Georg Böhm ca. 1700 chorale prelude Vater unser im Himmelreich
Klaus Schulten gave an excellent performance to the delight of everyone
present.
Accompanying Klaus Schulten for the second
concert were Stefanie Bartsch playing recorder and oboe, and Adrian
Wehlte playing flutes.
The program of the second concert was as
follows:
GERMAN BAROQUE MUSIC OF THE LATE 18th CENTURY
Opening Words
1
C. Ph. E. Bach (1714-1788)
"Adagio" of the "Sonata per il Flauto solo" (Wq 132)
traverso solo
2
G. F. Händel (1685-1750)
Sonata in F major (op.2)
traverso, recorder, organ
3 G. Ph. Telemann (1681-1767)
Sonata in B flat major
oboe, organ
Presentation of the organ-stops, the baroque flutes and the
baroque oboe
G. Ph. Telemann
Sonata in D major: Pastorale, Gavotte
traverso, oboe, organ
4
J. S. Bach (1885-1750) / W. Fr. Bach (1710-1784)
Trio in A major (BWV 586)
Duett (F 62) : Allegro/ Amoroso/ Alla breve
Trio in E Major (BWV 1040)
recorder / traverso, oboe, organ
5
G. F. Händel (1685-1759)
Sonate B flat major (so-called Fitzwilliam Sonata)
recorder, organ
6
G. Ph. Telemann (1681-1767)
Sonata in F major,
Two recorders, organ
Klaus Schulten, Stefanie
Bartsch, and Adrian Wehlte gave an excellent performance informing the
audience during the program about the various Baroque instruments they
performed on. The instruments accompanying the organ enriched the
program and enhanced the appreciation of the audience of the music
performed. It was an excellent concert that was highly appreciated by
all attending.
The presence of this historic
pipe organ (a cultural treasure) in JLSS and the two concerts were
almost unreal and surreal. Johann Ludwig Schneller School was back
in its original tradition of bringing music and culture to its students and region.
Furthermore, it was enriching its
peace education program through the realized concept of music for peace.
We praise God for working His miracles amongst us!
We sincerely thank Klaus Schulten, Stefanie Bartsch, and Adrian Wehlte,
who personally incurred their travel expenses. to give these most
wonderful concerts in JLSS.
Thank you very much!