Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) presents

Organist Ken Cowan

Performing several flagship works from the repertoire, Ken Cowan will explore the many facets of the Grand Orgue Pierre-Béique.

Cowan is one of North America’s finest concert organists. Praised for his dazzling artistry, impeccable technique and imaginative programming by audiences and critics alike, he maintains a rigorous performing schedule which takes him to major concert venues and churches in America, Canada, Europe, and Asia.

Ken Cowan is admired for the skillful way in which he showcases the entire range of an organ’s sonic characteristics thanks to his artful registration. Performing several flagship works from the repertoire, he will explore the many facets of the Grand Orgue Pierre-Béique: its symphonic power, its romantic side, its meditative aspect, and, naturally, its virtuosity. Bringing together three centuries of music and covering four countries, this concert offers a captivating array of major works for organ.

Recent feature performances have included appearances at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa California, Philadelphia’s Verizon Hall, Spivey Hall, and Walt Disney Concert Hall, as well as concerts in Germany and Korea. In addition, Mr. Cowan has been a featured artist in recent years at the national conventions of the American Guild of Organists held in Los Angeles and Minneapolis, has performed at many regional conventions of the AGO, and has been featured at several conventions of the Organ Historical Society and the Royal Canadian College of Organists.

Ken received the Master’s degree and Artist Diploma from the Yale School of Music/Institute of Sacred Music, studying organ with Thomas Murray. Prior to attending Yale, he graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia where he studied with John Weaver. His major teacher during high school years was James Bigham, Organist/Choirmaster at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, in Buffalo, NY, which is not far from his hometown Thorold, Ontario, Canada.

In 2012 Mr. Cowan joined the keyboard faculty of the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University as Associate Professor and head of the organ program. Previous positions have included Associate Professor of Organ at Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, NJ, where he was awarded the 2008 Rider University Distinguished Teaching Award, and Associate Organist and Artist in Residence at Saint Bartholomew’s Church in New York City.

Program
Widor, Organ Symphony no. 6 in G minor, op. 42, no. 2: I. Allegro (9 min)
Messiaen, Le banquet céleste (7 min)
Mendelssohn, Organ Sonata no. 1 in F minor, op. 65, no. 1: IV. Allegro assai vivace (4 min)
Rachel Laurin, Étude-Caprice, op. 66, “Beelzebub’s Laugh” (8 min)
Elgar, Organ Sonata in G major, op. 28: III. Andante espressivo (7 min)
J. S. Bach, Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme [Wake Up, Cries the Watchmen’s Voice], Cantata, BWV 645 (4 min)
J. S. Bach, Toccata and fugue in D minor, BWV 565 (8 min)
Vierne, Carillon de Westminster, op. 54, no. 6 (7 min)
George Thalben-Ball, Variations on a Theme of Paganini (6 min)
Widor, Organ Symphony no. 5 in F minor, op. 42, no. 1: V. Toccata (5 min)

Maison symphonique
Sunday, March 24, 2024 at 2:30pm

To purchase your tickets visit: www.placedesarts.com