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Wednesday, February 26, 2014

ORGAN VIRTUOSA PRESENTS MUSIC FROM MANY HISTORIC PERIODS

clip_image001ORGANIST GAIL ARCHER
WHEN: Sunday, March 2, at 3:00 PM
WHERE: St. Gabriel the Archangel, 88 E. Saddle River Road, Saddle River, NJ
ADMISSION: FREE
For more info, call 201.327.5663 or visit www.stgabrielsr.org. 

“…compelling, programmatic, and a dazzling virtuoso display.”– Kansas City Metropolis
“…bracing physicality… a sense of vulnerability and awe.”  – New York Times

Organ virtuosa Gail Archer plays a program of music from many historic periods, including works based on familiar hymn tunes, Baroque and Romantic fireworks, and more.

Internationally renowned concert organist and recording artist Gail Archer undertakes an ambitious nationwide tour performing at some of the country’s finest churches and synagogues.  Starting and ending in her home state of New York, the 28-city tour will feature music off of her latest albums as well as some new works by female composers.

Archer is known for enthralling audiences with her musicality and sensitivity and for giving her interpretations a visceral quality. Hailed for maximizing the organ’s colors and capabilities, she touches the baroque then leaps to the late romantic and modern eras seamlessly. Her recital works include organ music by 20th and 21st century composers ranging from early Dutch literature to Bach, Mendelssohn, Liszt, Messiaen, and American music.  “My aim is to lift hearts and minds, and to inspire audiences with the color and power of the organ and five centuries of great organ music,” says Archer. As an advocate for female organists and composers, she also always programs works by women such as Joan Tower and Alla Borzova.

Besides traveling around the world to perform concerts, Archer is college organist at Vassar College and director of the music program at Barnard College, Columbia University where she conducts the Barnard-Columbia Chorus.  She also serves as the director of the artist and young organ artist recitals at the historic Central Synagogue, New York City.