Friday Music at Midday
Come and join us on most Fridays of the year at 12:15 p.m. for beautiful music in the magnificent setting of National City Christian Church.
Schedule of Performances: Fridays at 12:15 p.m.
Archive of In-Person and Virtual Concerts: March 2020 -
VIRTUAL CONCERTS: March – July 2020
March 24 – John Nothaft, Organist (Vienna, Virginia)
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March 27 – Loreto Aramendi, Organist (San Sebastián, Spain)
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March 31 – Emmanuel Duperrey, Organist (Villemonble, France)
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April 3 – Jordan Prescott, Organist (Baltimore, Maryland)
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April 7 – Carol Feather Martin, Organnist (Arlington, Virginia)
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April 10 (Good Friday) – Wm. Glenn Osborne, Organist (Baltimore, Maryland)
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April 14 – Colin MacKnight, Organist (New York City)
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April 17 – Julie Vidrick Evans, Organist, and the Apollo Orchestra (Washington, DC)
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April 21 – Christian Gautschi, Organist (Zurich, Switzerland)
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April 24 – Mark Valenti, Pianist (Chicago, Illinois)
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April 28 – James Kosnik, Organist (Norfolk, Virginia)
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May 1 – Willem Hörmann, Organist ( ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands)
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May 5 – Adam Graham, Organist (Arlington, Virginia)
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May 8 – Michał Szostak, Organist (Warsaw, Poland)
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May 12 – Stefan Donner, Organist (Vienna, Austria)
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May 15 – Joby Bell, Organist (Boone, North Carolina)
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May 19 – Patrick Pope, Organist (Charlotte, North Carolina)
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May 22 – Lisa Mitchell Tyler, Organist (Arlington, Virginia)
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May 26 – Craig Williams, Organist (West Point, New York)
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May 29 – Colin MacKnight, Organist (New York City)
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June 2 – Chad Pittman and Mark Thewes, Organists (Canton, Ohio)
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June 5 – Mitchell Miller, Organist (Stuttgart, Germany)
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June 9 – Nathan Lively and Peggy Brengle, Organists
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June 12 – Samantha Scheff, Organist (Washington, DC)
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June 16 – John A. Wolfe, Organist (New York City)
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June 19 – Jackson Borges, Organist (Rehoboth Beach, Delaware)
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June 23 – Emmanuel Duperrey, Organist (Villemonble, France)
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June 26 – Victoria Shields, Organist (New Canaan, Connecticut)
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June 30 – Jordan Prescott, Organist (Baltimore, Maryland)
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July 3 – Carol Feather Martin, Organist (Arlington, Virginia)
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July 7 – Alain Truche, Organist (Silver Spring, Maryland)
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LIVE PERFORMANCES RECORDED AT NATIONAL CITY CHRISTIAN CHURCH: September – December 2020
September 18 – Tyler Canonico, organist (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)
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Fanfare for a New Century – Aaron David Miller; Sonata No. 6 in G Major (I. Vivace; II. Lente) – J. S. Bach; Scherzo from 24 Pièces en style libra pour Orgue ou Harmonium – Louis Vierne; Benedictus – Max Reger; Three Selections from “Star Wars” (The Imperial March; May the Force Be with You; March of the Resistance) – John Williams; trans. J. Mark Baker
September 25 – David K. Houston, organist (College Park, Maryland)
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Veni Creator (1. en taille à 5; 2. Fugue à 5; 3. Duo; 4. Récit de Cromorne; 5. Dialogue sur les Grands Jeux) – Nicolas de Grigny; Veni Creator, Toccata from Twelve Choral Preludes – Jeanne Demessieux; Prélude, Adagio et Choral varié sur le thème du ‘Veni Creator’, Op. 4 – Maurice Duruflé
October 2 – Theodore S. Davis, organist (Baltimore, Maryland)
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Suite No. 1 for Organ (Fantasy; Fughtetta; Air; Toccata) – Florence Price; Esquisses Byzantines (Nef; Rosace; Tu es petra) – Henri Mulet
October 9 – Allegro con fuoco: Tyler Canonico and Jordan Markham, organists
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Lord of the Dance – arr. Joel Raney; Rhapsody on English Hymntunes – Charles Callahan; Kiara Pig Jig – Robin Dinda
October 16 – Mark Valenti, pianist (Chicago, Illinois)
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Organ Prelude in G minor, BWV 535 – J. S. Bach, arr. Siloti; Sonata (Allegro moderato; sostenuto e pesante; Allegro molto) – Béla Bartók; L’isle joyeuse – Claude Debussy
October 23 – Russell Weismann, organist (Washington, DC)
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Deux Pièces (I. Marche) – Arthur Foote; Trois Pièces pour Grand Orgue (I. Fantaisie) – César Franck; Cantata 29, BWV 29 (I. Sinfonia) – J. S. Bach; Vier Kleine Praeludien und Fugen (IV. Präludium und Fuge D-dur ‘Alleluja’) – Franz Schmidt
October 30 – David Brock, organist (Zephyr Springs, Nevada)
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Prelude in G minor, BuxWV 149 – Dietrich Buxtehude; Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist, BuxWV 208 – Dietrich Buxtehude; Chorale No. 1 in E Major – César Franck
November 6 – Mi Zhou, organist (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
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Carillon de Westminster – Louis Vierne; When the mountains sing – Wei Gu; Prelude and Fugue on the Name B-A-C-H – Franz Liszt
November 13 – Carol Feather, organist (Arlington, Virginia)
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Keepers of the Legacy: Music of the Organists of Notre Dame
Final from 1re Symphonie – Louis Vierne; Fuga V from Six Fugues pour l’Orgue ou le Clevecin – Jean-Jacques Beauivarlet-Charpentier; Preludes XIV, XI, VII from 19 Préludes pour orgue – Jean-Pierre Leguay; Scherzo symphonique (Improvisation transcribed by Jeremy Filsell) – Pierre Cochereau
November 20 – Jason Farris, organist (The Plains, Virginia)
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Remembrance and Thanksgiving: Organ Music for All Saint’s Day, Veteran’s Day, and Thanksgiving Day
Placare Christe Servulis from Le Tombeau de Titelouze – Marcel Dupré; Elegy – C. Hubert H. Parry; Jerusalem, my happy home – arr. Charles Callahan; Dirge for Lord Nelson – Thomas Attwood; Postlude for National Airs – Charles Callahan; The Star-Spangled Banner – arr. Virgil Fox; Now thank we all our God – J. S. Bach, arr. Virgil Fox; Nun danker alle Gott, Op. 65, No. 59 – Sigfird Karg-Elert
December 4 – Kimberly Ann Hess, organist (Arlington, Virginia), and Friends
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December 11 – Jackson Borges, organist (Rehoboth Beach, Delaware)
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Chorale Prelude on “Winchester New” – John Ebenezer West; Prière – Joseph Jongen; Choral in a – César Franck
December 18 – Jackson Borges, organist (Rehoboth Beach, Delaware)
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Noël in d – Louis-Claude d’Aquin; In the Bleak Midwinter – arr., Allen Orton Gibbs; Carol Rhapsody – Richard Purvis; Variations on “O Laufet, Ihr Hirten” – Max Drischner; Meditation on “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly” – Jackson Borges; Toccata en Ré Majeur – Marcel Lanquetuit
VIRTUAL CONCERTS: March – April 2021
March 5 – Samantha Scheff, organist (Washington, DC)
Veni Creator Spiritus (Dialogue sur les Grandes Jeux) – Nicolas de Grigny; Allein Gott in der Höh’ sie Ehr, BWV 675 – J. S. Bach; Trio Sonata No. 2 in C minor (II. Largo; III. Allegro) – J. S. Bach; Festal March – Florence B. Price; Prelude on ‘Nettleton’ – Gerre Hancock; Every Time I Feel the Spirit – arr. Richard Elliott
March 12 – Sondra Goldsmith Proctor, organist (Canton, New York)
Music for Black History Month
We Shall Overcome – Sharon J. Willis; First Sonata for Organ (Finale: Allegro) – Florence Beatrice Smith Price; Lift Every Voice and Sing – J. Rosamond Johnson, arr. Roger Lowe
March 19 – Colin MacKnight, organist (New York City)
Imperial March, Op. 32 – Edward Elgar (arr. Colin MacKnight); Andante espressivo from Sonata, Op. 28 – Edward Elgar; Sonata on the 94th Psalm – Julius Reubke
March 26 – Nicholas Will, organist (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Prelude in b minor, BWV 544a – Johann Sebastian Bach; Toccata “da sonarsi alla Levazione,” No. 4, Book II – Girolamo Frescobaldi; Evocation à la Chapelle Sixtine, S. 658 – Franz Liszt ; Pièce Heroïque – César Franck
Monday, March 29
Special Edition: Music for Holy Week
Colin MacKnight, organist (New York City)Praeludium in E minor, BuxWV 142 – Dieterich Buxtehude; O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig, BWV 656 – Johann Sebastian Bach; Prelude and Fugue on ‘OTraurigkeit, o Herzeleid’ – Ethel Smyth; Contrapunctus 14 from The Art of Fugue – Johann Sebastian Bach (completion by Colin MacKnight, 2020)
Monday, April 5
Special Edition: Music for Easter
Colin MacKnight, organist (New York City)
April 16 – Loreto Aramendi, organist (San Sebastián, Spain)
April 23 – Carson Cooman, organist (Cambridge, Massachusetts)
Upcoming Concerts
Music at Midday concerts in May and June 2021 are being presented in person. Masks and social distancing will be required for those attending. The recitals will also be recorded and available for viewing later on YouTube and Facebook.
May 7 – Chuyoung Suter and Erik Wm. Suter, plano/organ (Gaithersburg, Maryland)
Piano Concerto No. 2 – Sergei Rachmaninoff
May 14 – Carol Feather, organist (Arlington, Virginia)
Fanfares to The Tongues of Fire – Larry King; Andante Moderato in C minor – Frank Bridge; Domine Jesu Berceuse, O Filii Variations – Jeanne Demessieux; Variations on ‘Frere Jacques’ – Hans Use Hielscher
May 21 – Justus Parrotta, organist (Washington, DC)
Parotta Plays Parrotta
Salve Festa Dies (Premiere); Land of Rest; Three Frescoes for Organ (I. Deck thyself, my soul with gladness; As the deer yearns for streams of water; At his feet the six-winged seraph); Seaside Suite for Organ (I. Prelude; II. Pastorale; III. Aquarelle; IV. Grand Jeu)
May 28 – Carter Stevens, organist (Falls Church, Virginia)
Fuga sopra il Magnificat, BWV 735 – J. S. Bach; Carillon – Leo Sowerby; Paean – Kenneth Leighton; Organ Symphony No. 4, Op. 13, No. 4 (3. Andante cantabile (dolce); 6. Finale) – Charles-Marie Widor
June 4 – Michael Britt (Baltimore, Maryland)
Concert Samba for Organ – Joe Utterback; In Memoriam – Alfred V. Fedak; Incantation pour un jour saint – Jean Langlais; Cantabile symphonique – Camille Saint-Saëns (arr. Virgil Fox); Triptych (I Trumpet Rondo; II. Elegy – in memory of Ernest M. Skinner; III. Introduction and Toccata on “Weisse Flaggen”) – Alfred V. Fedak
June 11 – Christopher Reynolds, organist (Richmond, Virginia)
Prelude and Fugue in C Major, BWV 547 – J. S. Bach; Two Scottish Tunes: Annie Laurie and The Bluebells of Scotland – arr. John Jordan and Richard Hey Lloyd; Scherzo in G minor from Five Pieces for Organ, op. 177 – Healey Willan; Aria – Paul Manz; Fanfare – John Cook
June 18 – Brent Nolte, organist (Circleville, Ohio)
Music of Charles W. Ore
Eight (Entrance; Flight; Diversion; Procession; Excursion; Procession II; Diversion II; Exit); A Mighty Fortress; Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound; What a Friend We Have in Jesus
June 25 – David Houston, organist (College Park, Maryland)
Look to the Skies!
Star Rising – Erik Santos; Étoile du Soir – Louis Vierne; October Interlude – Clarence Mader; Maple Leaf Rag – Scott Joplin, arr. Lawrence Grant; The Trees Unfold – Judith Weir; Hymne du Soleil – Louis Vierne; Fanfares to the Tongues of Fire – Larry King
There are no Music at Midday recitals during July and August. Concerts will resume on Friday, September 10, 2021.
September 10 – Samantha Cho, pianist (Los Angeles, California)
September 17 – Jacob Reed, organist (Chicago, Illinois)
Septenber 24 – Alain Truche, organist (Silver Spring, Maryland)
October 1 – Craig S. Williams, organist (West Point, New York)
October 8 – Mark Valenti, pianist (Chicago, Illinois)
October 15 – Michal Daw, organist (Krakow, Poland)
Most of the Friday concerts at National City feature the church’s pipe organ, its MAGICAL, MYSTICAL, MUSICAL MACHINE!
Performers in our concert series make the pipe organ come alive and opens your eyes to the amazing world of the King of Instruments. Come surround yourself with the instrument’s 7,000 pipes and hear the ROAR that Washington D.C.’s third-largest pipe organ makes in this reverberant space. You’ll experience the organ’s MAGIC, power, and versatility, the MYSTERY of the organ’s unique sounds, the exciting MUSIC of the great composers for the pipe organ, and a fascinating fully hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind musical MACHINE that incorporates wood working, metal-smithing, electricity and electronics, computer technology, physics, acoustics, and a lot of other scientific and musical know-how.
You are invited to come hear the majesty of the five-keyboard Möller pipe organ in 30-minute FREE recitals of some of the most thrilling and sublime music written by the great musical geniuses of the pipe organ. Hands-on displays of organ pipes, colorful photographs of the inner workings of the NCCC organ, interesting information on pipe organ history, and a post-recital demonstration of how the organist operates the keyboards, pedal board, and over 300 controls provides an up-close-and-personal look at this complex and intriguing musical machine.
Be sure to join us on FRIDAYS from 12:15-1:00pm (September through December & February through June) and start your weekend with the exciting and floor-shaking sounds generated by National City Christian Church’s “Magical, Mystical, Musical Machine” and other concert offerings.
National City Christian Church is enormously grateful to all those who have supported and continue to support this recital series through their weekly presence and generous financial contributions. You can donate here.
Rev. Dr. J. Michael McMahon
Artistic Director, Music at Midday
National City Christian Church
5 Thomas Circle, NW
Washington D.C. 20005
