With years of practise under his belt, when Mark McDonald sits down at the organ, it’s like pulling out a palette and paintbrush – creating a canvas of varying sounds and effects.
“This sense of being able to play such a large instrument and make so much sound, from the oldest of loud to the quietest of quiets, I love that,” said the organist at Victoria's Christ Church Cathedral. “The organ is such a unique instrument. It’s like playing a building; it’s not like picking up one little flute or one little recorder – you have dozens of flutes all together. These instruments are like architectural marvel. You can’t take one with you, but you can go visit one.”
The Victoria Centre of the Royal Canadian College of Organists celebrates International Organ Day on April 26 by challenging the record for the most people playing in a day – set at 140 people in Windsor, Ont. last year.
The instrument's history dates back centuries. Some people think it suitable only for playing hymns or “old” music. Instead, the music spans most genres, from capricious preludes and fugues to jazz-inspired pieces and alternative rock, says tour organizer and RCCO Victoria member Neala St. Hilaire.
“We are inviting people to bring a piece of music, play it on an organ, explore the different sounds and colours of the organ and take a picture of their organ playing debut,” St. Hilaire said. “We seek to engage the wider public in Canada’s rich organ heritage and the vibrant organ culture in Victoria.”
Open to keyboard players of any level, the no-cost event runs from 1 to 3 p.m. at seven venues: St. Peter & St. Paul Anglican Church (1379 Esquimalt Rd.); St. Andrew's Roman Catholic Cathedral (740 View St.); First Church of Christ, Scientist (1205 Pandora Ave.); St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (924 Douglas St.); St. Luke's Anglican Church (3821 Cedar Hill Cross Rd.); Lutheran Church of the Cross (3787 Cedar Hill Rd.) and St. Michael & All Angels Anglican Church (4733 West Saanich Rd.).
Participants can also learn about the college, its scholarship and bursary programs, and how to become a member.
The organ McDonald plays these days at the cathedral near Burdett Avenue and Quadra Street is among the youngest in the city, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Valued at $3 million when it was built, the Hellmuth Wolff organ boasts 4,000 pipes ranging from 16 feet to those smaller than a pencil.
While its home at Christ Church Cathedral is already booked during the day on April 26, organizers offer ticketed behind-the-scenes tours later that night. It’s part of the fundraising bid for the $150,000 needed to keep the massive instrument in tip-top shape.
Learn more about the organ and campaign at . Learn more about the April 26 event, including accessibility of each organ, at .
