Instrumentation: 3-manual organ
Duration: 2:00
Commission: Fintan Farrelly
Premiere: 06/27/2019
Maynooth College Chapel
Maynooth, IE
In a Flash is my response to organist Fintan Farrelly’s commission for a two-minute piece to open a short recital. The idea suddenly came to mind and its development was inspired by the meaning of the word flash: a sudden burst of light or very swift motion. I sought to capture the energy and intensity this suggests through the fast tempo and quick movement among keyboards and pedals. I would like to thank organist Jeremy Thompson, Music Director of the First Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, for his willingness to share his knowledge of both the intricacies of organ terminology and the thickets of registration options. It has been an exciting experience to delve into the timbral worlds of the organ. –JS