The Catskill Chronicle

By Mort Malkin

I was first attracted by the beauty of the High Delaware River and its Valley, but I soon discovered that, though out in the country, I didn’t have to give up all the cultural advantages of New York City. I could receive the NPR Station WJFF and the NY Times was available at the Milanville Store.

Now in 2010, culture has come to the countryside in full delirium — an organ concert devoted to the music of JS Bach. Honesdale may never be the same. This past weekend(April 17/18), Rev. Edward Erb presented a couple of hours of the works of the Baroque master at Grace Episcopal Church. The Moller organ may be small — only 19 ranks, two manuals and a divided swell of different instrument voices — but it is well matched to the size and acoustics of the high nave of the church. The console, flanked by two Tiffany stained glass windows, was set facing the pews. The program was printed on a simple small sheet of paper, the reverse describing the organ in detail, not given to listing the glories of the performer as is usual in other concerts.

The recital itself was a nice balance of shorter pieces and ending with the large Toccata & Fugue in d minor. In the first set the eight “Little” Preludes & Fugues were lively and delightful. In that Pieces of Eight composition, the one in G Major awakened anyone starting to doze with its grand chords and runs. JS Bach was not letting anyone dismiss the grouping as less significant. The last composition before intermission was the familiar “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” which Rev. Erb performed in classic style, no 21st century improvisation. After each of the three numbers, he acknowledged the applause uncomfortably, as if he weren’t deserving of such praise. It seems to be the way of many pastors.

After a brief intermission, the second set started with “Air On The G-String,” which was memorable to me because it was played at my own wedding many years ago. How amazing our long-term memories are, even as we can’t recall where we put the car keys an hour ago. The second piece of the set, Chorale Partita — “O Gott du frommer Gott” was unfamiliar to me, and so I had to accept Rev. Erb’s interpretation. But, the third was the great Toccata & Fugue in d minor, which I had heard before. It seemed to my ear that the phrases were a bit clipped, but who knows what Bach had in mind when writing the piece.

After the applause died down, Rev. Erb invited us all to share in refreshments and conversation. It was a nice way to get out of playing an encore. More than the palatables, there was a chance to talk to the musician, who was quite willing to talk about JS Bach and anything else. I didn’t let the opportunity pass. Years ago I had known that the height of the visual arts — the Renaissance — was a century ahead of the height of musical arts — the Baroque period. A friend agreed and noted that the Impressionist painters were well ahead of the composers of the early 20th century. Rev. Erb opined that changes in philosophic thought generally led both painting and music all throughout history. An hypothesis! Of course, we also discussed Bach. I learned that the great composer was influenced by the music of Pachelbel and Bruxtehude, and the Baroque really started early in the 17th century before Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi were born. They were really the capstone of that innovative period which was already established, a foundation on which they were able to build.

What a Sunday afternoon, an organ concert devoted to Bach and followed by sherry wine & cheese and good friendships.