Bach on the Rock

Johann Sebastian Bach has been dead since 1750, but still has his own home page. It is a tribute to the composer's continuing popularity and influence.

Born in 1685 in Eisenach (Thuringia), Germany, the son of a court trumpeter, Bach grew to create music that inspired many. Yo Yo Ma has recorded many of Bach's creations for the cello, for example.

St. John's-based Jenny Vincent and David Drinkell favour his organ music.

"In my opinion, Bach is the greatest composer that ever lived. He wrote so much music for the organ. ... he is probably the favourite composer of most organists. His music is always exciting and interesting to me," said Vincent, organist at the Kirk (St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church).

"Bach is arguably the greatest composer that ever lived, certainly up in the top few and as far as the organ is concerned there's no doubt at all that he is No. 1," said Drinkell, organist at the Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.

Together, Vincent and Drinkell are offering the complete organ works of Bach in 18 one-hour recitals.

The first of the 18 concerts was held at the Kirk on Jan. 23. The performances will continue, on Saturdays at 3 p.m. at the Kirk and Sundays at 8 p.m. at the Cathedral, until March 21.

Performing Bach's complete organ works is no small undertaking.

"There are nearly three hundred pieces, each taking between one and fifteen minutes to play. It will take us eighteen one-hour concerts to play everything," Drinkell said in an e-mail to The Telegram.

So why take on the task of performing all of those pieces of music in the first place?

"2010 is the 325th anniversary of the year that Bach was born. His birthday was March 21, 1685," Vincent said.

"We hope to end the series (weather permitting) on his birth date. I have always wanted to play the complete works, but the timing wasn't right for me in my life. With the collaboration from David I could finally fulfill my wish this year."

Drinkell said he shared Vincent's wish and vision.

"One of the most interesting things about putting together a series like this is that you can see how Bach's style progressed throughout his life," Drinkell said. "He was incredibly clever at absorbing influences from other composers and making them his own."

While pipe organs such as those at the Kirk and the Cathedral are not exactly mobile, the church settings are appropriate since both Vincent and Drinkell came to organ music through the church.

"I began my training in Winnipeg with the local church organist at the age of six," Vincent said. "My family are Dutch immigrants. In the Netherlands the organ is the main instrument for lessons and not the piano as it is here in North America. My father was a lover of organ music and encouraged all of my siblings to learn to play the organ."

Drinkell began by joining a church choir in England, getting "hooked" on the organ music.

"I was fortunate to attend Colchester Royal Grammar School, which not only had an unrivalled reputation for music, but also a pipe-organ," Drinkell said.

"Someone who can 'play a few hymns' gets snapped up fast and I had my first church appointment when I was 12 at Easthorpe near Colchester."

Vincent studied organ at the University of Manitoba and went on to study with Arie Keijzer in the Netherlands.

She simultaneously developed her understanding of music written for the church organ, playing at various United and Anglican churches across Canada before taking on her present posting at the Kirk.

Drinkell made his way to university at Bristol and Cambridge, picking up jobs at various churches along the way. Since graduating, he has held postings at St. Magnus Cathedral in Scotland, Belfast Cathedral in Northern Ireland and, now, the Anglican Cathedral in St. John's.

Both musicians said their ongoing Bach recital series is free and all are welcome.

afitzpatrick@thetelegram.com