Organist Angela Kraft Cross

ORGANIST CROSS PERFORMS HER WORKS AT REDWOOD AGO RECITAL

A “cross-section” of “angelic” compositions “krafted” by Angela Kraft Cross, virtuoso organist and composer, were presented by the artist Feb. 10 at Santa Rosa’s Church of the Incarnation.

The program, produced by the Redwood Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, included a variety of pieces composed over a 20-year period. Included were several fun compositions, Folk Hymn Fantasia on Lord of the Dance (1993), and All Hallows Voluntary (2010), the latter a modernized version of a typical English trumpet tune. Three introspective pieces, the Christmas compositions Les Bergers (1999) and Mary Magnificat (2010), and I Thirst (2011) (written for Lent) followed. Ms. Cross then played two dramatic works, Courage in a Time of Struggle (2011), written for the 10th anniversary of 9-11-2001, and Homage to Henry Nouwen: From the House of Fear to the House of Love” (2008).

All of the compositions were approachable and descriptive of their intention, and Ms. Cross was able to draw out of the Church of the Incarnation 33-rank pipe organ registrations that clearly matched with the moods and descriptive intent. These compositions are not without technical challenges, and this artist met these head on, executing runs on the pedals and leaps on the keyboards.

The program was part Twilight Pipe Organ Recital Series at Incarnation, Santa Rosa. In March, Robert Huw Morgan, Stanford University Organist, will play an all Bach program March 9, followed the next day with a workshop on Bach’s music. The workshop begins at 10:00 a.m. and includes lunch, and is co sponsored with the Redwood AGO. For more information, please contact Harold Julander at bach4m3@sonic.net or 707-694-1896.