"DR. DOROTHY" CHARMS CAS ORGAN RECITAL AUDIENCE

by James Harrod

Sunday, March 22, 2015

The silver clad dancing feet of organist Dorothy Young Riess brought excitement and inspiration to organ enthusiasts March 22 at Resurrection Santa Rosa’s Resurrection Church. Standing tall and straight, poised and beautiful, in sparkling silver and black attire, this 84-year old virtuoso musician, physician, swimmer and grandmother calmly and confidently presented a perfect organ recital.

"Dr. Dorothy," as she is known at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, played an instructive and entertaining program of organ classics as well as of her own compositions. In this recital Ms. Riess demonstrated complete security and personal intimacy with the music and the instrument. The artist played with absolute accuracy, gentle and mellow phrasing, and flawless pedal technique. The eyes of the audience were riveted on her athletic and totally secure pedal playing throughout the performance. Not one note was out of place.

The program was ambitious with one exemplary work each of Buxtehude, Bach, Beethoven, Wagner-Liszt, Langlais, Jehan Alain, Karg-Elert and herself. She confidently informed the audience about each of her program selections in turn.

Her own musical inventiveness was heard in her transcription for the organ of Beethoven's Adagio Cantabile (from his C Minor Op. 13 Piano Sonata) and by four of her own improvisations of familiar hymn tunes. Particularly crowd-pleasing was a totally bonkers boogie-woogie rendition of "What a Friend We have in Jesus" and a cleanly intelligent jazz interpretation of "A Mighty Fortress."

What a delight and privilege to meet this beautiful lady. At the end of her recital "Dr. Dorothy" invited the audience to her organ recital May 20, 2016, (her 85th year) at her University. I plan to be there!