By Ashlyn Armock, Arts Editor
East Congregational United Church of Christ held a recital for Vincent Dubois, the titular organist at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, on Nov 2 at 3 p.m.
Currently, Dubois is also the professor of organ interpretation and improvisation at the Hochschule für Musik (University of Music) in Saarbrücken, Germany.
Dubois performing Prelude and Fugue in B Minor by Johann Bach – Photo by Ashlyn Armock
Dubois is a graduate of the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris, where he earned first prizes in organ (in Olivier Latry’s organ class), harmony, counterpoint, fugue and 20th-century composition. Dubois has also won many other awards and competitions including the recital gold medal at the Calgary International Organ Competition, and the grand prize at the Toulouse International Organ Competition in Toulouse, France.
After serving as the titular organist at Saint-Brieuc Cathedral from 1996 to 200l and Soissons Cathedral from 2001 to 2014, Dubois was appointed to be one of the titular organists of Notre-Dame Cathedral. He works alongside three other titular organists: Olivier Latry, Thierry Escaich and assistant titular organist, Thibault Fajoles.
Dubois performing Suite Op. 5, Prelude by Maurice Duruflé – Photo by Ashlyn Armock
The recital that took place at East Church included seven memorized pieces as well as another piece that Dubois improvised based on one of stained glass windows in the church, to celebrate the church’s 70th anniversary of installing the windows.
In order, the pieces included: Prelude and Fugue in B Minor BWV 544 by Johann Bach, Choral No 1. In E Major by César Franck, Final (from Symphonie No. 6, op 59) by Louis Vierne and Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saëns.
Kim Slupe and Anna Moyer, both members of the church as recital attendees, expressed their excitement about the performance. “I think it’s just an amazing opportunity to see the principal organist from Notre Dame here,” Slupe said.
After a ten minute intermission, Dubois continued with more pieces. The first one Dubois performed was Suite Op. 5, Prelude, Sicilienne, Toccata by Maurice Duruflé.
“To be honest, this is the first Duruflé that I have ever enjoyed,” said Moyer. “I said to Kim [while] walking up the stairs, ‘Oh, Duruflé, I’ll just have to endure through it.’ But no, it was really beautiful.”
The next few songs he performed included: Prelude in G Minor “Alla Marcia” by Sergi Rachmaninoff, From Evocation, Allegro deciso by Marcel Dupré and then finally an improvisational piece based on the Gospel window in the church’s sanctuary.
After receiving a standing ovation, Dubois returned to the organ to play one more surprise piece, the Flight of the Bumblebee by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
“I enjoyed the Flight of the Bumblebee,” Moyer said. “It was just so absurdly fast. It was wonderful.”
Dubois improvising a piece based off of the “Gospel” themed stained glass window in front of him – Photo by Ashlyn Armock
The Saint 