The end of the year is approaching, so allow us a brief look back at the events surrounding "our" organ, which has beautifully accompanied the masses for two years thanks to our young organists. Our organ also attracts conservatory students and diocesan organists, who occasionally come to play, such as Přemysl Kšica with his students. Last but not least, the organ also plays at concerts.
This year marks the culmination of the seven-year operation of the Jablonec Organ Fund, which, thanks to donors, could finance the entire organ restoration project. It is necessary to consider the future of the instrument, and therefore the funds amounting to 939,293 CZK, which remained in the foundation's account, were provided as a purpose-bound donation to the parish. They will serve to cover costs associated with the organ, such as future repairs, regular maintenance, tuning, and also for its further promotion (such as organizing concerts). And indeed, regular maintenance from the Hermann Eule company from Bautzen began with the organ in 2024. A new bench for organists was also supplied, which is height-adjustable unlike the original, historic one. Throughout the year, the instrument was also tuned several times, always before concerts.
The first to play the organ was Prof. Jaroslav Tůma on June 25, 2024. The concert was organized by the foundation as a final thank you to all donors and supporters of the organ. Mr. Tůma designed the concert program to showcase the organ in all its sound diversity and richness. And also across the ages, from the Baroque compositions of Johann Sebastian Bach through the Romantic period in organ music represented by the music of Max Reger to almost contemporary works by Paul Hindemith and Bedřich Antonín Wiedermann. Our Rieger organ, op. 2535, which was commissioned shortly after 1930, handled it all to the satisfaction of the audience and concertmaster Jaroslav Tůma. You can assess it yourself, or recall the concert you heard, thanks to the video recording of the concert.
The next concert was the opening concert of the traditional summer Jablonec Music Tuesdays. Organist Ondřej Valenta and baritone Jan Kukal filled the church space with beautiful music and the human voice. However, the greatest impression on the listeners was left by the last piece, the symphonic poem Vltava from the cycle Má vlast by composer Bedřich Smetana in an arrangement for organ. Especially the quietly sounding bubbling sounds of the emerging river, which gradually intensify, resonated in our ears long after the concert.
Another concert, albeit an unconventional one, can also be considered the pleasant visit of diocesan organologist Mr. Radek Rejšek. He did not come alone, and his goal was to film another episode of the series Traveling with the Organs of the Litoměřice Diocese. He brought two collaborators from Studio Chorus, Vít Janata and Jan Slavík. Mr. Vladimír Roubal from the Strahov Monastery also came to the filming, enhancing the discussion not only about the organ but also about our church with his organ improvisations. We could listen to Vladimír Roubal's music at his solo concert last year.
The final concert of the Jablonec Music Tuesdays was filled with the tones of the organ and trumpet, a combination that is traditional and beautiful. The concert was performed by Antonín Habermann (organ) and Jakub Jírů (trumpet). Perhaps this is why the artists decided to perform the listener-demanding modern composition by Petr Eben, Okna, from 1976, which is written precisely for trumpet and organ. This concert was also exceptionally successful, and the audience left extremely satisfied.
We would also like to share our personal opinion that the musical accompaniment of the Holy Masses in our church is often also a wonderful concert, and we do not only mean the organ, but also the singing of our choir. Although the musical accompaniment of the liturgy has its rules, the beauty of the liturgy can also be accompanied by beautiful music. And that is successful.
Irena and Jiří Kreisel
