Sixty patrons and friends of Theological College joined the community in the seminary’s main chapel for an unparalleled event in the history of TC: the dedication of a new organ, celebrated with a recital by Daniel Roth, Organiste Tutilaire of the Church of Saint-Sulpice in Paris, France, where Fr. Jean-Jaques Olier founded the Society of Saint Sulpice. Dr. Gerald Muller, to whom the organ is dedicated, has served as the Director of Music at Theological College for 18 years and will be retiring at the end of this year. It was through the dedication and hard work of Dr. Muller that the new organ became a reality. The recital consisted of five pieces focused around the theme of “Passion and Resurrection.” Roth played a varied repertoire which evidenced his incredible skill and creative gifts: the “Fantaisie and Fugue in G Minor BWV 542” by Johann Sebastian Bach, “Prière” by César Franck, “Scherzo from Symphonie No. 2” by Louis Vierne, an original work titled “Gloria Patri from Livre D’Orgue Pour Le Magnificat,” and “Symphonie No. 6 in G Minor, Op. 42, No. 2” by Charles-Marie Widor.
Aaron Kelly (2nd Basselin, Diocese of Rochester), TC seminarian organist, commented, “It has been a pleasure over the past few months to have the opportunity to play the new, Gerald F. Muller Organ for house liturgies and for personal leisure and to learn the new instrument. Listening to Daniel Roth and being present for the dedication of the new organ reminded me of the words of Albert Schweitzer, who said, ‘If you are called upon to play a church service, it is a greater honor than if you were to play a concert on the finest organ in the world… Thank God each time when you are privileged to sit before the organ console and assist in the worship of the Almighty.’ The Gerald F. Muller Organ will be used for many years to aid the seminary community in offering worship to God.”
