Christ Church Cathedral Organ Concert featuring George Mims on March 7th

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Christ Church Cathedral presents George Ellis Mims in an organ concert on March 7, 2010 at 11 am. Currently Organist and Director of Music at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Mobile and Organist and Director of Music Emeritus at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, Houston, George Ellis Mims has served as organist, choirmaster, director of music, arranger, editor, speaker, and teacher in The Episcopal Church for five decades. A member of the American Guild of Organists and the Association of Anglican Musicians, Dr. Mims holds the following degrees: Bachelor of Music, Baylor University; Master of Sacred Music, Union Theological Seminary (New York); Doctor of Music hon-oris causae, Nashotah House Seminary. He is widely known for his skills in improvisation both on the organ and piano in worship and performance.

Program:

“Festal Flourish”………………………….Gordan Jacon
“Lord Jesus Christ be present now”……Johann Gottfried Walther
Clavierubung, Book III
“We believe in God”……………………. Johann Sebastian Bach
“Flute Tune”……………………………..Thomas Arne
“The Fifers”………………………………Francois Dandrieu 
“Agincourt Hymn”……………………….John Dunstable
“Aria pastorella”…………………………Valentin Rathgaber
“Cortege et Litanie”…………………….Marcel Dupre
“Jesus, how lovely you are”……………Dave Bolton; Improvisation: George Mims
“Incantation”…………………………….Jean Langlais
“Communion”…………………………….Richard Purvis
“Praise to the Lord the Almighty”……..Lobe den Herren; Improvisation: George Mims
Symphony No. I, “Final”………………..Louis Viern

The Christ Church Cathedral Organ
The first organ at Christ Church, dedicated on December 7, 1859, was made by the Henry Erben factory in New York. The $7000 instrument was one of the largest in the south, composed of the pedal, choir, great and small organ and 50 stops. The 1906 hurricane destroyed this organ. It was replaced in 1907 by a Hook and Hastings organ, which was rebuilt in the late 1940’s, and upon its completion the Christ Church organ was considered the finest in Mobile.

In 1985 Steiner-Reck completed another major rebuild of the organ. This increased the number of pipe ranks from 29 to 58. With the 2009 restoration to the Cathedral, the organ was refurbished and cleaned and a trumpet en chamade is being installed.

Today Christ Church Cathedral continues to enjoy hearing music from one of the finest organs in the southeastern United States. Sunday’s concert brings together this historic instrument and this masterful musician. We are honored and delighted to welcome Dr. Mims as he creates glorious music in this sacred space.