Bowman set to trip the light fantastic

MELBOURNE organist Calvin Bowman will perform works from the 17th century to the present day at his free performance as part of Mona Foma in Launceston on Saturday.

MoFo curator Brian Ritchie, himself a keen organist, was inspired to invite Bowman to be part of the festival after reading Bowman’s statement: “Until that revolution comes — and it will come in our lifetime as people begin to awaken from their collective slumber — I choose to create music of light and beauty through one carefully placed note at a time. It is a privilege to do so, but it’s also a protest.”

Bowman’s program is inspired by references to light.

It includes Ciacona in F Minor by Pachelbel, Sonata in D Major by Baldassare Galuppi, Dawn Canticle by Australian composer Ross Edwards, Humoresque by Pietro Yon, Variations sur Lucis Creator by Jehan Alain, and an arrangement by William Lloyd Webber of Elizabethan Serenade by Ronald Binge.

The latter part of the program will include To His Servant Bach, God Grants a Final Glimpse: The Morning Star by Australian composer Graeme Koehne, and Fantasia Super: Christ lag in Todesbanden BWV 695 by JS Bach, and will conclude with La Resurrection du Christ from Livre du Saint Sacrement by Olivier Messiaen.

Calvin Bowman’s performance, as part of Mona Foma, will be at City Baptist Church, Launceston, at 11.30am on Saturday. Entry is free.