Syd Birrell hosts new online music series
He’ll play the music of Bach on Murray Street Baptist Church’s Casavant pipe organ
Organ Talks is a new online series that provides the opportunity to hear organist Syd Birrell playing J.S. Bach’s music on Murray Street Baptist Church’s Casavant pipe organ. In addition to the music, Birrell will also share his insights into the instrument and the music created especially for it.
Birrell is currently the artistic director of the Peterborough Singers and a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists. His original vocation was as an organist and he has travelled throughout North America performing.
This past spring, Birrell began playing the organ at Murray Street Baptist Church once a week. His music was a source of solace and joy for the small number of people who were permitted to sit in the pews and listen, in accordance with the government regulations at the time. The appreciation of those audience members prompted him to create Organ Talks as a way of sharing both organ music and his reflections about the instrument.
“I hope that I can share with you the inspiration and passion that this music brings me, and that you can find new positives, despite the pandemic,” says Birrell.
Organ Talks begins this week on Wednesday at 7 p.m. with An Introduction to the Pipe Organ, and will continue through to March 17. Each week will feature a different piece of J.S. Bach’s organ music, including the “Orgelbuchlein,” “Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor,” “Toccata in F major” and “Great Fantasia and Fugue in G minor,” among others. All episodes of Organ Talks will be posted on the Peterborough Singers YouTube channel and can be viewed at no cost.
Please visit peterboroughsingers.com for more information and a link to the Organ Talks.
Family Sunday
The first Sunday of every month at the Art Gallery of Peterborough (AGO) is Family Sunday. For now, the event has moved online and each month a family art activity and instructional video is posted to the AGO website. It is an opportunity for families to be creative and stay connected to the gallery. Families are encouraged to post their creations on social media using @AGOPtbo and #AGOPtbo. For this month’s Family Sunday activity, please visit agp.on.ca/programs/family-sundays.
Grab and Go Crafting
The Peterborough Public Library presents Grab and Go Craft Kits for children. Each kit contains the materials and instructions needed to make a craft or complete an activity from the comfort of home. Kits are available on a first-come first-served basis every Saturday morning at the main checkout desk. The library is located at 345 Aylmer St. Please visit ptbolibrary.ca for more information.