‘From Sea to Shining Sea’ organ concert set Nov. 15 in Kennewick
When Jeannine Jordan was in grade school, her piano teacher suggested she try adding an instrument to her repertoire:
The pipe organ.
“(The teacher) said, ‘If you become an organist, you can share this great, unique instrument with the world,’ ” Jordan recalled.
She grew up to do exactly that.
Jordan travels the world sharing the beauty and history of the organ and its music.
She’ll bring her From Sea to Shining Sea concert and multimedia presentation to the Tri-Cities on Nov. 15.
It starts at 3 p.m. at Kennewick First Presbyterian Church, 2001 W. Kennewick Ave. Admission is free.
“It’s so different from most organ concerts. It captures the audience,” Jordan said. “They come along with us quite quickly.”
The show explores the first 200 years of the organ in the U.S., starting in colonial times.
Jordan plays music — a live camera feed shows her hand and footwork — and also tells historical anecdotes gleaned from her extensive research and uses images put together with help from her artist husband.
“It takes in all the senses. You’re captured by the sights and the sounds that you see,” Jordan said.
She started playing the organ as a girl and went on to earn a doctorate in organ performance and music history.
Jordan studied early American organists for her dissertation.
While people sometimes “think of little old ladies who play for church,” Jordan came across some thrilling stories.
Like a South Carolina organist who planned to take part in a duel. The next day, his organ position was advertised as open.
Or another man who hauled an organ in an ox cart hundreds of miles to bring music to the unsettled wilderness.
The organ’s history “reflects our larger American story,” Jordan said.
“People don’t often have a way to experience or see the organ the way our show allows them to. It’s a wonderful instrument,” she said, adding that the show “is a great reminder of our American heritage and what an incredible country we have.”
Sara Schilling: 509-582-1529; sschilling@tricityherald.com; Twitter: @SaraTCHerald
If you go
What: Sea to Shining Sea, a concert exploring the history of the pipe organ in the United States.
When: 3 p.m. Nov. 15.
Where: Kennewick First Presbyterian Church, 2001 W. Kennewick Ave.
Cost: Free.
This story was originally published November 11, 2015 at 9:53 PM with the headline "‘From Sea to Shining Sea’ organ concert set Nov. 15 in Kennewick."