Asbury’s Tiffany windows inspire composer to create song
When composer Pepper Choplin saw photographs of the Tiffany stained-glass windows at Asbury United Methodist Church, he found his inspiration for a composition he was writing for the Uniontown church. “I gasped a little bit at how beautiful they were,’ Choplin, a North Carolina resident who received digital photographs through e-mail, explained in a phone interview. “They were so pastoral and peaceful. I was inspired to center on Christ and all things that Christ is to us.’
The result is the lovely “Psalm to the Savior,’ which will be presented at 7:30 p.m. today at the church. The debut performance will include Choplin, an acclaimed Christian artist as well as composer, along with the Asbury Chancel Choir, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Choir, members of Trinity United Methodist Church from Kittaning, members of the Beesontown Singers and other guest singers.
The program is divided into two halves – the first presenting Choplin by himself as he plays the guitar and piano and sings. “Psalm to the Savior’ will be featured in the second half of the program.
This historic composition is based on the three stained-glass windows created by the famed Tiffany Studios of New York that were installed in Asbury in 1919. They each present an image of faith surrounded by a church profile, including “The Good Shepherd,’ “The Sower’ and “Jesus and His Friends” or “The Sermon on the Mount.’
In addition, Asbury will present Dr. Gordon Turk, internationally acclaimed concert organist from New Jersey, on a return engagement to Asbury at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. He is performing on the church organ, which was also installed in 1919 and has been improved in recent years. Turk also will be the featured speaker at the 6:30 p.m. praise and worship service Sunday in Asbury’s fellowship hall.
Both today and Sunday, a reception in fellowship hall will immediately follow the concerts, which are being offered free to the public.
Jim Hutchinson, director of music and organist for Asbury, explained both of these concerts are part of Asbury’s recital series.
“The whole concept is an outreach program. We’re bringing the sounds of Asbury Music Ministry to the community. We’re all interested in good music. I’m looking at it as an Arts at Asbury weekend,’ he said.
Hutchinson also noted the caliber of the guest artists.
According to his biography, Choplin earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a master’s of music degree in composition at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
The minister of music for Greystone Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C., Choplin has published more than 160 anthems in addition to five choral musicals.
His musical experience ranges from church musician to theme park entertainer.
He has performed musical styles from rock to classical to bluegrass.
Choplin leads events throughout the country as composer, clinician, conductor and entertainer. He has several CDs to his credit including his self-produced “Pepper Is My Real Name,’ which features humorous songs, and a solo album of inspirational songs called “Hold On.’
According to his biography, Turk has performed throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.
He has won the John Cerevalo Prize for “Excellence in the performance of the music of J.S. Bach’ and has been a prizewinner in the national improvisation competition of the American Guild of Organists.
Turk has played in Carnegie Hall in New York City, the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, the Bolshoi Philharmonic in St. Petersburg, Russia, and in international organ festivals of Switzerland and the Ukraine.
He has made two concert tours in Japan and recently returned from his second concert tour in the Ukraine, playing solo performances and concertos with orchestra.
Turk has appeared with folk singers Peter, Paul and Mary and collaborated in concert with Phillip Smith, principal trumpet, New York Philharmonic; Joseph Alessi, principal trombone, New York Philharmonic; David Kim, concertmaster, Philadelphia Orchestra; Elizabeth Hainen, principal harp, Philadelphia Orchestra; Kathleen Bride, chair, harp department at Eastman School of Music.
He has made television appearances in concert and played live concert broadcasts for National Public Radio. He has performed in concert and conducted master classes at universities throughout the United States and in Europe as well as for national and regional conventions of the American Guild of Organists and has served as dean of the Philadelphia Chapter of AGO.
Turk is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and taught at West Chester University in Pennsylvania.
He is resident organist of the historic Auditorium in Ocean Grove, N.J., founder and artistic director of the Summer Starts Chamber Music Festival, and organist and choirmaster for St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Wayne, Pa. Turk’s CD “French Spectaculars on the Ocean Grove Auditorium Order’ has been critically acclaimed and his composition “Elegy’ for string orchestra and oboe was featured in live television broadcasts in Japan.
Interviewed by phone, Turk said his program at Asbury will feature a variety of music. Pieces will include “Sinfonia’ by J.S. Bach, “Sonata No. 1 for Organ’ by Felix Mendelssohn, “Canon’ and “Traumerei’ by Robert Schumann, “Final in B Flat’ by Cesar Franck, “Carrilon de Westminster’ by Louis Vierne, “March on a Theme of Handel’ by Alexandre Guilmont and “Variation of a Theme of FrescoBaldi’ by Jean Langlais.
Turk talked in detail about the different composers and their works, calling the Mendelssohn piece “very colorful,’ saying “Canon’ was a humorous piece written for a piano, and noting the “Carrilon’ was based on the tune of the historic Westminster chimes.
He said of the organ: “I enjoy the way the instrument works and the variety of sounds and opportunity to mix all these sounds. It’s a very physical instrument because you’re using your feet. In Uniontown, you’re using three keyboards for your hands and one for your feet. It’s very physical.’
Turk said there appears to be a revival in interest in the organ across the country with more organs being added to concert halls where they are receiving great response. The interest in the United States has been growing for the past 50 years.
“I think people are making a real effort to make programs that are interesting,’ he said. “For a long time, organs were only in churches and people are now finding out the wonderful concert repertoire. The organ has a whole world of concert music.’
Choplin, who also conducted a workshop for the Asbury choir last night, said his writing is inspired by training the ear and mind to look around.
“I’m always looking for something that people are wanting to say but don’t know how to say it,” he said.
Choplin said his performances include a variety of styles: “It’s going to be an exciting, uplifting experience.’
Asbury United Methodist Church is located at the corner of Beeson and Dunbar streets in Uniontown.