Organist Nancy Novelly created the “Mozart and Friends” concert format which she originally performed in Wilmington in November 2024. She reprises the event on February 2, 2025 to coincide with Mozart’s birthday on January 27th.
Novelly offers up organ transcriptions of the composer’s most difficult works alongside her daughter, soprano Anne-Michele Yong, alto Angela Harrington, Music and Liturgy Director at St. Mark Catholic Church in Wilmington. Harrington also includes her talents on the flute and Baroque recorder.
Novelly tells us, “I developed the idea for a Mozart concert because of one incredible piece: the Fantasia in F minor, K. 608. Mozart actually wrote this piece for a large mechanical clock, a popular instrument at the time, which had inside it a barrel – like a player piano. The music was written on four staves. Usually two organists play it, but there are transcriptions for solo organ. They are very difficult!
“Learning this piece is the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest. I first heard it played by my German organ professor, Harald Vogel, when I lived in Germany in my early 20’s. Two years ago, I tried the opening measures on the little 9-stop Taylor and Boody pipe organ, housed in a small stone chapel in the Landfall community in Wilmington. The gentle unequal temperament in which the organ is tuned made it sound fantastic! I found other pieces by Mozart which had organ transcriptions, and crafted a program around those pieces.”
“I found three vocal canons written by Mozart which are delightful to sing. One of them, “Heiterkeit” (“Cheerfulness”) sounded like it needed light percussion. A percussionist from one of my former choirs, Tom Scarantino, had recently moved here from Vienna, VA. We recruited Tom, and added percussion to a few more pieces for a delightful effect!”
For this concert, Novelly has added a “Mozart Medley” of three familiar Mozart pieces she arranged.
There is no charge and all seating is first come, first serve. Doors open at 2:30 pm and the concert begins at 3:00 pm. Visitors are encouraged to stay afterward to meet the performers and enjoy a little birthday cake in Mozart’s honor. For questions call (910) 457-5604.
