The sound of bells to fill Presbyterian Church
COSHOCTON – On Sunday, Sept. 15, the heavenly sound of bells will once again cast an uplifting spell over Coshocton as the Presbyterian Church hosts guest organist/carillonneur, W. Robert Morrison from Canton. The free concert will take place at 12:30 p.m. featuring Morrison playing the carillon keyboard from the front steps of the church with the music heard throughout the city from the church belfry.
At noon a box lunch will be available for $4. An RSVP for lunch is required by Wednesday, Sept. 11 and can be made by calling the church office at 622-0486. In the event of rain the luncheon will be in the parlor and the concert in the sanctuary. The afternoon concert will include a medley of hymns played from a list of audience requests, “Edelweiss,” “The Sound of Music,” “Amazing Grace,” the Handel/Haydn “Clock Tunes” and more.
Sometimes called, “the grand piano of the skies with the dome of heaven as its sounding board,” carillon music has been loved by people throughout the centuries. A carillon is a set of fixed chromatically tuned bells in a bell tower that are sounded by hammers controlled by a keyboard. The Coshocton Presbyterian Church is grateful to Kay Finnegan for her gift of the Schulmerich Carillon a number of years ago in memory of her late husband.
Morrison, a native of Baltimore, Md., is Emeritus Music Minister from Church of the Savior-United Methodist in Canton, where he served for 45 years. This was the home church of President William McKinley. Presently he is serving at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church of Canton. He holds degrees from Peabody Conservatory, Reformed Episcopal Seminary, Westminster Choir College of Rider University and Johns Hopkins. He also holds the Fellowship Degree of the American Guild of Organists and an honorary doctorate from Malone University. He has also recorded for the Schulmerich Bell Company.
Morrison will also play the carillon at the Coshocton Presbyterian Church during its worship service on Sept. 15. He will be assisted in the morning service by music director, Charles R. Snyder and organist, Alice Hoover. The extended prelude will begin at 10:15 a.m. and the worship service begins at 10:30 a.m. All are welcome to attend.
The church is located at 142 N. Fourth St. and free parking is available in the church’s lot and at the city public lot off Fifth Street. For information, call the Coshocton Presbyterian Church at 622-0486 or visit www.presbyteriancoshocton.org.
Category: Faith
