Photo provided David Bowden, Columbus Indiana Philharmonic artistic director, acknowledges the crowd at the close of Saturday’s concert.
Last Saturday evening was an historic event in the cultural life of Columbus as we celebrated the final concert of the 35th season of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic Orchestra. David Bowden, its illustrious artistic director, was conducting his final ticketed concert, and he chose monuments of the orchestral literature.
The concert opened with a movement from George Chadwick’s Symphonic Sketches entitled “Jubilee.” This is a rousing march in the style of John Philip Sousa and made a brilliant beginning for a celebratory event.
Bowden chose for the two major concert selections Alexander Guilmant’s Symphony for Organ and Orchestra and Camille Saint-Saëns’ “Symphony in C Minor for Organ and Orchestra.” These two works are without question the two most important works ever composed for solo organ and symphony orchestra, and they were performed with excitement and great skill by organist Dan McKinley and the orchestra under the inspired leadership of conductor Bowden.
Alexander Guilmant never achieved in his lifetime the acclaim that most musicians would now accord him. He became known principally as a brilliant organist.
However, the fact that his D-minor Symphony is so rarely performed can largely be ascribed to the lack of a great instrument in many concert halls. The organ in First Christian Church, Bowden’s favorite concert venue because of its overall acoustics, is one of the superb concert organs in the United States, and its qualities make possible a first-rate performance.
The other major work on the program was the Symphony No. 3 for organ and orchestra by Saint-Saëns. Sub-titled “Organ Symphony,” it recognizes the importance of the organ as a colorful solo instrument and features it throughout the lengthy four-movement composition. Each section of the orchestra — strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion — has its own melodic solos, all played with outstanding ability and musical projection.
I look forward to continued leadership from this distinguished organization and wish David Bowden many more years of good health and superior contribution to the culture of the world.
