Larry Peterson will perform an organ concerto he has been practicing since August during the Augustana Symphony Orchestra concert Saturday.
The concert, at 8 p.m. in Centennial Hall, will feature Peterson, who is the director of music for campus ministries, playing “Concerto for Organ, Strings and Timpani in G minor,” an arrangement composed by Francis Poulenc in the 1930’s. A concerto is a solo performance that is accompanied by an orchestra.
“In earnest, I started (practicing) a little bit in May of last year before school let out, but I really didn’t hit it hard until August 1,” said Peterson. “From August until now, I’m at it basically every day.”
The orchestra will also perform “Symphony in D minor” by César Franck.
Peterson has been playing the organ for about 48 years and has been composing music for about 25.
“Pushing (practice) off until August was as far as I dare go,” said Peterson. “I couldn’t go any later then that.”
Emma Leland, the symphony orchestra’s concertmaster, said that it is rare for an orchestra to perform an organ concerto.
“If you go to a concert at Symphony Hall (in London), you’re not going to hear an organ concerto,” said Leland. “You’ll hear violin concertos and all sorts of other instruments, but not organ.”
Daniel Culver, director of the Augustana Symphony Orchestra, said that he wanted to do an all-French program, even though Franck was Belgian, and approached Peterson to perform the Poulenc piece.
“In character, (the compositions) are not at all similar,” said Culver. “I think they are a good contrast. The Franck is an indisputably romantic gesture. The Poulenc is a rather rye, witty piece. It’s a serious work, but Poulenc doesn’t take himself terribly seriously. It’s a nice foil to the almost quasi-religious character of the Franck.”
Along with the upcoming concert, Peterson will also perform with the orchestra during the Triple Concert, a concert featuring Augustana’s orchestra, band and choir.
As the director of music for campus ministries at Augustana for about 13 years, Peterson plays the organ during the Sunday and weekday services, hires other musicians to play and directs the Handbell choir.He has also been playing the organ at St. James Lutheran Church in Rock Island for 6 years.
“I love to hear people sing,” said Peterson. “That’s the engagement for me. I just love that when you lead a hymn and people will really sing out. That’s thrilling.”