The Queen of all Instruments at Yale

Thomas Trotter, a world-renowned organist, performed at Yale on November 18, 2018 and a few of us got the opportunity to attend his concert. He played the Newberry Memorial Organ at Woolsey Hall. An organ concert may not seem like much compared to an orchestral concert, but it can be just as impressive. An organ can play most orchestral parts and so it is considered the queen of all musical instruments.  
            Mr. Trotter masterfully presented a variety of pieces. He played music from different periods, ranging from Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) to Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983). He played pieces originally arranged for an orchestra but transcribed, by him, for organ, such as the overture of The Thieving Magpie by Gioachino Rossini. In these pieces, he would constantly change the instrument or sound of the organ to give the effect of an orchestral performance. He also played organ pieces that brought out the different sounds and colors of the organ which, in itself, is a work of art.
            The Newberry Memorial Organ is one of the largest on this continent, containing 12,641 pipes and 167 speaking stops. Mr. Trotter availed himself of its capacity to express numerous moods and varying dynamics. Often he would end a piece on a loud and majestic chord that made the entire Hall vibrate. Those present experienced the power of the organ.
            This concert was an edifying experience for the brothers that attended it. Though it may seem that an organ is less exciting than an orchestra, this performance by Mr. Trotter helped us appreciate the mastery that goes into playing the organ, and that the organ is, indeed, the queen of all instruments.