Organist Christie to Commemorate Death of Dietrich Buxtehude With Concert Series

In an ambitious undertaking, organist James David Christie will present the complete organ works of the great 17th-century North German organist-composer Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707) in a cycle of eight concerts to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the composer’s death. As part of the Holy Cross Chapel Artists Series, “The Buxtehude Tercentenary at Holy Cross” will be performed on the late 17th-century North German inspired Taylor & Boody organ throughout the 2006-2007 concert season.

The concerts, free and open to the public, will be in the College’s Saint Joseph Memorial Chapel at 3 p.m. on the following Sundays:

Fall 2006
Concert I: Sept. 24
Concert II: Oct. 15
Concert III: Nov. 12
Concert IV: Dec. 10

Spring 2007
Concert V: Feb. 11
Concert VI: March 18
Concert VII: April 1
Concert VIII: April 22

Saint Joseph Chapel is handicapped accessible.

Christie, the distinguished artist in residence and College organist at Holy Cross, has been acclaimed as one of the finest organists of his generation. He has performed throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan in solo concerts and with major symphony orchestras under such conductors as Ozawa, Masur, Tennstedt, Dutoit, Bernstein, Davis, Norrington, Pinnock, Parrott, and Hogwood. In addition to being a specialist in early music, he has premiered compositions of George Crumb, Ellen Taafe Zwilich, Daniel Pinkham and many others including P.D.Q. Bach (for the 100th anniversary of the Boston Pops with John Williams conducting.)

In addition, Christie serves as organist for the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He has served on more international organ competition juries than any American organist. He has recorded for 12 different labels and is heard regularly on radio broadcasts in the United States, Canada and Europe.

In 1979, Christie became the first American to win the first prize at the International Organ Competition in Bruges, Belgium; he was also the first person in the history of the competition to win both the first prize and the Prize of the Audience. Since then, his students have been international prize winners in competitions in Europe and the United States. In 1980, he was awarded an honorary doctor of music degree by the New England School of Law for his outstanding contributions to the musical life of Boston. He also holds degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory and the New England Conservatory including the prestigious Artist’s Diploma.

Christie, of South Natick, has been at Holy Cross since 1984.