SOME Plaudits
Review of Carol's AGO National convention performance
Collabrative Organ Recital
The American Organist - October 2010
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CAROL
WILLIAMS
PLAYS JENKINS, TOURNEMIRE, AND KLEIVE
IV/92 Georg & Eduard Stahlhuth organ
(1912, rebuilt by Thomas Jann, 2001) of St. Martin's
Church, Dudelange, Luxembourg.
If you are looking for organ music off the beaten
path, you will find it here.
The opening
"Trumpeting Organ Morgan" is infused with Jenkins's
characteristic rhythmic drive and high energy,
with repeating patterns, primary harmonic structures, and simple, direct melodies. In quiet pieces such as "Hymn" from Athemus,
he spins melodies of wistful beauty. Stylistically akin to New Age music, Jenkins's creations have wide authence appeal,
a fact surely not lost on Carol Williams, who is San Diego Civic Organist and artistic director of the Spreckels Organ Society.
Performing on a magnificent instrument of depth, brilliance, gusto, and abundant color speaking in a reverberant space,
Dr. Williams plays with passion and imagination, eliciting sounds that are alternately granthose, ethereal, exotic, and colorful.
She brings us momentarily back to familiar territory with a stunning, compelling performance of Tournemire's
Choral-Improvisation sur le "Victimae Paschali." Her abundant technical facility is matched by her exemplary artistry.
She closes with a riveting romp through the Toccata "Store Gud, vi lover deg" ("Praise Thee God")
by Norwegian Iver Kleive, who is artistic leader and conductor of the Oslo Bach Choir.
A tour de force with its unrelenting rhythmic drive, the Toccata is a true test of the player's endurance and
the organ's wind system. Both pass with flying colors! In this unusual program,
Carol Williams treats us to a fascinating musical journey. It's well worth the trip!
with repeating patterns, primary harmonic structures, and simple, direct melodies. In quiet pieces such as "Hymn" from Athemus,
he spins melodies of wistful beauty. Stylistically akin to New Age music, Jenkins's creations have wide authence appeal,
a fact surely not lost on Carol Williams, who is San Diego Civic Organist and artistic director of the Spreckels Organ Society.
Performing on a magnificent instrument of depth, brilliance, gusto, and abundant color speaking in a reverberant space,
Dr. Williams plays with passion and imagination, eliciting sounds that are alternately granthose, ethereal, exotic, and colorful.
She brings us momentarily back to familiar territory with a stunning, compelling performance of Tournemire's
Choral-Improvisation sur le "Victimae Paschali." Her abundant technical facility is matched by her exemplary artistry.
She closes with a riveting romp through the Toccata "Store Gud, vi lover deg" ("Praise Thee God")
by Norwegian Iver Kleive, who is artistic leader and conductor of the Oslo Bach Choir.
A tour de force with its unrelenting rhythmic drive, the Toccata is a true test of the player's endurance and
the organ's wind system. Both pass with flying colors! In this unusual program,
Carol Williams treats us to a fascinating musical journey. It's well worth the trip!
American Guild of Organists
"Carol's annual return to Essex was much anticipated and warmly received by her enthusiastic fans.
Her performance, as always, was wonderful. Her repertoire was superbly played and
her interaction with the audience was warm and witty.
Carol concluded her performance with an encore of patriotic songs that the audience
participated in with gusto and there was many a teary eye. We look forward to Carol's return in 2011."
Jim Van Hoven, co-chair, Essex Community Concerts, Essex, New York
"Carol
Williams’ concert in Gloucester was one of our most
successful recitals to date.
She charmed the large audience not only with her
energetic and virtuosic playing but
also her engaging commentary on the programme."
Ashley
Grote, Assistant Music Director, Gloucester Cathedral,
UK
"With Carol's reputation we were
expecting a lot
and our expectations were easily surpassed, so much so that we've booked her again for next year"
and our expectations were easily surpassed, so much so that we've booked her again for next year"
John Evans, Hamilton Street
Methodist Church, Chester, UK 2010
"There were three things
that struck me about Carol's performance:
One, the amount of time and
trouble she took to master the instrument and to perfect
her own performance on it.
Two, the rapport which she
struck with the audience.
She has a great gift for talking to people as those they were friends she had known all her life.
She has a great gift for talking to people as those they were friends she had known all her life.
Three, the standing ovation
given to her and the warm thanks of all the audience as
they were leaving."
Paul Davies,
Shirley Methodist Church, Croydon, UK 2010
Dear Carol,
"To hear my piece (Carillon-Fanfare)
in such glorious surroundings (Gloucester Cathedral,
UK)
was such a privilege, and a truly memorable experience. Thank you so much."
was such a privilege, and a truly memorable experience. Thank you so much."
Robert Jones,
Composer 2010
"We
thoroughly enjoyed the concert at Gloucester
cathedral.
The music really brought the wonderful building to life.
We attended the morning service there the next day and spoke with a gentleman
who had been to the concert. He asked that we pass on his message -
he said that the concert was wonderful, marvelous and he and his wife were amazed
at how well the organ was played. He said that he did not think it had been played so well
for at least fifteen years. He also said that the music was still ringing in his ears the next morning."
Charles and Marilyn 2010The music really brought the wonderful building to life.
We attended the morning service there the next day and spoke with a gentleman
who had been to the concert. He asked that we pass on his message -
he said that the concert was wonderful, marvelous and he and his wife were amazed
at how well the organ was played. He said that he did not think it had been played so well
for at least fifteen years. He also said that the music was still ringing in his ears the next morning."
"Carol gave a delightful performance which demonstrated the
unique Welte Organ in its full glory."
Matthew Salomonson, Salomons, Kent, UK 2010
"Carol was fabulous for us on Friday night in Belleville,
she played excellent and her use of our instrument was wonderful,
her choice of music was very high appeal for audiences and
her charm certainly brought friends to the organ.
Folk are still talking about the evening. I was delighted to have her here on our Series and
have the opportunity to get to know her for a short time and
experience her great gift of music.
Please pass this on to Carol and Kerry. She did WOW all who attended! "
Director of Music, St. Paul United Church of Christ, Belleville, IL 2009
“Your concert was phenomenal. We enjoyed every note of it!”
Director of Music, San Carlos United Methodist Church, San Diego 2009
"Thank you very much for sharing your time and talent with
us this past weekend. We were delighted to present you on
our concert series and on our new Schantz organ. Your
program was positively wonderful!
I was especially grateful for your kind and affirming
comments about the new organ and yours truly."
David H. Binkley, Organist/Choirmaster, Camp Hill Presbyterian Church, Camp Hill, PA 2009
"Thank you very much for sharing your time and talent with us this past weekend.
We were delighted to present you on our concert series and on our new Schantz organ.
Your program was positively wonderful!"
Camp Hill Presbyterian Church, PA 2009
"Indeed, Carol has
become an audience favorite.
Her programming is always imaginative, her technique
flawless, and her conversational rapport
with the audience friendly, informative, charming and
unmatched."
The
Methuen Memorial Music Hall Newsletter
2009
"Carol Williams is the most versatile organist you'll
ever find anywhere"
Spreckels
Organ Society, San Diego, CA 2009
"Dr. Williams plays with passion and imagination,
eliciting sounds that are alternately grandiose,
ethereal, exotic, and colorful. She brings us momentarily back to familiar territory with a stunning,
compelling performance ... Her abundant technical facility is matched by her exemplary artistry.
A tour de force with its unrelenting rhythmic drive .. a true test of the players endurance and
the organ's wind system. Both pass with flying colors!
In this program, Carol Williams treats us to a fascinating musical journey. It's well worth the trip!"
The American Organist
The works of Karl JENKINS and Iver KLEIVE dazzlingly of freshness,
were suitable for the hot-blooded artist who prefers to delight the present moment and
wants to share it immediately with the audience,
rather than to seek an hypothetical spirit that this kind of music isn't burdened with…
As soon as this contagiousness of musical happiness has captured oneself,
from the moment on you try to get rid of a complexed approach towards the pipe organ,
you will be seduced by its poetry and above all by its sincerity…
… you will give yourself up to these willingly languorous sonorities, to a melodic pathos that
snatches your heart out of yourself and, always, these dizzying rhythmical patterns
“very rhythmical, very exciting”. This very irresistible and atypical concert…
We have to thank Carol WILLIAMS
for these musical moments filled with life
and that she has reconciled us with an age
unjustly hold in contempt.
LIBERTY AND FANTASY
Carol Williams at the console
copy of the original article
A Memorable Evening at Saint Mary's
New York Times Article
"One of the brightest and most active recitalists who
plays with immaculate finish and buoyancy"
Esplanade Theatres On The Bay, Singapore
Review by a youth attending the Esplanade Thearter in Singapore
The Straits Times, Singapore
Full Review
"The CD (Carol Williams Plays) is brilliant"
Karl Jenkins
(Carol Williams Plays)
"A performance of epic proportions,
in keeping with the artiste's already well-established reputation"
Keyboard Player
Salisbury Cathedral
"Carol Williams played a flawless program"
American Guild of Organists National Convention, Chicago,
The American Organist journal