From the Windsor Star Published on: April 17, 2016
Courtesy of Windsor Star
Concert on antique organ an impressive experience
To hear the rich sound of the 109-year-old organ at Paulin Memorial Presbyterian Church is impressive. To hear it played by a world-class organist makes the experience particularly special.
About 70 people enjoyed a memorable Sunday concert with six organists — including Ron Dossenbach, Dale Burkholder and a number of Royal Canadian College of Organists scholarship recipients. But the star was Windsor’s own David Palmer, who has performed throughout North America and Europe, including recitals in the cathedrals of Chartres and Notre Dame in Paris.
“Everyone enjoyed the whole concert,” said Chuck Stoffle, the chair of Paulin’s worship committee. “David Palmer is amazing. When he plays it’s almost as if he just becomes one with the keyboard. He makes every single pipe play. It’s amazing to hear.”
The recitalists, Courtesy Windsor Star
The organ, which features 1,740 pipes, was built in 1907 by the Karn-Warren Company in Woodstock. A small rural church in Mitchell, Ont., owned the organ, which was rebuilt in 1979 with more even pipes. After the Mitchell church closed, the massive instrument was donated in 2014 to Paulin, which merged it with its own organ and held its first concert on the unique instrument last year.
“It has a wonderful sound,” Stoffle said. “Everybody really enjoys it.”