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Kent: Conquering the 'Monster' ... UCC organist Walter Watson takes on 'Carillon de Westminster'

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Laura Nethken
November 13, 2009

The organ classic "Carillon de Westminster" will be performed by Walter Watson at the Kent United Church of Christ on Sunday. This organ work was based on the ring of "Big Ben," the iconic clock towering over the British Houses of Parliament at Westminster Palace in London, England.

Composed by French organ master Louis Vierne, the "Westminster Carillon" will be the centerpiece of both the 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. worship services on Sunday in the church's sanctuary at 1400 E. Main St. (the southeast corner of Main Street at Horning Road).

The challenge to take on this demanding and much-loved organ work was sparked by a conversation last spring between Watson, a retired music professor who served as director of Kent State University's School of Music, and the Rev. David Pattee, senior pastor of Kent United Church of Christ.

The colleagues were teasing each other, and Pattee told Watson that he should "learn something new ... big and gushy and French," adding that Vierne's "Carillon de Westminster" was one of his favorites.

Pattee promised, if Watson learned the piece, to build a worship service around it, using the clock-chime theme to focus on Christian concepts of time and the human challenge in dealing with the passage of time.

"At first I hesitated to begin studying it because it is very difficult," confessed Watson, "but finally I decided to use it as a personal challenge to find out if, at my age, I could still learn something difficult that I'd never played before."

He added with a smile, "As one gets older, it takes longer to learn difficult music for keyboard than it would have 30 or 40 years ago. Also, sometimes, one's fingers don't move quite as fast."

Watson found the mastering of the composition "frustrating but fun," and the hard work paid off; the piece is performance ready.

"I believe that I have mastered the spirit, if not yet every note, of this composition," Watson said, "although at times I was tempted to rename it Carillon de WestMONSTER!"

To enhance one's enjoyment and to capture the spirit of the piece, Dr. Watson suggests imagining the pealing of chimes as the piece is being played. "It's turned out to be a very interesting work to learn," he said.

The use of art to glorify God and to teach and encourage the community of faith is a hallmark of worship at the Kent United Church of Christ, a congregation of the 1.2 million-member United Church of Christ denomination, emphasizing unity in Christ and respectful dialogue with other traditions, extravagant hospitality, and Christian witness through advocacy and service for social justice.

For more information, visit www.KentUCC.org or call the church office at 330-673-9534.




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