Sunday Afternoon Carillon Recitals

Featuring Charles Semowich, Carillonneur

The Riverside Church carillon, built in 1930, was a gift of John D. Rockefeller, Jr. in memory of his mother. The worlds’ largest carillon by weight, the Riverside carillon contains 74 cast bronze bells. The Bourdon bell, weighing 40,000 pounds (ringing on the hour) is the largest tuned bell in the world. The bells swing a peal each Sunday at 10:20 a.m. The Carillon prelude follows at 10:30 a.m., and can be heard and viewed online as part of the Sunday morning Service of Worship.

Sunday afternoon recitals are outdoor only and take place most weeks at 3:00 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) and can be best heard outdoors listening from Sakura Park, immediately north of Riverside Church at 122nd Street.

August 7: Carla Staffaroni, Guest Carillonneur
Second Shenandoah Suite – Traditional Ballad Tune, arr. La Salle Spier, ed. Richard Strauss
          III. Love Gregory
Notule No. 1 Emilien Allard
Gaudí’s Chimneys John Courter
I. The Undulating Chimneys of Casa Batlló
II. The Mushroom Chimneys of Park Güell
Campanella II Edward Nassor
Recuerdos de la Alhambra Francisco Tarrega, arr. Austin Ferguson
El Vito – Spanish Folksong, arr. Sally Slade Warner

August 14: Italian Music in recognition of the Italian holiday Ferragosto
Sonata (Op 4, No. 8) Arcangelo Corelli, arr. Albert Gerken
Sonata Domenico Scarlatti, arr. Earl Chamberlin
Come Back to Sorento Ernesto di Curtis, arr. Wendell Westcott
O Sole Mio Eduardo di Capua, arr. Sean Duffy
Allegro from Concerto Op 3, No.3 Antonio Vivaldi, arr. Albert Gerkin

August 21: In recognition of World Aviation Day on August 19
Vertigo Frank Della Penna
Suite for Those in High Places Phyllis Tremmel
Kitty Hawk, 1903 Peter Olejar
Up in the Air David McBride
Prior to Landing Chin Chin Chen

August 28: Bernstein and The Beatles
In honor the birthday of Leonard Bernstein (August 25, 1918):
Songs from the West Side Story Leonard Bernstein, arr. Jos. Lerinckx
Maria
One Hand, One Heart
I feel Pretty
Beatles Songs:
Imagine John Lennon, arr. Isaac Wong
Blackbird John Lennon and Paul McCartney, arr. Goos ten Napel
Yesterday John Lennon arr. Jo Haazen

September 4: Work Related Music
Whistle While you Work, Larry Morey and Frank Churchers, arr. Richard Giszczak
The Farmers Bad Complaint, Antoine Mahaut arr. Moshe Lewkowitz
The Miller of the Dee, arr. Percival Price
Bugler’s Holiday Leroy Anderson, arr. Gerard de Waardt
Spinning Song, Peter Benoit, arr. Anton Lombaert

September 11: In memory of September 11, 2001
In Memorian, Sept. 11, 2001, John Courter
Valse Triste (Sept 11, 2001), Pasquale Tassone
Towers, Al Fedak
Threnody (for Sept 11, 2001), Abram Plum

September 18: Music by Riverside’s Carillonneurs
Music by the carillonneurs at Riverside Church & Park Ave. Baptist Church when the carillon was there
Dec. 27, 1925 Dedication recitalist Anton Brees: Andante
1926-27, Percival Price: Piece Without Expression I
1927 Ruth Muzzy Conneston: Frere Jacques (arrangement)
1927-1960, Kamield LeFevre: Prayer, ‘Thanksgiving”
1960-1989 James R. Lawson: Carnival of the Bells
1990-1998 Joseph Clair Davis: Flourish
1999-2018, Dionisio Lind: Abide with Me (arrangement)
2019- Charles Semowich: Riverside Church Fanfare

September 25: Jewish Music in honor of the Jewish High Holy Days, Lynnli Wang, Guest Carillonneur
Rosh Hashanah, Jewish New Year
Shalom, Chaverim, trad. Hebrew folk song, arr. Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra
Shana Tovah: A Good Year, arr. Lynnli Wang
Daughter’s Day, Celebrating Women Composers
Four Inscriptions: Low G and Low A , Ellen Dickinson
Dance of the Tower Bells, Liesbeth Janssens
Shaman, Alice Gomez
Cheers!, Naoko Tsujita

October 2: In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month
Etude Napoleon Coste, arr. Betty Buchanan
La Pursima Traditional Nicaraguan, arr. Halla Kabat
Three Pieces Francisco Tarrega, arr. Carlos van Ulft
Two Studies Ferando Sor, arr. Ronald Barnes
Vaya Con Dios Larry Russell, arr. Richard Giszczak

October 9: Autumn Music
Autumn Concerto Antonio Vivaldi, arr. Arie Abbenes
Autumn Afternoon Eugene Rocherolle, arr. Richard Giszczak
Autumn Showers Robin Dinda

October 16: Children’s Sunday, Carla Staffaroni, Assistant Carillonneur
Mary Had a Little Lamb arr. Elena Sadina
Over the Rainbow Harold Arlen, arr. Jos Lerinckx
My Favorite Things Richard Rodgers, arr. Richard Giszczak
Las Chiapanecas arr. Percival Price
This Land is Your Land Woody Guthrie, arr. Lee Cobb
A Whole New World Alan Menken, arr. Austin Ferguson
The Rainbow Connection Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher, arr. Sally Slade Warner
Selections from Album for the Young, Opus 39 Peter Iljitsch Tschaikowsky, arr. Arie Abbenes
-Morning Prayer
-Winter Morning
-My New Doll

October 23: Dancing with Falling Leaves, Lynnli Wang, Assistant Carillonneur
beneath a canopy of trees Joey Brink
Dance of the Fireflies Frank DellaPenna
Something There, from “Beauty and the Beast” Alan Menken, arr. Frank Steijns
Spectrum Joey Brink
Lake Music Terry Vaughan
Fields of Gold Sting, arr. Joey Brink

October 30: Halloween
Salem Witches’ March Jean Missud, arr. Charles Semowich
Toccata in D Minor. Johann Sebastian Bach, arr. Judson Maynard
Funeral March for a Marionette Charles Gounod, arr. Lucy Dechene
Spook House David Carr Glover, arr. Richard Giszczak
Halloween John Carpenter, arr. Tiffany Ng

November 6: All Native American Music in honor of National Native American Heritage Month
Unke Animajag Chippewa arr. Ellen Dickinson
Chekabaytebik Ojibe arr. Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra
Melody for Kinyaa’aanni No. 1 Connor Chee
Farewell to Warriors Chippewa arr. Natalia Jenuwine
Winter Snow Wind Song Swinomish arr. Yiaoying Pu
Navajo Prelude No. 1 Connor Chee

November 13: A Duo of Threes, Lynnli Wang, Assistant Carillonneur
Gaudi’s Chimneys John Courter
I. The undulating chimneys of Casa Batlló
II. The mushroom chimneys of Park Güell
III. The geometric chimneys of Güell Palace

Chocolate “Sweet” Alice Gomez
I. Dark Chocolate: Bittersweet Passion
II. White Chocolate: Tastefully Impure
III. Milk Chocolate: The Elixir of Love

November 20: Beautiful Day, Carla Staffaroni, Assistant Carillonneur
Londonderry Air Irish Air arr. Sally Slade Warner
Climb Ev’ry Mountain (from “The Sound of Music”) Richard Rodgers arr. Richard Giszczak
Country Gardens English Folksong, arr. Austin Ferguson
Marigolds, V. Virmenych arr. Iryna Riabchun
Cielito lindo Mexican Folksong, arr. Beverly Buchanan
Dos oruguitas (from “Encanto”) Lin-Manuel Miranda, arr. Joey Brink
Sarabande for 26 Bells John Courter
Edelweiss (from “The Sound of Music”) Richard Rodgers, arr. Koen Van Assche
Sunrise, Sunset (from “Fiddler on the Roof”) Jerry Boch, arr. Sally Slade Warner and Earl Chamberlain

November 27: Thanksgiving
The Harvest Call Shaker, arr. Richard Giszczak
Variations on “Now Thank We All our God” Anton Van Ooik
Over the River and Through the Woods Traditional American, arr. Richard Von Grabow
We Gather Together arr. Wendell Westcott
Come ye Thankful People, Come George Elvert, arr. David Christensen

December 4
The Nativity Suite Ronald Barnes
Noel Suite II Ronald Barnes

December 11: A Wintery Walk, Lynnli Wang, Assistant Carillonneur
Enchanted Errands Joey Brink
Hedwig’s Theme arr. Lynnli Wang
Woodland Sketches Edward MacDowell, arr. Albert Gerken
Christmas Carols

December 18: Candlelight Carol Festival Prelude, Carla Staffaroni, Assistant Carillonneur
Villancico de Navidad Agustín Barrios Mangoré, arr. Mary Jo Disler
O Little Town of Bethlehem Louis H. Redner, arr. Frank Péchin Law
Silent Night Franz Gruber, arr. Austin Ferguson
Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day Anonymous, arr. Austin Ferguson
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (from “Cantata 147”) Johann Sebastian Bach, arr. Fred Marriot
Angels We Have Heard on High Old French Melody, arr. Milford Myhre
The First Noel  Traditional, arr. Frank Péchin Law
Joy to the World Georg Frederick Handel, arr. Wendell Wescott

December 25: Christmas Carols

January 1: New Year’s Music
Variations on Auld Lang Syne  Charles Semowich
Ship of Time  Jere Hutcheson
New Year’s Day U2, arr. Charles Semowich
Ode for the New Year William Selby, arr. Charles Semowich
As Time Goes By Herman Hupfeld, arr. James Lawson
Those were the Days Gene Raskin arr Richard Giszczak

January 8: Winter Music, Carla Staffaroni, Assistant Carillonneur
Rise Out Your Bed New Zealand Folk Song, arr. Leen ‘t Hart
Theme from “New York, New York” John Kander, arr. Joseph C. Davis
 January, from “Calendar, Petite Preludes for Carillon” Geoffrey Cook
Sleeting Stephen Heller, arr. Charles Semowich
Winter, from “Almanac for Bells” Aaron David Miller
What a Wonderful World George David Weiss and Bob Thiele, arr. Carla Staffaroni
Season of Hope, from “Suite Seasons” Frank DellaPenna
Let It Go, from “Frozen” Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, arr. Austin Ferguson

January 15: Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Lynnli Wang, Assistant Carillonneur
MLK’s Dream Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra
Over My Head (spiritual) arr. Ellen Dickinson
Sometimes I Feel like a Motherless Child arr. Ellen Dickinson
Songs of Hope: A Tapestry of African-American Spirituals  Ellen Dickinson

January 22: Music for the Lunar New Year
Luoshuitian (Sad Rainy Day) Chinese Folk Song, arr. Mathieu Polak
Parang-Sae, Korean, arr. HyoJin Jenna Moon
Digging for Potatoes Chinese, arr. Mathieu Polak
Song of the Ali Mountain Li-Ling
Arirang Korean, arr. Daniel Guo

January 29: In honor of Australia Day January 26 – All Australian Music
The Shearer’s Dream Australian Folk Song Suzanne Magassy
Lake Music for Carillon Terry Vaughan
Four Studies for Carillon John Douglas Gordon
Miniature Suite for Carillon Graham Ranft

February 5: Hints of Valentine’s Day                                                                                                            Love Song of the Prairie (caoyuanqingge) Chinese Traditional, arr. Mathieu Daniël Polak
My Funny Valentine Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, arr. Jakob De Vreese
Chocolat Alice Gomez
I Love You Always Forever Donna Lewis, arr. Austin Ferguson
Billy Boy Traditional, arr. Frank Péchin Law
Goodnight, My Someone (from “The Music Man”) Meredith Wilson, arr. Austin Ferguson

February 12: Lovebirds in the Tower
Valse Romantique Jon Lehrer
Moon River arr. Lynnli Wang
Fly Me to the Moon arr. Lynnli Wang
Something’s There Alan Menken arr. Frank Steijns
To a Wild Rose Edward MacDowell arr. Milford Myhre
A Rosebud by my Early Morning Walk trad. Scottish folksong, arr. Ronald Barnes

February 19: In Honor of Presidents Day
Declaration of Independence Leen t’ Hart
President’s March arr. Milford Myhre
Washington’s March 1 and 2 arr. Milford Myhre
Washington March 3 arr. William de Turk
America arr Leen ‘t Hart
You’re All Right Teddy Cole and Johnson, arr. Charles Semowich
Ode to Columbia’s Favorite Son arr. Charles Semowich
Washington Samuel Holyoke, arr. Charles Semowich
Paraphrase on “Happy is the Land Which God’s Protects” Addie de Jong

February 26: Music for Lent
Variations on the Passion Chorale Hans Hassler, arr. John Courter
Christ lag in Todesbanden (Christ Lay in Deaths’ Bondage) Marcel Dupre, arr. Roy Kroezen
With Broken Hearts arr. Betty Buchanan
In the Cross of Christ, I glory arr. Betty Buchanan
Aus der Tiefe rufe ich (Out of the Depths) arr. Don Cook
Da Jesus an dem Kreuze stund Samuel Scheidt, arr. Roy Kroezen

March 5: National I Want You to be Happy Day
Love Song of the Prairie (caoyuanqingge) Chinese Traditional, arr. Mathieu Daniël Polak
My Funny Valentine Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, arr. Jakob De Vreese
Chocolat Alice Gomez
I Love You Always Forever Donna Lewis, arr. Austin Ferguson
Billy Boy Traditional, arr. Frank Péchin Law
Goodnight, My Someone, from “The Music Man” Meredith Wilson, arr. Austin Ferguson

March 12: New original carillon music.
This is the first time that any of these pieces have been played at Riverside.

Fractured Chronology (2022) Jacob Leibowitz
Valse Triste (2020) Mary Beth Bennett
Andromeda (2020) Yvette Janine Jackson

March 19: My Lucky Four Leaf Clover
Irish Air Geert D’hollander
Londonderry Air arr. Sally Slade Warner
St. Patrick arr. Beverly Buchanan
A Crazy Ritornello Geert D’hollander
Cheers Naoko Tsujita

March 26: All Bach Program in Honor of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Birthday March 21, 1685 (Old Style) March 31, 1685 (New Calendar)
Toccata in G Major arr. Percival Price
Praeludium I, from Well Tempered Clavier arr. Leen”t Hart
Bist du Bei Mi arr. Ronald Barnes
Prelude, Fuge en Allegro BWV 998 arr. Peter Bremer

April 2: The Chorale Partitas of John Knox
Chorale Partita I (Ach, wie flüchtig, ach, wie nichtig) John Knox
Chorale Partita II (Vater Unser) John Knox
Chorale Partita III (The Harmony of Zion) John Knox
Chorale Partita IV (St. Anne) John Knox
Chorale Partita V (All My Hope on God is Founded) John Knox

April 9: Music for Easter and Passover
Easter Hymn Pietro Mascagni, arr. Jeffrey Bosson
B’tsei’s Yisoeil Hans Bloemendal, arr. Mathieu Polak
Dayeinu Jewish Folk Song, arr. Richard Giszczak

April 16: Handbell Festival. Charles Semowich, Carillonneur
The Bells Belgium Folk Song arr. Suzanne Magassy
Colors of the Wind (From “Pocahontas”) Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, arr. Joey Blink
Memorial Chimes Edward Elgar
Fields of Gold Sting, arr. Joey Blink
A Thousand Years David Hodges and Christina Perri, arr. Lisa Lonie
Fame Michael Gore, arr. Bob van Wely

April 23: Sounds of Spring
Haru No Umi (Sea in Spring) Michio Miyagi, arr. Hisako Konno
Season of Life (Springtime) Frank Della Penna
Spring, from “Almanac for Bells” Aaron David Miller
Something There, from “Beauty and the Beast” Alan Menken, arr. Frank Steijns
Hana Wa Saku (Flowers Will Bloom) Yoko Kanno, arr. Mariko Matsue

April 30:Music for Spring
Spring Concerto Antonio Vivaldi, arr. Arie Abbenes
Lilac Song-Spring Bela Zerkovitz, arr. Bernard Winsemius
Spring Song Felix Mendelssohn, arr. Austin Ferguson