Celebration of Life – Dr. Paul E. Knox

November 08, 2015 4:00 PM

Music at the Meetinghouse: Celebration of the Life of Paul E. Knox - First Church Congregational, Fairfield, Aymeric Dupre la Tour, host - reception. This very special musical celebration honors Dr. Paul E. Knox that passed away earlier this year. Fellow church musicians, instrumentalists, singers, have volunteered their time to make this a spectacular musical treat. Performers include Dr. Aymeric Dupre, Dr. John Michniewicz, Galen Tate, Dr. Joe Utterback, Dr. Paul Jacobson, and many more. The featured piece will be the Bach Cantata #80, Ein Feste Burg with soloists, orchestra and choir.

On November 8, 2015, under the direction of Dr. Aymeric Dupre la Tour, Director of Music at First Church Congregational Fairfield, and with many, many Paul Knox singers, musicians, AGO members, and friends that like to make beautiful music, we had a glorious Celebration of Life for our too friend.

Enjoy the concert program (click here) and the bios and names of so many performers and friends that made this concert possible. Proceeds benefited the newly renamed M. Louise Miller – Paul E. Knox Scholarship for young organists.

PROGRAM

II. Choral” from Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 20 (1903) Louis Vierne (1870-1937)
Aymeric Dupre la Tour, organ
https://youtu.be/K70y0Z-9wGA

Hymn-improvisation on “A Mighty Fortress“*** EIN FIESTE BURG Verses 1-3 Melody by Martin Luther c.1529
John Michniewicz, organ
https://youtu.be/RGeFCuo1XcU

Visions (1997) Joe Utterback (1944-)
Dedicated to Dr. Louise Miller | Minister of Music, Emeritus
First Congregational Church | Stratford, Connecticut
Galen Tate, organ
Joe Utterback, piano
https://youtu.be/8QQySLoVRUw

Reflections (2015) Utterback
In memory of PAUL KNOX | for flautist Joshua Toman
Darren Ziller, flute
Joe Utterback, piano
https://youtu.be/5tRAeRxK-GY

Gammal fäbodpsalm från Dalarna Oskar Lindberg
(Old Stable Song from Dalarna) (1887-1955)
Paul Jacobson, organ
https://youtu.be/crARit_t9e4

Nunc Dimittis (1957) Paul E. Knox (1930-2015)
written for Emmanuel Baptist Choir
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles,
And to be the glory of thy people Israel.
Luke 2:29-32, Book of Common Prayer, 1662
Paul Knox Chamber Choir
Mike Lantowski, organ
Aymeric Dupre la Tour, conductor
https://youtu.be/aRC98eN5vhk

I Will Sing (10/18/2010)** Knox
I will sing! Yea, I will sing praises to God
Mike Lantowski, organ
Paul P. Defrance and Rick Sanislo, trumpet
Aymeric Dupre la Tour, conductor
https://youtu.be/CJzG3HHmhRw

“”Libera me” from Requiem, Op. 48 (1877, 1887-93)** Gabriel Faure (1845-1924)
Thomas Woodman, baritone
Paul Knox Festival Choir & Chamber Orchestra
Aymeric Dupre la Tour, conductor
https://youtu.be/aPDvsWwYkPY

Cantata No. 80, Ein Feste Burg – A Mighty Fortress (1723?, 1728-31?) Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Chorus: “Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott”
Aria and duet (bass and soprano): “Alles, was von Gott geboren”
Recitative and arioso (bass): “Erwäge doch, Kind Gottes”
Aria (soprano): “Komm in mein Herzenshaus”
Chorale: “Und wenn die Welt voll Teufel wär”**
Recitative and arioso (tenor): “So stehe denn bei Christi blutgefärbten Fahne”
Duetto (alto, tenor): “Wie selig sind doch die, die Gott im Munde tragen”
Chorale: “Das Wort sie sollen lassen stahn”***
Rebecca Craig, soprano
Helena Brown, mezzo-soprano
Karl Scully, tenor Michael Costantino, bass-baritone
Paul Knox Chamber Choir & Orchestra
Aymeric Dupre la Tour & Meg Williams, conductors
*** Fourth verse of “A Mighty Fortress”
https://youtu.be/nvIEaV-4BPo

** Paul Knox Festival Choir *** Audience participation: words found in program

 

About Paul Knox and the Celebration of Life

This very special musical celebration honors Dr. Paul E. Knox that passed away earlier this year. Fellow church musicians, instrumentalists, singers, have volunteered their time to make this a spectacular musical treat.

The event will be held at First Church Congregational, Fairfield, 148 Beach Road, Fairfield. Tickets are $20/Adults. Proceeds benefit the newly renamed M. Louise Miller – Paul E. Knox Scholarhip Fund and Operation Hope. We are thankful for First Church making this part of the Music at the Meetinghouse Concert Series, home church for both Dr. Louise Miller and Dr. Paul Knox. Reception to follow.

Performers include Dr. Aymeric Dupre, Dr. John Michniewicz, Galen Tate, Dr. Joe Utterback, Dr. Paul Jacobson, and many more. The featured piece will be the Bach Cantata #80, Ein Feste Burg with soloists, orchestra and choir.

More About Paul

Paul received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organ Performance from the University of North Texas and a Master of Arts degree in Music from Manhattan’s Union Theological Seminary. (Its sacred music department later affiliated with Yale University to become the Institute of Sacred Music.) He also did post-graduate work at Columbia University. He moved to Connecticut in the mid-1960s to teach part-time at the University of Bridgeport and to become the full-time director of music at United Congregational Church in Bridgeport. There, Paul led as many as seven choirs of singers, bells and recorders, in addition to directing the church’s music concert series. He also hosted numerous concerts and programs for interfaith and community groups and for the AGO’s local chapter. In addition, Paul organized and led several choral concert tours of Europe over the years.

In 1996, at age 65, following 31 years of service at the UCC, Paul retired from full-time work. But the desire to keep busy resurfaced quickly, and for the past 15 years, Paul worked in various part-time positions as director of music for Trumbull Congregational Church, Golden Hill United Methodist Church in Bridgeport, and finally, First Church Congregational in Fairfield where he remained until the new pipe organ was installed and dedicated in 2010.

The Greater Bridgeport Chapter of the American Guild of Organists saluted Paul for his many years of service as a full time musician in 2010 at age 80. Click here to see photos and colleagues celebrating his retirement.

Don’t miss this special event. It will truly be heavenly music!