BARBARA BRUNS

"The sincerity of feeling that Bruns communicates throughout the disc is matched by the sensitivity of her playing and her understanding of the various composers’ stylistic approaches. Bruns’ combination of lyricism and expressiveness will be highly attractive to listeners who enjoy hearing a mixture of more-familiar and less-known organ works."

Mark J. Estren, InfoDad [March 2024]

"[Bruns has] performed with distinction at the national conventions of the Organ Historical Society and the American Guild of Organists, among many other honors...  The program is particularly well-chosen... Bruns finishes up in grand style with [Widor's] Toccata from his Symphony for Organ. With its lively opening, rapid running passagework, plus its high rhythms, generating tremendous excitement, this showpiece makes for a rousing finish to a memorable recital."

Phil Muse, Atlanta Audio Club [Spring 2024]

My love of the organ began at age 12 while living in Sapporo, Japan, as a missionary kid. A brand new pipe organ, the first on the northern island of Hokkaido, had just been installed in the Lutheran Center in downtown Sapporo, and my mother thought I might enjoy studying the organ. She arranged for me to audition with the organist of the church, and after playing a few Bach Inventions on the piano, I was one of four students accepted to take lessons. By age 13, I had my first professional job as organist at the Chitose Army Base Chapel, playing a Hammond B3 electronic organ! Thus began my career as a church musician and concert organist. This decades long journey could not have happened without many influential mentors and teachers. Four amazing Christian women had the greatest impact on my early musical training, and this CD, Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be Glory), is dedicated to them. I have chosen particular organ works to honor each of these women. Profound thanks also to the staff and most notably the Reverend Michael J. Hodges, Rector, at The Parish of Christ Church in Andover, Massachusetts.


Barbara Bruns is Minister of Music at The Parish of Christ Church, Andover, Massachusetts, a position she has held since 2005. An accomplished recitalist, accompanist and conductor, Bruns has concertized extensively in the United States, Europe and Japan. She has performed as soloist for national conventions of the Organ Historical Society, the American Guild of Organists and the Association of Anglican Musicians. Currently she serves as an Executive Coach for Cultural Architects, a leadership development and change management firm in New York City.
 
Bruns has been organ instructor at the New England Conservatory Preparatory and Continuing Education Schools, Associate Conductor of The Boston Cecilia, National Chair of the Leadership Program for Musicians (serving Episcopal and Evangelical Lutheran churches throughout the country) and Director of Training for Leadership Technologies in New York City. She was elected to Pi Kappa Lambda honorary at NEC and received the “Outstanding Alumni Award” from Augustana College in Illinois.
 
In Massachusetts, Bruns served on the board of directors of the Old West Organ Society in Boston and as Music Director at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Gloucester, St. Michael’s Church in Marblehead and St. Stephen’s Church in  Westborough. She has held similar posts at St. Thomas’ Church in Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania, and St. Michael’s Church in Manhattan.
 
Born in Japan, Bruns received her early musical training in piano and pipe organ while living in Sapporo, Tomakomai and Tokyo. She holds a Bachelor of Music in organ performance, magna cum laude, from Augustana College and a Master of Music, with honors, in organ performance from the New England Conservatory. Her principal teachers have been Yuko Hayashi, Tom R. Harris, Arthur Poister, Harald Vogel, Kazuko Sacon, Yoko Kimura and Donald Teeters. Louis MARCHAND (1669-1732)
Grand Dialogue
 
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, BWV 662
 
Michelangelo ROSSI (1601-1656)
Toccata Settima
 
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele, Op.122, No.5
 
César FRANCK (1822-1890)
Prélude, Fugue et Variation, Op.18
 
Johann Sebastian BACH
Prelude and Fugue in E-flat Major, BWV 552
 
Joyce JONES (1933-2022)
Improvisation on Aka tonbo (Red Dragonfly)
 
Charles-Marie WIDOR (1844-1937)
Andante, from Symphonie gothique pour orgue No.9, Op.70
 
Charles-Marie WIDOR
Toccata, from Symphony pour orgue No.5, Op.42 No.1
 

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Recorded 7-8 March 2023 at Christ Church in Andover, Massachusetts. A Candlewood Digital high resolution Natural Presence recording: Produced, engineered, edited and mastered by Richard Price.
 



MSR Classics