Golgotha Shadows - 12 Tone Organ Solo by James Michael Stevens

Golgotha Shadows - 12 Tone Organ Solo (2023) by James Michael Stevens (b. 1961) ‎@JamesMichaelStevens
Available for purchase here: www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/...
This is a striking piece which I played during the Good Friday service at St. Andrew's on April 7, 2023. Written February 4, 2023, this is an original 12 tone organ composition in an aggressive and bold sound in the first half and a softer and more reflective style in the second half. Even though it's a bit obscure in nature, in the context, it was as someone put it to me, a perfect musical sermon summary of Good Friday! I played this immediately following the Scripture reading and meditation on Mark 15:32-38. The verses which are especially poignant and expressed so very well here, are 33, 34 and 37, which read as follows:
33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
James van den Brink
As an amateur organist, James wishes to share God's gift of music through these simple recordings of the "King of Instruments", the pipe organ, and its music. Beginning his organ studies at the young age of six with his sister Marguerite de Jonge, he further studied with Niagara organist, Lesley Kingham, MMus. James is currently the Music Director for St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada, has been a church organist for nearly 20 years, accompanied a community choir, Musica Sacra Chorus, for over a decade, and was a long standing member (tenor) of Niagara's premier chamber choir, the Avanti Chamber Singers. James also serves as Treasurer for the Niagara Centre of the Royal Canadian College of Organists (RCCO). Additionally, he has a professional career as an accountant (CPA, CMA).
Recording Location:
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church
323 Simcoe St
Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0
Canada
standrewsniagara.com/
The Organ: Keates-Geissler (2006)
GREAT
Prestant 8' 61 pipes
Hohlflöte 8' 61
Dulciana 8' 61
Octave 4' 61
Super Octave 2' 61
Mixture II-IV 1-1/3' 208
Trumpet 8' 61
Chimes
Great Super
SWELL
Salicional 8' 61 pipes
Voix Celeste 8' 49
Gedeckt 8' 61
Spitzprincipal 4' 61
Koppelflöte 4' 61
Doublette 2' 61
Sesquialter II 2-2/3' 122
Scharf III 1' 183
Hautbois 8' 61
Swell Super
Swell Sub
Tremulant
PEDAL
Bourdon 16' 32 pipes
Gedeckt 16' Double Valve (1-12)
Octavebass 8' 12
Bassflöte 8' 12
Choralbass 4' 32
Rauschpfeife II 2-2/3' 64
Contra Hautbois 16' 12 (half-length)
Oboe 8' (Swell)
Great to Pedal 8' Reversible (thumb, toe)
Great to Pedal 4'
Swell to Pedal 8' Reversible
Swell to Pedal 4'
Swell to Great 16'
Swell to Great 8' Reversible
Swell to Great 4'
OTHER DETAILS
Divisional thumb pistons: Swell, Great, Pedal (6 each)
General toe pistons (6)
Full Organ toe piston
Balanced expression and crescendo shoes
Indicator Light
3/4HP blower
Colonial casework
Pitman chest with universal wells
Electronic switching
Electronic multi memory (8 levels) combination action
2 - 61 note manuals in French Terraced drawknob console with roll top
32 note concaved radiating steel framed pedalboard
Adjustable and lit music rack
27 ranks
24 stops
25 note chimes with electric action
Recording Equipment:
Samsung S22+

[@JamesMichaelStevens]

Thanks, James, for the honor of your fine performance!

[@jv04jm]

You're most welcome! Thank you for composing this most compelling piece! 👌

[@james.flores]

Great to hear you played this one too! It's very dark and eerie.

[@jv04jm]

That it is... but so good!