Spiritual Fantasy
Lucius Weathersby (organ), Wendy Hymes (flute)
Lucius R. Weathersby was born in Houston and raised in Louisiana. He is an assistant professor of music and chairperson of the music department at Dillard University in New Orleans where he teaches piano and lectures in music theory. He is the founder and co-director of the Dillard University String Ensemble. For more than five years , he was employed as full-time director of music in two churches where he founded and managed the First Congressional Concert Series in Waterloo, Iowa and the Second Sunday Concert Series at the Church of the Beatitudes in Phoenix, Arizona. He has given recitals in the United States and worldwide. The organ used for this recording was originally built and installed at Sherwell Chapel in Plymouth, Devon by Henry Willis in 1864. The sound of the instrument was influenced by the French organ builder Aristide Cavaille-Coll. The chapel was damaged by a bomb during the War. It was restored in 1951 and moved to Torrington where it was first used there during Easter services 1991.
Track Listing
| Title | Composer | Performer |
|---|---|---|
| Fanfare & Toccata | Wallace Cheatham | Lucius Weathersby, organ |
| Yoruba Lament | Fela Sowande | Lucius Weathersby, organ |
| Joie | Violet George Bowers | Lucius Weathersby, organ |
| Prelude & Fugato | Violet George Bowers | Lucius Weathersby, organ |
| Summerland from Three Visions | William Grant Still (arr. Weathersby) | Lucius Weathersby, organ; Wendy Hymes flute |
| Organ Suite | Kevin George | Lucius Weathersby, organ |
| Improvisation on the Helston Floral Dance | Traditional (arr. Weathersby) | Lucius Weathersby, organ |
| Were You There? | Traditional (arr. Uzee Brown Jr.) | Lucius Weathersby, organ |
| The Martyrs of Torrington | Lucius Weathersby | Lucius Weathersby, organ |
Reviews
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"It was on [harmoniums]... a tradition of organ music in African-American churches developed separately from the mainstream... I recommend this recording for those interested in this musical tradition and for those who didn't know it existed."
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