A Concert Celebrating the Legacy of Robert Clark Mark Overton, Michael Mazzatenta, Curt Sather, (lrgani~ts Organ Hall I Sunday, October 21st, 2018 I 2:30 p.m. Toccata in F Major, BuxWV 156 Dieterich Buxtehude.(1{)37-1707) Johann Seb~stian B.ach Ci~85-r75tj);' An Wasserflussen Babylon, BWV 653 ," ~,;\ ' Prelude and Fugue on "O Traurigkeit, 0 Herzeleid," Wo07 , . Johannes l3r~hms (18§3~i897) -·~;fl~/? < Mark Overton, Organist Excerpts from Gospel Preludes Blessed Assurance Sweet Hour of Prayer Shall We Gather at the River .Just As I Am William Bolcom (b. 1938) Michael Mazzatenta, Organist J. S. Bach "Wenn wir in hochsten Noten sein," BWV 641 Prelude in E Minor, BWV 548i ' Andante from Sonata 4, BWV 528 Fugue in E Minor, BWV 548ii (Wedge) Curt Sather; Organist This concert is generously co-sponsored by the Central Arizona Chapter of the American Guild of Organists ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY School of Music Robert Clark (1931 - 2017) Robert Clark was Professor of Organ at ASU from 1981 to 1998 and widely known as a recitalist and teacher. He studied organ at Central Methodist College in Fayette, Missouri. He completed his graduate studies in New York City at Union Theological Seminary's School of Sacred Music. In his early career Clark held positions at Baker University (Baldwin City, Kansas), Christ United Presbyterian Church (Canton, Ohio), and Cornell College (Mount Vernon, Iowa). From 1964-1981, he was Professor of Organ at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He spent the final 17 years of his teaching career at Arizona State University, where he played a decisive role in expanding the organ program at ASU's School · of Music. He taught many outstanding students throughout his career, including winners of the Fort Wayne, Flint, St Alban's and American Guild of Organists competitions. A cmwning achievement was the. dedication of the Fritts & Co. organ in 1992 at the School of Music's Organ Hall, which was specifically designed to house the historically-inspired instrument. He recorded two CDs on the Fritts organ and five others over the course of his career, among them "Bach at Naumburg," a recording on the fully restored 1743 Hildebrandt organ at the Wenzelskirche in Naumburg, Germany. This was the first recorPi.ng made by an American organist on the instrument after its historic r~~oration. He, along with former student John David Peterson, edited the Concordia edition of the Bach Orgelbiichlein. The Performers A Michigan native and resident of Minnesota for many years, Mark Overman received a BM from Oberlin Conservatory of Music as a student of Garth Peacock and earned MM ~d DMA degrees at the University of Michigan studying with' Robert Clark. While working for the business world, he kept in contact with organ through practice and subbing at assorted churches, most notably the instruments at House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St. Paul, MN, which houses Charles Fisk's landmark opus 78. Dr. Overman assisted with the.technical preparation of:the text.authoretl by Robert Clark and John Peterson for their edition of Bach's Orgelbiichlein. He accompanied other former students to assist Bob on his recording of the historic Hildebrandt i~trµme:et in l'fflumburg Germany, which afforded the opportunity to hear and play other.historic organs in the atea. Michael Mazzatenta and Joan Zimmerman are husband-and-wife organists who originally met as organ students of Robert Clark at ASU. Mazzatenta's doctoral dissertation topic was on the Gospel Preludes for organ by William Bolcom. The connection to Bolcom traces back to the University of Michigan, where both Bolcom and Clark taught. Dr. Mazzatenta obtained his previous degrees at the U of M, subsequent to Clark's leaving for teaching at ASU. But he ultimately followed in Clark's footsteps to ASU to complete his doctoral degree. · Michael and Joan currently reside in Corpus Christi TX where Michael teaches at Texas A & M University and is organist at First United Methodist Church. Joan is a realtor working in real estate investments and sales in the states of Texas artd Arizona. Curt Sather received a BM in Organ Performance from ASU studying with Robert Clark. MM and DMA degrees were earned from the Eastman School of Music studying with Russell Saunders. After a 13-year tenure as Organist & Choirmaster at St. Barnabas on the Desert Episcopal Church, Scottsdale, AZ., he joined the historic Benedictine monastery of San Miniato al Monte, Florence, Italy, where he served as organist foi: the community, as well·as for the Du,omo (Cathedral) and St. Mark's Anglican Church. Upon returning to the USA, Dr. Sather servefas·1organist in churches in Phoenix, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, and, most recently, Olympia, WA. In addition to church work, he has had a regular schedule of teaching, performing, organ building (with Manuel Rosales of Los Angeles), and serving on boards of AGO chapters. This summer he released a new CD, recorded on the pipe organ at St. Martin's Benedictine Abbey Church, Lacey, WA. He currently resides in New York, and studying Arabic fills any free time.