Ring Out, Wild Bells: October 4, 2020
20th Anniversary Look Back: When the Instruments Stole the Show
Typically, it’s the performers who take center stage, but in the 20-year history of the Concert Series, there have been occasions when instruments—and even the church’s bell tower—have taken the spotlight. From the parish’s magnificent organ to donated pianos, to the bells pealing in the bell tower, these sound makers have each enjoyed their proverbial 15 (or, more accurately, 90) minutes of fame. Here’s a look at a memorable moment.
The opening concert of the 2020-21 season, Bells Are Ringing, celebrated the church’s new bell tower while expressing gratitude to supporters of the St. Louis Bell Tower campaign. It also marked another milestone moment, as Colleen Daly Eberhardt appeared in her first concert as the Concert Series artistic director, sharing the stage with composer and pianist Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal.
The program was organized around life stages and occasions marked by the ringing of bells, moving from solemn ceremonies to joyous celebrations. Sacred hymns, musical theater selections, and other works illustrated how bell imagery and bell‑inspired sounds resonate across musical traditions. Ruiz‑Bernal contributed several original compositions to the program, notably “The Bells,” set to Edgar Allen Poe’s poem, and “Ring Out, Wild Bells,” based on Alfred Lord Tennyson’s text. “Ring Out, Wild Bells,” in fact, premiered at this concert, weaving together bell ringing, vocals, and piano performance—a nuanced and complex choreography of timing, sounds, and performers. It was an evening shaped by new beginnings—a bell tower, debut of Colleen as artistic director, and the opening of a new season—with bells ringing out in celebration.
Join us for our 20th Anniversary Celebration on May 17 at 4pm!