The Art of the Organ : From French Romanticism to Caribbean Voices

From the grandeur of French Romanticism to the rediscovery of a Caribbean musical voice, organist Maria Gajraj invites audiences to explore the unexpected possibilities of the organ in The Art of the Organ : From French Romanticism to Caribbean Voices, on Friday, November 20, 2026, at 7.30 pm at St James’ Anglican Church in Vancouver.

The programme traverses dramatic virtuosity, atmospheric soundscapes, and richly contrasting musical worlds. Franz Liszt’s St Francis of Paola Walking on the Waves evokes the power and motion of the sea, while Claude Debussy’s La cathédrale engloutie conjures the mysterious image of a cathedral submerged beneath the waves. Works by French Romantic composer Louis Vierne, contemporary composer Olivia Belli, and German composer Hugo Distler further reveal the organ’s remarkable range of colours, textures, and expressive possibilities.

At the heart of the programme is the Vancouver première of Pastorale by Edward Margetson (1891–1962), a Caribbean organist and composer whose music and writings championed racial equality. Margetson’s work forms part of Maria’s doctoral research at McGill University, completed in 2026. Bringing his music to Vancouver audiences, she connects performance with historical discovery, offering listeners an opportunity to encounter a composer whose contributions remain little known.

Named one of CBC’s '30 Hot Classical Musicians Under 30' in 2026, Maria won First Prize in the 2025 Royal Canadian College of Organists Canadian National Organ Competition. Her work as a performer and researcher brings together musical interpretation and a commitment to expanding the stories told through the organ repertoire.

The Art of the Organ : From French Romanticism to Caribbean Voices invites audiences to hear the organ beyond its familiar associations with ceremony and tradition : as an instrument capable of evoking vast landscapes, intimate atmospheres, and histories waiting to be heard.

Programme

Franz Liszt : Legend No 2 : St Francis of Paola Walking on the Waves

Claude Debussy : La cathédrale engloutie

Louis Vierne : Chorale & Scherzo (from Organ Symphony No 2, Op 20 )

Olivia Belli : Limini Luminis

Edward Margetson : Pastorale ( Vancouver première )

Hugo Distler : Parita : Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland