Arts & Entertainment
First Baptist unveils new organ
Massive new instrument debuts at D.C. gay-friendly church
Lon Schreiber at the console of the new organ at First Baptist Church. (Blade photo by Joey DiGuglielmo)
It was a big day at First Baptist Church of Washington. The church — at 1328 16th Street, N.W. — welcomed its massive new Austin pipe organ today with a recital by Lawrence “Lon” Schreiber, the church’s organist and choirmaster and a legend in D.C. church music circles having served four decades at National City Christian Church in Thomas Circle.
The multi-million-dollar project — in the works for years — has been in partial use for the past several months. Schreiber has used it in worship services while installation, which started in January, continued. Those involved say it was a mad dash to have it ready for today’s program and though some tweaking is all but sure to continue, the heavy lifting is done. The church has wanted to install a decent instrument since it moved to its current location in the 1950s, but the Herculean amount of money needed for such a beast never materialized until now. Schreiber, having overseen a similar installation at National City decades ago, was the man of the hour today. In fine form, he delivered a roughly 90-minute program designed to show off many facets of the organ. Music nerds can check out details of the instrument here.
Lon Schreiber in recital today at First Baptist. (Blade photo by Joey DiGuglielmo)
So how was the sound? Organ enthusiasts are obviously salivating to compare it to the new (but smaller) Rubenstein Family Organ at the Kennedy Center and the other major instruments in the city such as the organs at National Cathedral and the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (both larger in rank, even though First Baptist now joins National City’s organ as the only five-manual organs in town).
It’s hard to say — having only heard the Kennedy Center organ in rehearsal, I’m not the best person to judge. I can say there was a staggeringly delicious array of sound color exhibited this afternoon, especially on the softer selections such as Seth Bingham’s “Twilight At Fiesole” and Maurice Durufle’s “Meditation,” which showcased the pedal organ’s soft 32-foot pipes.
Several of the gay organ queens — and they’re legion in these parts — said at a post-performance reception downstairs, there was a noticeable difference in tuning between the pipe ranks and the digital ones (about a third of the organ is digital). My ear isn’t savvy enough to have heard any clash, but it wasn’t just one person saying this. Keeping pipes in tune is a constant effort, so the powers that be will undoubtedly address this as the organ “settles.”
Schreiber showed his usual exquisite taste in the selections which ran the gamut from Bach to several selections from 20th Century composers. If there was any disappointment in the afternoon, it was only that there were too few moments to hear the instrument in all its “full organ” glory. Only the final selection — Cesar Frank’s “Choral in E Major” featured any lengthy fortissimo sections. A few others popped up once or twice, but were over before the sound could fully be savored.
Virtuosos Ken Cowan (Oct. 20) and Christopher Houlihan (Nov. 24) are likely to do more on that front. The organ will officially be dedicated at the church’s usual service on Nov. 3. Go here for details.
Couldn’t make it today? The church has CDs and DVDs of the performance available for nominal fees.
The set list was:
1. Fanfare and March (Archer)
2. Nef No. 1 (Mulet)
3. Liebster Jesu (Bach)
4. Let Heaven and Earth Rejoice (Bach)
5. Prelude and Fugue in B Minor (Bach)
6. Twilight at Fiesole (Bingham)
7. Meditation (Durufle)
8. Nimrod (Elgar)
9. A Solemn Melody (Davies)
10. Choral in E Major (Frank)
Friday, April 17
Center Aging Monthly Luncheon With Yoga will be at 12 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. Email Mac at [email protected] if you require ASL interpreter assistance, have any dietary restrictions, or questions about this event.
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Social in the City” at 7 p.m. at Hotel Zena. This is a chance to relax, make new friends, and enjoy happy hour specials at this classic retro venue. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Trans and Genderqueer Game Night will be at 7:00p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a relaxing, laid-back evening of games and fun. All are welcome and there’ll be card and board games on hand. Feel free to bring your own games to share. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Saturday, April 18
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
The DC Center for the LGBT Community will host “Sunday Supper on Saturday” at 2 p.m. It’s more than just an event; it’s an opportunity to step away from the busyness of life and invest in something meaningful, and enjoy delicious food, genuine laughter, and conversations that spark connection and inspiration. For more details, visit the Center’s website.
Sunday, April 19
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Lunch” at 11 a.m. at Federico Ristorante Italiano. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Monday, April 20
“Center Aging: Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more information, contact Adam ([email protected]).
Tuesday, April 21
Center Bi+ Roundtable will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is an opportunity for people to gather in order to discuss issues related to bisexuality or as Bi individuals in a private setting.Visit Facebook or Meetup for more information.
Senior Self Defense Class with Avi Rome will be at 12:30 p.m. This inclusive and beginner-friendly class, led by Instructor Avi Rome, offers a light warm-up, stretching, and instruction in basic techniques, patterns, and striking padded targets. Each session is designed to be adaptable for all ability and mobility levels, creating a welcoming space for everyone to build strength, confidence, and community through martial arts. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Wednesday, April 22
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.
Asexual and Aromantic Group will meet at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a space where people who are questioning this aspect of their identity or those who identify as asexual and/or aromantic can come together, share stories and experiences, and discuss various topics. For more details, email [email protected].
Thursday, April 23
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5:00 pm if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.
Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breath work and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Out & About
Team DC’s annual gala set for this weekend
LGBTQ sports organization to hold annual ‘Night of Champions’
Team DC will host “Night of Champions Gala” on Saturday, April 18 at 6 p.m. at the Georgetown Marriott.
This will be an evening of celebration and inspiration as Team DC honors remarkable individuals and supports the next generation of LGBTQ student-athletes.
There will be opportunities to support Team DC through auctions. The Silent Auction items will offer an array of unique goods and experiences. Additionally, Team DC will feature an exclusive selection of live auction items for those looking to make a significant impact.
This year, Team DC will recognize six outstanding awardees who have made significant contributions to the LGBTQ community and sports:
- Trailblazer Award – Adam Peck, District Wrestling
- Most Valuable Person Award – Sean Bartel (posthumously)
- Champion Award – Dan Martin
- Clark Ray Horizon Award – Manuel Montelongo, aka Mari Con Carne
- Bernard Jude Delia Award – Dr. Sara Varghai
- Platinum All Star Award – Centaur Motorcycle Club
To purchase tickets, visit Team DC’s website.
Television
‘The Pitt’ stars discuss what season two gets right about queer representation
Noah Wyle and Taylor Dearden spoke with Blade in LA
As season two of “The Pitt” comes to a close this Thursday, stars Noah Wyle and Taylor Dearden are looking back on what this season got right about queer representation.
“There is some intentionality behind it, but it’s not necessarily for the representation to be anything other than human or ubiquitous to anyone that would come into an emergency room,” Noah Wyle, who plays Dr. Robby, told the Los Angeles Blade at PaleyFest event in Los Angeles on April 12. “I know that we’ve done some storylines with some gay couples, and we did a storyline in season 1 where a woman comes in who’s cut her arm, who’s trans. But in both of those storylines, that wasn’t the point.”
Wyle continues, “In doing it that way, and not making a point of orientation being part of the problem that brings you to the emergency room, we have been told in feedback that that has been extremely revolutionary, almost, and extremely appreciated. But that’s true whether we do storylines with any kind of minority or a person with a disability. We try to have a cosmology of cast and representation on the show that’s indicative of what you find in Pittsburgh.”
Dearden, who plays Dr. Mel King, echoed Wyle’s sentiment: “I think constantly battling tropes is always important. It’s not a show about romance; it’s a show about real life and a shift in the ER. The more we represent everyday people going through everyday life, they just happen to be queer, they just happen to be trans, and making it not the plot, is putting everyone on equal playing [field]. You don’t have to have a big coming out scene.”
Queer representation on “The Pitt” is also notable through the actual actors themselves, including openly queer actor Supriya Ganesh, who plays Dr. Samira Mohan (who didn’t attend PaleyFest after the news that she is not returning for season three), and Amielynn Abellera, who plays Perlah Alawi.
“Doctors don’t put value judgments on who they treat,” Wyle concludes. “That’s not a luxury extended to them, and so that’s not part of our storytelling.”
The season two finale will air Thursday, April 16, on HBO Max, while season three has already been confirmed and is currently being written.
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