The Saint Leo Abbey 2014 Christmas concert with the Benedictine monks and organist Peter Kinzie is Saturday, December 20 at 7:00 PM in the Benedictine abbey’s historic Romanesque church.
Longtime abbey friend, Peter Kinzie will perform. The abbey's organ is the Baldwin Symphonic Organ and from it Brother Prior Stanislaw provides all the beautiful liturgical music we hear throughout the year. Saint Leo Abbey is known for its beautiful music.
The Sound of Light. For the past few years, Peter Kinzie has been an honored abbey guest and is invited to give a Christmas organ concert. Each year we have attended this concert, we were wrapped in the quiet abbey church, the Benedictine monastic images, and grand organ sounds. This is what I hold as I leave Advent and enter the Christmas season.
Peter's Gift to the Abbey. Peter Kinzie has played on organs around the world, but when he plays on the abbey's Baldwin Symphonic Organ it must feel a little special and personal because he donated this grand organ to the Benedictine abbey.
It's Beautiful. The abbey’s Baldwin has Five Keyboards, 32 Foot Pedals, 85 Digital Ranks, 18 Audio Channels, 38 Speakers, and Orchestral Voices. Peter said he is getting ready for the event on Saturday with some additions and changes to the organ.
Around the World. Peter Kinzie has been able to play and tour the "inside" story of the great organs throughout the world. This list includes the 30,000 pipes of the Wanamaker organ in Philadelphia, the great instrument at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in New York City, and the oldest Mighty Wurlitzer in its original location, the one used during the silent movie era in the Chicago Theatre in Illinois.
In Europe, Peter Kinzie had the privilege to play a small organ previously played by Mozart, an organ once heard by Martin Luther, and cathedral organs in both Frankfurt and Cologne. One of Peter's greatest experiences was playing the great organ in the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City.
Peter also plays a number of concerts throughout the Southeast every year.
A Remarkable Life. Not only has Peter shown great generosity to Saint Leo Abbey, he also has a remarkable life story.
Born in Germany at the end of World War II, Peter was evacuated to West Germany and lived in an orphanage near Dachau. He vividly remembers watching the Berlin Airlift as small packages dropped from the sky -- like Manna from Heaven -- Hershey chocolate. In 1956 Peter was adopted by an American family, moved to Florida and became a naturalized U.S. citizen.
Living with his newly adopted family, Dr. & Mrs. Kinzie of Lake Wales, communication was a problem for a while as Peter knew no English and the family spoke very little German. Therefore, most discoveries were made by touch. In his new home, Peter happened upon this strange "beast" with "black and white teeth.” Climbing onto the bench of an upright piano, thus began a musical adventure we can experience in concert, the result of his love of music and Saint Leo Abbey.
Peter Kinzie is also active with not only performances on the "king of instruments" but is the proprietor of Church Organ Concepts, which represents Viscount International, builder of the Abbey organ. Baldwin, contracted Viscount to provide digital instruments to include the Abbey Symphonic Organ. Peter is the Florida dealer for Viscount's new instruments powered by Physis® Physical Modeling Platform. In addition, through Church Organ Concepts, Peter represents a fine pipe organ firm — R.A. Colby.
And Peter Kinzie performs a beautiful Christmas concert in the Benedictine Abbey Church, Saint Leo Abbey.
Hope you can come, listen to the Christmas concert and meet Peter. You will enjoy the evening.
This year has not been as cold as the past, but it can be a little cool in the Abbey Church so it might be wise to bring a jacket just in case.
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The concert is free and open to everyone. Bring a friend.
Click pictures to enlarge them.
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