Robert E. Unger, organist

LUNCHTIME ORGAN RECITAL SERIES

Faith Lutheran Church, Appleton, WI

3 June 2008 at 12:15 p.m.

 

Prelude and Fugue in e minor “Cathedral” (BWV 533)                           Johann S. Bach (1685-1750)

 

Partita on Septem Verba                                                                          Robert E. Unger

 

                        Chorale

            I.          Life Blood

            II.         Sighs

III.                Love

IV.               Separation

Chorale

V.                 Suffering

VI.               Peace

VII.             Yielding the Soul

Toccata

 

Wie Will Ich Mich Freuen  “My Spirit Be Joyful” from the Easter Cantata No. 146

 Johann S. Bach (1685-1750)

 Kristin Masarik, trumpet

 

Walking in the Air from The Snowman                                                    Howard Blake (b. 1958)

                                                                                                                        Arr. Robert Gower

 

Battle Hymn of the Republic                                                                    Don Hustad

 

Holy God, We Praise Thy Name  “Grosser Gott, wir loben Dich”        Flor Peeters

            from 30 Choral Vorspiele fur Orgel Opus 70

 

 

 

 

Mr. Robert Unger, is the Director of Worship and Music at Faith Lutheran Church, Appleton, Wisconsin.  Mr. Unger holds an Associate of Arts degree from Concordia College, Ann Arbor, Michigan; a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education and Music, and a Master of Church Music degree from Concordia University, Chicago, Illinois, where he studied composition with Richard Hillert and Carl Schalk.  He has studied organ design with Paul Bunjes; and organ performance with Steven Wente, Carl Walshmidt, Thomas Geischen and Herbert Garske.

At Faith Lutheran Church, Mr. Unger is principal organist; and directs a musical program consisting of seven vocal choirs; four hand bell choirs; an orchestra and numerous vocal and instrumental ensembles.

Bob Unger and his family will be moving to Cary, North Carolina; where he will be the Director of Music Ministries at Resurrection Lutheran Church and School; and administrator of the Resurrection School of Music.

Mr. Unger has also served as Conductor of the Concert Choir and Junior Choir of the Appleton Boychoir; Co-founder and conductor of the Badger State Girl Choir, Prima Choir; and Voice Specialist in the Appleton Area public high schools, where he assisted in the Appleton East, North and West High School choral programs as a vocal instructor.  He is a frequent clinician in the areas of worship, education and music.

Robert is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, the American Guild of Organists, the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers and the Lutheran Education Association.

Bob and his wife MaryAnn, who is a teacher - most recently at Celebration Lutheran School, have eleven children, of which four are alumni of the Appleton Boychoir, and two sons-in-law.

 

Faith Lutheran Church was founded in 1949 as the first Missouri-Synod congregation in Appleton.  The present sanctuary, built in 1966, had a 10-rank Moeller “Artiste” organ. Op. 10245.  By the 1980’s the growing music program needed a larger instrument, and, with the consultation of Miriam Duncan, Thomas Froehlich and John Ferguson; this 3 manual, 29 stop, 39 rank mechanical (“tracker”) - action instrument by Robert Sipe of Dallas, Texas; was dedicated June 9, 1991.  The top manual (electro-pneumatic action) controls the Solo Division which consists of the thrilling Trompette en Chamade (the horizontal pipes) at 16’ and 8’ pitch.  Filling out the pedal division are two stops at the 32’ pitch which are digitally produced – that is, the sound is generated through speakers.