Fine Arts Blitz

Thanks goodness we still have newspapers with Arts and Entertainment sections, or we would miss out on so many inspiring and moving performances and exhibits.  We were fortunate to read about the 326th birthday celebration of Bach, and bless Bruce, who quickly agreed to attend the performance at the Cathedral Bascilica of the Assumption in Covington, Kentucky.

I also wanted to catch the new exhibit at the Taft, "American Impressionists in the Garden", so we left late morning to have lunch at their lovely cafe, then toured the exhibit and the main gallery. For once I remembered to offer my cafe punch card (one free lunch with 10 punches), and remarked to Bruce that by the time I remembered to have my card completed, that the card would no longer be valid. Of course, that had happened, but the staff completed my card and told me that was now good for two family memberships. Wallah! A $120 value. I was delighted. The Taft was lovely as usual, and so inspiring. On to the Cathedral.

This unbelievable church is located in the 'bowl' of the old German community by the Ohio River. Heading North from the airport toward Cincinnati, the Cathedral is a few blocks off to the right as you approach the I-75 bridge. As the Catholic population grew after the Civil War, several diocese were combined and proceeded to erect this irreplaceable architectural triumph. Built at the turn of the century with private donations from the parish and a large donation from the Walsh distillery famly, the cathedral was modeled after the Notre Dame in Paris, with that imposing medieval French Gothic style, complete with flying buttresses, high pinnacles, and gargoyles. There are 82 stained-glass windows, and one of the largest in the United States, measuring 24' x 67'. Craftsmen and artisans from Germany and Italy contributed to the building, including local artist Frank Duveneck.

There are a number of nationally renown organs in the TriState area, and the cathedral happens to be home to two of them. The larger organ has 4,000 pipes in 65 ranks. The pipes and parts were rescued from many organs in now-demolished churches. The smaller Schwab organ was rescued from St. Joseph's by the 89-year old organist and music director, back in 1970.  Robert Schaeffer (in his musical role since 1949) and his son Greg have lovingly cared and resotred these organs, and launched their concert series to restore and maintain these rare treasures. Bryan Mock, organist at Christ Church in Glendale, presented the Sunday afternoon concert. To see photos of the cathedral, please explore the pages of the concert series:

http://cathedralconcertseries.org/timbrel_splash.html    

I didn't think we would be permitted to take photos inside the church, but we were, and I did. So lovely. We were only restricted from taking photos in the chapel. The local artist Frank Duveneck painted the lovely murals in there. What an artist! Please enjoy my photos of the cathedral:

The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption
Note the largest stained glass window in the United States

Interior view of the stained glass window



The Schwab Organ: hand carried piece by piece (rescued) by father and son to the Cathedral
from another church that was being demolished. The 92 YO father was in the audience yesterday,
and the son hosted the concert, which was held in the memory of their wife and mother, another talented musician.



Bryan Mock played this beautiful organ for our concert. Incredible music.