Adam Cobb, organist, will perform Olivier Messiaen's La Nativité du Seigneur.
Olivier Messiaen (1908-92) was a French composer and organist. He studied at the Paris Conservatory starting at age 11. He studied organ with Marcel Dupré and Charles-Marie Widor. In 1931, Messiaen was appointed as organist at Église de la Sainte-Trinité, a position he held for 60 years.
La Nativité du Seigneur was composed in 1935 and premiered in 1936 at La Trinité in Paris by organists Daniel-Lesur, Jean Langlais, and Jean-Jacques Grunenwald. The cycle consists of nine meditations based on visions and imagery of the birth of Jesus Christ. Though La Nativité is an early work, it establishes his compositional style that is prominent in his later works, mainly his use of modes of limited transposition, bird songs, and non-retrogradable rhythms. These rhythms are also known as palindromic rhythms, which means the rhythm can be played the same backwards and forwards. This work, as for most of his other works for solo organ, is meant to serve as a musical expression of his Catholic faith.
Biography
Adam Cobb, organist and composer, is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Organ Performance at Florida State University, where he studies with Dr. Iain Quinn. Originally from Madison, Alabama, he received his master’s degree in Organ Performance from Florida State University and a bachelor’s degree in Music Composition from Samford University. He currently serves as the Director of Music/Organist at Episcopal Church of the Advent in Tallahassee, Florida. Mr. Cobb was an E. Power Biggs Scholar for the 2019 Organ Historical Society National Convention in Dallas, Texas. He also was an organ scholar for the 2019 RSCM Pacific Northwest Summer Course. Mr. Cobb is becoming increasingly active as a concert organist, having performed in venues across the U.S. and abroad, with forthcoming concerts at Christ Church Cathedral in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the Cathedral of St. Luke in Orlando, Florida.
In December and January, Mr. Cobb will perform Olivier Messiaen’s La Nativite du Signeur on tour in cities around the southeast, with performances in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana.
As a composer, Adam Cobb has had several pieces premiered in academic and church settings. Most recently, his setting of the Nunc Dimittis was performed by the Florida State University Choral Union on their Spring concert. His song cycle Journey of Hope (for soprano and piano) was commissioned Dr. Christina Villaverde.