March 2022 marks the 200th anniversary of the birthday of César Franck, a legendary French organist and composer. The Tacoma AGO celebrated this birthday with a March program featuring a recital of the music of César Franck played by members at the Spanaway Lutheran Church.
The 1905 Woodberry organ is in a case at the front of the room, with a traditional style key desk and a keyboard cover that can be lifted to form a music rack. There are two manuals, with a compass of 61 notes, three divisions, 22 stops, 18 registers, and 20 ranks. The pedalboard is flat, with a compass of 30 notes. The organ features slider chests, and mechanical key and stop action.
![Dean Sheila Bristow standing at front of church holding notes](https://tacomaago-5b15.kxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/x2022-03-21-Welcome-by-Dean-1024x771.jpg.pagespeed.ic.puDYuoY9ut.jpg)
After Tacoma AGO Dean Sheila Bristow welcomed the members, member Tim Drewes began the program with Chorale Number 2 in B minor, one of three organ chorales that Franck wrote at the end of his life.
Member Wyatt Smith continued the program, with Pastorale in E Major, Opus 19, following which he was joined by Dean Sheila Bristow at the Steinway piano for a duet performance of Prelude, Fugue and Variation in B Minor, Opus 18. Franck wrote two versions of this piece–one for organ alone, but the second to be played as a duet with a pianist.
The program concluded with Chorale Number 3 in A minor, played by Cheryl Drewes, who is the organist at Spanaway Lutheran Church.
![Cheryl Drewes standing in front of organ bench facing audience](https://tacomaago-5b15.kxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/x2022-03-21-Cheryl-771x1024.jpg.pagespeed.ic.H9XdNt2zii.jpg)
Following the program, members enjoyed a wine and cheese reception in the church narthex.
![People sitting in church pews](https://tacomaago-5b15.kxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/x2022-03-21-Audience-scaled.jpg.pagespeed.ic.Mq5czGjevB.jpg)
![Tim Drewes playing the organ while Cheryl Drewes stands to the side assisting with registration](https://tacomaago-5b15.kxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/x2022-03-21-Tim-Drewes-playing-scaled.jpg.pagespeed.ic.HGm0WZWIFf.jpg)
![Wyatt Smith sitting at organ](https://tacomaago-5b15.kxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/x2022-03-21-Wyatt-Smith-playing-scaled.jpg.pagespeed.ic.RKsksULFxR.jpg)
![Wyatt Smith sitting playing organ while Sheila Bristow is playing piano in a church](https://tacomaago-5b15.kxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/x2022-03-21-Wyatt-and-Sheila-playing-scaled.jpg.pagespeed.ic.5RNQ8KWiZ8.jpg)
![Wyatt Smith and Sheila Bristow standing in front of organ at front of church](https://tacomaago-5b15.kxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/x2022-03-21-Wyatt-and-Sheila-scaled.jpg.pagespeed.ic.BL4NIdmcON.jpg)
![Cheryl Drewes playing organ while Tim Drewes assists with registration](https://tacomaago-5b15.kxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/x2022-03-21-Cheryl-playing-scaled.jpg.pagespeed.ic.FS63gShM91.jpg)