Albert Schweitzer Portrait in Chicago

In 1949, Dr. Albert Schweitzer traveled to Chicago to receive an Honorary Doctorate degree from the University of Chicago. On that day, Rockefeller Chapel was filled to its capacity of 2400. Another 2600 spilled out of the chapel onto the lawn to hear Dr. Schweitzer's words.

ALBERT SCHWEITZER
An interpreter who has revived for his own generation the vision of greatness: as scholar, interpreting the works of Jesus; as musician, interpreting the works of Bach; as humanist, interpreting the writings of Goethe; as historian, presenting in philosophic terms the meaning of history; and as Christian medical missionary, rendering distinguished service to Equatorial Africa.
--Original language conferring the honorary degree from the University of Chicago to Albert Schweitzer, July 11, 1949.

As part of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of Schweitzer's visit to America, on June 6, 2009, the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship presented "The Albert Schweitzer Legacy: A Gala Concert and Forum." The concert included works of Bach, Sandstrom and the World Premiere of Albert Schweitzer Portrait in its organ version, performed by Thomas Weisflog on Rockefeller Chapel's newly renovated Skinner organ. The text was read by Elizabeth Davenport, Dean of the Chapel.

The two versions, one for full orchestra, and the other for organ, are very different yet equally compelling. The hope is that each version will find its own venues for performance.

For all of the colors achievable by such a remarkable instrument, the organ version cannot capture the timbres of a full orchestra. Thus after the organ premiere, Jonathan McPhee, Thomas Weisflog and I met with Gary Fry, who had so brilliantly orchestrated both versions. Gary has now created a 3rd version, which adds a string quartet to augment the sounds of the organ and lighten the challenging score for the organist.