When Thomas Robertson Jr. chose to commission a musical work to honor Keith Shafer, the longtime music director at St. Paul’s Church, Robertson had no idea how touched Shafer would be by the gesture.
The gift itself was an honor, said Shafer, but what set it apart was the composer, Todd Wilson, who is also Shafer’s friend.
“He’s one of my favorite people, and he’s a brilliant composer,” said Shafer. “I think this is one of his best pieces.”
St. Paul’s choir will debut the piece, “Sun of My Soul” with a text by John Keble as part of its semi-annual Evensong at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at St. Paul’s Church, 605 Reynolds St. The group has been preparing since August.
Evensong is the “ancient Anglican office of vespers and is almost entirely sung by the choir in the same manner as daily Evensong in British cathedrals and many American churches,” according to a news release.
A reception will follow the service.
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Composer Wilson is “regarded across America and around the world as one of today’s finest concert organists,” according to a news release. He serves as the head of the organ department at The Cleveland Institute of Music.
As organists, Shafer and Wilson have found themselves together at numerous events over the years. It was serendipitous to Shafer that Wilson was tasked with the composition. Wilson took great care in writing it and gave a nod to one of Shafer’s favorite composers, Sir Charles Villiers Stanford, (1852-1924), Shafer said.
Shafer is excited for the premiere because he’s had the piece since March 2020 and not been able to work with the choir until recently because of the pandemic.
As soon as Robertson presented it to him, Shafer took it to the piano and played it.
The gift comes ahead of Shafer’s retirement which he plans for 2023.
“I don’t want to retire. I’ll be 70 in 2023,” he said. The year also marks his 40th anniversary at St. Paul’s.
He wants to give a younger person the opportunity to pursue music as he has, he said.
In addition to his work at St. Paul’s for nearly four decades, Shafer has completed residencies in several British cathedrals including Worcester, York Minister, St. Mary’s Cathedral (Edinburgh) and St. Paul’s Cathedral, London.
He served as the director of the annual Sewanee Church Music Conference at the University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn. He’s made several recordings and founded Tuesday’s Music Live, which is in its 33rd season. Twelve concerts are part of the series held at noon Tuesdays through March 2022.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
