DATE: Saturday, June 28, 1997               TAG: 9706270085

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E2   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LINDA McNATT, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   49 lines

ORGAN EXPERT TO SPEAK AND PERFORM IN SMITHFIELD

BARBARA OWEN, a leading national expert on organs, will present a talk Sundayon the organ at Historic St. Luke's Church in Smithfield.

The instrument in the sanctuary is believed to be even older than the church, which was built in 1632.

The 4 p.m. event, which includes a concert by Owen of English music from the first half of the 17th century, is co-sponsored by the Tidewater Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and the St. Luke's board of directors.

Donations will benefit the church's English chamber organ, which has attracted international attention.

Owen's lecture will focus on the organ's history, the musical and cultural background of early 17th century English chamber organs, and the role they played in domestic ensemble music.

The concert portion of her program will be played on the church's Walker organ.

Selections for organ and viols will be played by Virginia Beach musicians Diana Kemp, on baroque violin, and Debbie Ogan, on bass viola da gamba.

The little organ, with artwork depicting biblical scenes on its doors, was purchased in England and sent to America after St. Luke's was restored. The church is called America's oldest church of English foundation.

Little was known about the organ's history until Stephen Bicknell of J.W. Walker & Sons Ltd. of Brandon, Suffolk, England, visited the church in 1990.

Bicknell's theory then was that the organ, made of Flemish oak, was built by the Dallam family of organ builders in England.

Several months later, Owen began researching the organ's history. She found that the Tudor organ was originally purchased in 1630 by the LeStrange family of Hunstanton Hall in Norfolk, England. It likely was used by John Jenkins, one of the great 17th century English composers, when he lived with the family from 1644 to 1660.

Music by Jenkins will be performed Sunday.

Owen's research was confirmed recently when Jo Garner, a reporter with the Norfolk, England, newspaper King's Lynn Citizen, discovered a copy of a catalog from the LeStrange estate sale in 1949. The St. Luke's organ was pictured.

It was playable when it arrived in Smithfield in 1957. The bellows deteriorated over time, and it no longer plays. The artwork on the doors has been restored, but musical instrument experts worldwide are debating whether the organ should be restored to playing condition. MEMO: For more information about the organ or about the lecture and

concert contact Frances B. Olsen via e-mail at olsen(AT)infi.net

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu