WASHINGTON — More than 2,000 people attended an April 26 organ
concert at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in
Washington to benefit restoration and rebuilding efforts of Notre Dame de
Paris, the famous French cathedral severely damaged in the April 15 fire.
The 90-minute concert was performed by Johann Vexo, a Notre Dame
organist who was playing at the time the devastating fire broke out at the
cathedral. Titled "Together with Notre Dame de Paris," the concert
was broadcast on the Eternal Word Television Network and streamed on the
internet.
"This concert brings us in solidarity with that great
church, which is a symbol or faith, a symbol of peace and a symbol of God's
presence among us," said Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl, apostolic administrator
of the Archdiocese of Washington, who noted "we all remember with horror
the sight of Notre Dame Cathedral in flames."
Vexo said the program for the concert was planned "in a way
that makes sense." The concert's first piece was Johann Sebastian Bach's
dramatic "Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir," ("Out of Deep
Anguish I Call to You"), a sweeping organ cantata meant to symbolize
distress and sorrow.
"This dramatic music demonstrates what we feel," Vexo
explained to reporters the day before the concert.
The concert also featured works by French composers Cesar Franck,
Jean L'Heritier and Louis Verne, who served as organist at Notre Dame in the
early 1900s. Also included was a piece by 15th century English composer John
Taverner and several antiphons performed by the basilica's choir.
The concert ended with "Resurrection" from
"Symphonie-Passion, Op. 23" by Marcel Dupre.
The concert "displays an artistic progression from grief to
prayer to hope," said Peter Latona, director of music at the basilica,
adding that it was "fitting we pay tribute to Notre Dame with music in a
sacred setting."
Among those attending the concert were Archbishop Christophe
Pierre, the papal nuncio to the United States; Ben Carson, the U.S. Secretary
of Housing and Urban Development; Callista Gingrich, the U.S. ambassador to the
Vatican, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich; and members of the
diplomatic corps.
Prior to the concert, Vexo recalled how he was playing the organ
for daily Mass at the Paris cathedral when fire alarms began sounding. "I
switched the organ off and went to the sacristy, the priest was still
there," Vexo recalled. "At first no one was worried. We thought it
was just a dysfunction or a mistake because the alarm stopped, but then it
started again."
Vexo escaped the cathedral and stood with others who had gathered
nearby to watch firefighters battle the blaze. As the church was burning, they
sang and prayed and watched as flames destroyed the church roof and caused its
iconic spire to crumble.
"I was totally devastated by this absolutely terrible
fire," Vexo said. "It was really something I couldn't imagine. I
spent hours and hours, days, nights there. Sometimes I spent more time at the
cathedral than I did in my own apartment."
"The people who work at the cathedral have a special
relationship with the place," he said. "It was like a second home to
me, and as a matter of fact, I have keys to the cathedral."
Eventually, more than 400 firefighters spent more than 15 hours
to put the fire out. Destroyed by the fire were the cathedral's main roof,
steeple, statues of saints, its choir loft, and nave. There was also extensive
smoke and water damage.
Firefighters were able to save the cathedral's famous 13th
century stained glass rose windows; relics believed to be Jesus' crown of
thorns, one of the nails from his crucifixion and a piece of wood from the
cross; other important artworks and treasures, and the cathedral's great organ.
Vexo said he was relieved when he discovered the cathedral's
famous organ survived the fire. The largest organ in France, it has 8,000 pipes
and five keyboards. It was built in the 15th century and restored in the 18th
century.
"This is a very important instrument historically, and it is
a great instrument with a lot of power," Vexo said. "Thankfully there
were no burns and no water damage, but it does have to be cleaned because there
is now a lot of dust inside."
He added that organ music "is an important part of worship.
I think you cannot have services without music — it is important to the liturgy,
to the clergy and to the people."
The organist also expressed his gratitude for the generosity of
so many around the world who want to donate to help rebuild and restore the
cathedral.
"The cathedral is very important to so many people — 40
million visit each year," he said. "I know that everyone was really
touched by this fire."
Earlier, Cardinal Wuerl had announced that the archdiocese had
donated $25,000 to support the rebuilding effort for the renowned cathedral.
In addition to organizing the concert, the basilica launched the
website — http://www.SupportNotreDame.org — a special online collection to
support Notre Dame's restoration.