All Cyclones are invited to see a rare recital opportunity when the ISU Chamber Singers perform chorale settings with featured organist Carl Staplin on Sept. 27th at 7:30 p.m. in the Music Hall, Recital Hall.

Staplin is the Head of the Keyboard Area at Drake University and the Minister of Music at the First Christian Church in Des Moines. He will be performing Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Clavierubung, Part III” on ISU’s beautiful Brombaugh organ.

He has presented more than 150 recitals and workshops in the U.S. and five European countries, not to mention national and regional conventions. He said he is familiar with this particular piece by Bach because he has performed it many times as well as recording it onto CD on the Calante label.

“There are a total of 12 compositions, 10 are based on the melodies from the German church of Bach’s time,” Staplin said.

He said that the ISU Singers, under direction of Jeffrey Prater, will not be performing with him but rather before each piece to introduce the music.

This organ mass is considered to be one of the greatest pieces of music, as well as a huge contribution to church music. Staplin said he agrees.

“There is a great spirituality of the music,” he said. “It was written during the later part of Bach’s life, so it is a mature style of his writings.”

The recital is in honor of the ninth Organist of Iowa Series. The program is free and the public is invited to attend.