Reinhard von Berg’s 2009 organ touring season began with two concerts in Saskatoon, April 17 and 18, hosted by the Saskatoon Composers’ Performance Society. At these concerts, he was assisted by Dr Walter Kreyszig, flute.

Then, the European portion of this series of concerts continued in Łódź, Poland on June 7, and in Jawor, Poland, on June 12. The concert in Łódź was held in St. Matthew’s Church, where for 10 years Reinhard’s mother sang in the Bach Choir. The Church of Peace in Jawor is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, and possibly the largest wooden church in the world. The organ in this church was restored in the late 1990s through the efforts of Siegfried von Richthofen, to whom Reinhard is distantly related.

Next stop was in Tallinn, Estonia, at the Swedish St. Mikael’s Church, June 18. Then two stops near Stockholm, Sweden: Täby June 25, and Vallentuna June 27. The German portion of the tour commenced on July 19 in Laupheim, southern Germany, subsequent concerts on August 11 and 13 in Fehmarn and Heiligenhafen on the Baltic coast in Germany, respectively, the final concert concert in Kassel, Germany on August 29, followed by a lecture on August 30, the latter about differences between the Germanic and the Anglo-Saxon liturgical traditions.

Chief focus in these recitals is presenting Reinhard’s compositions for pipe organ. In addition, organ works by other Canadian composers are included. The concerts in Jawor, Täby, Vallentuna, Laupheim, Fehmarn, and Heiligenhafen feature German flautist Veronica Kraneis, and the concert in Kassel is shared with German organist Gregor Simon.

A special thanks to the Canada Council For The Arts (International Touring Grant), the Alberta Foundation For The Arts (Cultural Relations Project Grant), and the Edmonton Arts Council (Travel Grant), whose generous support made the undertaking possible. Thanks also to the Saskatoon Composers’ Performance Society, Veronica Kraneis, Gregor Simon, Mikael Berg, and to all the presenters for helping to make this series happen.