Elevazione (Memorial Performance)

"Elevazione" by Domenico Zipoli, Italian, about 1675, Organist Church of the Gesu, Rome.

Although the registration for the copy of this piece of music is for a three manual organ, I am just using two manuals to help match the setup I had available on an Allen electronic in the LDS chapel where the memorial service took place.

My dear sweet wife, Kay, passed away at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston on Tuesday, May 15th at 4:00 am as a result of a brain herniation caused by her third stroke in about an eight year period. Fortunately she died peacefully with her loved ones nearby, including myself and our two children, Erik and Elizabeth (Liz).

At the memorial service in her honor, Saturday, May 19th at 11:00 am, I played this piece. There was also a husband and wife team that played a piano and violin piece "Nearer, My God, to Thee" as part of the service.

I chose Hymn No. 115 from the English LDS Hymnal, "Come, Ye Disconsolate" (http://www.contrebombarde.com/concerthall/music/30506) as the opening hymn for the service because both Erik and Liz were at times inconsolable and this hymn brings understanding and peace.

Liz found in one of Kay's scrapbooks a reference to Hymn No. 166, "Abide with Me!" (http://www.contrebombarde.com/concerthall/music/30544) so this was used as the closing hymn for the service.

My favorite picture of Kay is attached. It's of her in the sparkly blouse I brought for her one Christmas as part of an outfit that would be suitable for use at formal events during cruises since that's something we enjoyed doing for many years.