| I visited Jon Gillock in Boussy-St.Antoine, France, last August. He is one of the nephews of William Gillock, and he is a specialist in the organ music of Olivier Messiaen. At Jon's house, I met Bill's piano again after 12 years. That reminded me of Bill emotionally. In this piano there still remains my signature with the message: "Please continue to compose many beautiful pieces for us!" Reading this I felt very happy, but, on the other hand, I felt sad remembering Bill. It was a very complicated feeling. Jon showed me some of Bill's compositions in manuscript. They were 4 Lyric Preludes, which included the Prelude in G major, Prelude in G minor, Prelude in C major, and Prelude in E flat minor. They were not yet named then -- in 1957! And I noticed some notes were changed when they were published. I was very happy to see the changes and to know the original thoughts of Gillock. And some others -- Bill wrote "The Little Harpist" for his niece Carol. This piece is now called Aeolian Harp. The first piece which Bill wrote for Jon is "Drifting Cowboy ", and "Mirage" is also dedicated to him. Bill copied these pieces in manuscript especially for Jon in 1957. Later those pieces were also dedicated to others. Jon played the 4 Lyric Preludes. His performance was so warm and emotional that I was touched very much. Afterwards, I also played the piano but it sounded so poor that I got a big shock. I noticed that I have to study and I have to improve my sensitivity more. Bill told me that he did not have any of his drawings or paintings any more. But Jon has one! It is exactly the color of Bill. In far-away France I met the history and remembrance of William Gillock through Jon, who will visit Japan next May to give a concert of Olivier Messiaen's music for organ. This is the announcement: "Festival 2004" celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Japan Association of Organists Jon Gillock, Featured Artist Saturday, May 1, Rikkyou University, Ikebukuro Campus, 6:00 pm, Lecture : "Mysticism in French Organ Music" Monday, May 3, Shinjuku Bunka Center, Tokyo, 2:00pm, Concert: Olivier Messiaen's "Meditations sur le Mystere de la Sainte Trinite" |