Dr. Gail Archer
The Meditations on the Mystery of the Holy Trinity by Olivier Messiaen
Concert
January 11, 2026 | 3 pm
Abbey Church
Join us with renowned organist, Dr. Gail Archer, for an afternoon of Olivier Messiaen’s organ music. She will play the entirety of his Meditations on Mystery of the Holy Trinity.
Mystic in the Making: Exploring Messiaen’s Music
Lecture
January 16, 2026 | 6:30pm
Library Auditorium
Join us for an exciting and informative evening lecture with renowned organist and lecturer, Dr. Gail Archer, exploring the music of the French composer and organist, Olivier Messiaen. What makes his music so unique and valuable? How can we ascribe to him the title of “mystic”? Snacks and wine will be provided.
Admission is free thanks to the Mount Angel Institute. All are welcome.
About the artist & speaker
Gail Archer is an international concert organist, recording artist, choral conductor and lecturer who draws attention to composer anniversaries or musical themes with her annual recital series in New York City. These include a Bulgarian Celebration, a Slavic Celebration, Max Reger, The Muse’s Voice, An American Idyll, Liszt, Bach, Mendelssohn and Messiaen. Archer was the first American woman to play the complete works of Olivier Messiaen for the centennial of the composer’s birth in 2008: Time Out New York recognized the Messiaen cycle as “Best of 2008” in classical music and opera. In spring 2024, Archer received grants from the Harriman Institute, Columbia University and Vassar College to record a new CD of Bulgarian organ literature in the Concert Hall in Dobrich, Bulgaria; the CD, Dobrich A Bulgarian Odyssey was released on April 8, 2025. Her previous recordings include the 2022 Polish release, Cantius, and Chernivtsi, A Russian Journey, The Muse’s Voice, Franz Liszt: A Hungarian Rhapsody, Bach: The Transcendent Genius, an American Idyll, A Mystic in the Making (Meyer Media), and The Orpheus of Amsterdam: Sweelinck and his Pupils (CALA Records). Ms. Archer’s 2025 European tour took her to the Slovak Republic, Norway, Sweden, Poland, Germany, Italy and the island of Sardegna. Highlights include the Oliwa Cathedral, Gdansk, Poland, St. Martin’s Cathedral, Bratislava, the Slovak Republic, the Lambertus Basilica, Dusseldorf, Germany, Herforder Munster, Herford, Germany, the Basilica Concattedrale of San Maurizio, Imperia, Italy, and the Basilika Steinfeld, Steinfeld, Germany. The historic organ in the Steinfeld monastery church was built in 1727 by Balthasar Konig.
She is the founder of Musforum, www.musforum.org an international network for women organists to promote and affirm their work. Ms. Archer is college organist at Vassar College, director of the music program at Barnard College, Columbia University, where she conducts the Barnard-Columbia Chorus and Chamber Singers and a faculty member of the Harriman Institute, Columbia University. For the next two years, she will serve as the Co-Deputy Director of the East Central European Center in the Harriman Institute. She is artistic director of the artist and young artist organ recital series at historic Central Synagogue, New York City.