UPCOMING EVENTS SUNDAY,APRIL 15 4PM ANNUAL MEMBERS RECITAL DEERFIELD PRESBYTERIAN sforzando V O L U M E 7, I S S U E 8 A P R I L 2 0 18 Southwest Jersey Chapter American Guild of Organists INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Sub-Dean s Report 2 Matters of Note 2 Gallery: 3 March 4 Service Photo by Joe Routon of the Princeton University Chapel. The Mander-Skinner organ has four manuals, 137 ranks, Programs At a Glance 4 Members Recital Program 7 POE News 9 and 7,897 pipes. The university organist is Eric Plutz, who will be one of the performers for our 2019 MidAtlantic AGO Regional Convention. Dean s Message -- by Vernon Williams Happy Easter to all! Our Easter services are a milestone in our church year, both liturgically and musically, and in that they mark the remaining weeks in our music season a time for joyful music and the recognition of the good work our choirs and other musicians have done since the fall. We begin to look forward to the summer months as a time of renewal and regrouping for the new beginnings in the fall. Also during this post-easter period, we have some excellent AGO programs to round out a very good year. On April 15, the Members Recital at Deerfield Presbyterian Church will feature a variety of repertoire played by seven of our colleagues. I hope you will attend, both to support your friends and to hear fine organ music on the lovely AeolianSkinner organ. Then, on May 19, we visit 2018 by SW Jersey AGO.continued on page 13
P A G E 2 Sub-Dean s Report -- by David Rhody Many (attending the March 4 Service of Remembrance)...wanted appreciation expressed to Larry and all involved in planning and performing. Congratulations and thanks to Larry DePasquale and chapter participants for a moving Service of Remembrance last month at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Moorestown, dedicated to the memory of all our beloved former members and especially Helen Taylor and Rev. Bert Carlson. The liturgy and music, including Bert s compositions and Helen s favorite Sanctus from the Berlioz Requiem, sung by her son David, were inspiring. Many have commented about the meaning of the Service to them and wanted appreciation expressed to Larry and all involved in planning and performing. Our Annual Chapter Members Recital will take place on Sunday, April 15 at 4 pm at Deerfield Presbyterian Church, hosted by Evelyn Larter. Performing on the church s lovely 16-rank Aeolian Skinner organ will be Glenn Rodgers, Vicki Nichols, Joanne Owen, Vernon Williams, Chris Daly, Mary Johnson and Evelyn see the program elsewhere in this newslet- Matters of Note ter. (Editor s note: see page 7) The church will provide a reception following the recital, and members are encouraged to bring friends. The church, built in 1771, is located at 530 Old Deerfield Pike, Bridgeton, NJ 08302. We are planning a visit to see and hear the new Fisk organ at Christ Church in Old City, Philadelphia, plus lunch and then St. Peter s at Third and Pine Streets, on Saturday May 19 mark your calendars now! Easter blessings to all! Free to a Good Home: Gulbransen President model home organ, 2 manuals, 25 pedals. Dimensions: - 52-inch wide - 29-inch depth - 41-inch tall. Must be able to move it to your location. If interested, contact Randi at randi.davis07@comcast.net. S F O R Z A N D O Cares and Concerns: A sympathy card was sent to Evelyn Larter whose mother recently passed away. A get well card was sent to Bill Mitchell who was recently hospitalized for a tear of his esophagus. Bill was discharged and recovering at home. He was well enough last Sunday to play for a service - Cathy Wednesday, April 4 at 7pm: Dr. Christopher Daly in recital at the Church of Saint Thomas of Villanova, on the Campus of Villanova University. Music of David Johnson, Pierre Du Mage, Jean-Francois Dandrieu, Dietrich Buxtehude, Johann Sebastian Bach, Robert Schumann, Cesar Franck, and Charles-Marie Widor will be performed on the superb Patrick J. Murphy organ. There is no admission charge, and every one will be most welcome. (see poster, page 8) Thursday, April 5 at noon: Organ masterclass at Curtis with Monica Czausz, who is performing at the convention. Audience wanted! Sunday, April 15 at 3 pm: Carol Williams, the distinguished British-born organist who achieved rock star status as San Diego Civic Organist and whose performance of Rimsky-Korsakov s Flight of the Bumblebee on the organ s pedals has become a cult favorite, will present a Tiffany Series concert at Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1320 Park Avenue, in the Bolton Hill section of Baltimore. This concert is co-sponsored by the Baltimore chapter of the AGO. A reception will follow the event. Live-feed video projection on the big screen will enable audience members to see Dr. Williams control the four manuals and the organ s pedals as she plays the church s renowned 1931 Skinner organ. (see poster, page 10) Sunday, May 6, at 4 pm: Wilmington Handbell Ensemble, Kerry Dietz, Director, performs Theme Songs to Ring By at Trinity United Methodist Church, 75 South Broadway, Pennsville NJ 08070. Sponsored by Music Around the County/Salem County Arts Alliance. Admission is free. Ample parking available. For further information contact Joanne Owen, 856-769-3212. Saturday, May 12 from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm: The Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble is presenting a workshop for the individual ringer "Spring PHE-ver for Handbells 2018." Location is First Baptist Church of Haddonfield at 124 Kings Highway East, Haddonfield, NJ 08033. Cost is $10 per ringer. Registration and information will be available on the website www.phillybells.org. For more information, contact the church at 856-429-2326 or Bob Gardner at robertwgardner@verizon.net..continued on page 4
V O L U M E 7, I S S U E 8 P A G E 3 Gallery: March Service of Remembrance
P A G E 4 Programs at a Glance (See Sub-Dean s Report on page 2 for details) Sunday, April 15 at 4PM: Annual Members Recital at Deerfield Presbyterian Church. Evelyn Larter, host Saturday, May 19, 2018 10AM: Old City Philadelphia Organ Crawl: Christ Church, lunch and historic St. Peters Annual Meeting and Picnic: July 2018 (date & time TBA) at the home of Bill Mitchell Matters of Note...continued from page 2 Saturday, May 12 at 7 pm: The First Baptist Church of Haddonfield is hosting the Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble in concert. The concert program "War and "Peace" will present music for handbells representing human conflict and meditations on peace. The concert includes works written in memory of innocent victims of violence. Cost: free will offering with suggestion donation of $10. For more information, contact the church at 856-429-2326 or Bob Gardner at robertwgardner@verizon.net or visit the PHE website at www.phillybells.org. Every Wednesday at 10 am, Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ. The curator s tour will be conducted with a concert following. Check Boardwalkorgans.org for details. These events are free. ( see Convention Corner, page 5) S F O R Z A N D O
V O L U M E 7, I S S U E 8 P A G E 5 Convention Corner -- by Scott Banks, Membership and Events Coordinator, Historical Organ Restoration Committee, Inc. The Historic Organ Restoration Committee Inc. and Historic Boardwalk Hall are looking forward to hosting the 2019 Regional Convention of the AGO! As the non-profit tasked with restoring both the world s largest pipe organ - the gargantuan 33,112 pipe Midmer-Losh in East Hall - the 4,100 pipe W.W. Kimball in the Adrian Phillips Theater, we frequently welcome visitors to the area and the magnificent treasures hidden behind our historic walls. We eagerly await your arrival next year to take in the sounds of both of these musical masterpieces. Your day will include concerts on both instruments by world-class artists showing off not only the power of the highest wind pressures ever attempted in organ building but also the artistic refinement of these instruments designed by Atlantic City native and State Senator Emerson L. Richards. He created two organs that could meet whatever challenges were put to them musically and was forward thinking enough to create tonalities that could truly produce any conceivable music that could be desired for their settings. Tours will be available during the day that will take you into the Left and Right Stage Chambers of the Midmer-Losh to see some of the groundbreaking techniques used in creating this instrument. The day will conclude with a dinner on the floor of the arena followed by one final concert before concluding your day in The World s Famous Playground. If you wish to experience some of these sights and sounds before the 2019 convention, tours and concerts are available year round. Visit our website at www.boardwalkorgans.org or call 609-402- 9584 for more details.
P A G E 6 Deerfield Recital Series Presents The Annual Members Recital SouthWest Jersey Chapter American Guild of Organists Sunday, April 15 th, 4:00 PM For more information and directions, (856) 455-1222 ~ www.deerfieldpres.org Freewill offering ~ Meet-the-Artists Reception Deerfield Presbyterian Church 530 Old Deerfield Pike, Deerfield Street, New Jersey S F O R Z A N D O
V O L U M E 7, I S S U E 8 P A G E 7 SOUTHWEST JERSEY CHAPTER AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS Annual Members Recital Sunday, April 15, 2018, at 4:00 pm Deerfield Presbyterian Church Aria Larry Wheelock (b. 1951) Ciacona in E minor (BuxWV 160) Dietrich Buxtehude (c.1637-1707) Glenn L. Rodgers AAGO Recit Pierre Du Mage (1674-1751) In Dich hab Ich gehoffet, Herr (BWV 640) J. S. Bach (1685-1750) Dies Sind die Heil gen zehn Gebot (BWV 635) Christopher Daly Communion (from Triptyque Op. 58 no. 2) Louis Vierne (1870-1937) Flute Solo (revised by H. William Hawke) Thomas A. Arne (1710-1778) Joanne K. Owen Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen Helmut Walcha (1907-1991) Jesus, Priceless Treasure Michael Burkhardt (b. 1957) What God Ordains is Always Good Paul Manz (1919-2009) Jesus Christ is Risen Today Robert A. Hobby (b. 1962) Mary E. Johnson Intermission and Offering Andante sostenuto (mvt. 2, Symphonie Gothique) Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937) Victoria Nichols Kol Nidrei (tr. by H. Reimann, arr. by Evelyn R. Larter) Max Bruch (1838-1920) Evelyn R. Larter CAGO Trio Sonata no. 3 in D minor (BWV 527) J. S. Bach Andante Adagio e dolce - Vivace Vernon H. Williams
P A G E 8 S F O R Z A N D O
V O L U M E 7, I S S U E 8 P A G E 9 News from AGO Headquarters: POE AGO Pipe Organ Encounters Provide Youth and Adults with Opportunities for Intensive Study of the King of Instruments Six Summer Programs for Teenagers and Adults Celebrate the Thirtieth Anniversary of the POE Program Supported by Organ Builders and the National Endowment for the Arts NEW YORK CITY The American Guild of Organists (AGO) is proud to announce five PIPE ORGAN ENCOUNTERS (POEs) for students aged 13 18, and one POE+ for adults in 2018. Complete contact information for each weeklong Pipe Organ Encounter can be found in The American Organist Magazine and online at www.agohq.org/education/poe. The summer schedule follows: POE (for ages 13 18) June 17 22 Phoenix, Ariz. June 24 29 Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn. July 8 13 Philadelphia, Penn. July 16 21 Los Angeles, Calif. July 22 27 Deland, Fla. POE+ (for adults) June 17 22 Rockford, Ill. The PIPE ORGAN ENCOUNTER (POE) is an introduction to the pipe organ through instruction in organ playing, repertoire, history, design, and construction. These regional summer music camps for teenage students provide private and group instruction in service playing and solo repertoire, opportunities to learn about the musical heritage of various religious denominations, and a chance for young musicians to meet others with similar interests. Piano or organ proficiency ranging from intermediate to advanced is required. Scholarship assistance is available. The POE+ is a summer program filled with practical information and instruction for adult keyboard musicians interested in improving their service-playing skills. Participants will be introduced to basic organ skills through private instruction and classes. The weeklong experience will lead to greater confidence and competence at the organ. Generous funding from the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America (APOBA), the American Institute of Organbuilders (AIO), the Jordan Organ Endowment, and the National Endowment for the Arts will support these summer educational programs from coast to coast. The AGO and APOBA have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship since 1975, declared AGO Executive Director James Thomashower. Likewise, the AIO has been active in supporting the Guild s educational programs, beginning with their partnership in Pulling Out All the Stops, a video produced jointly in 1996 by the AGO, AIO, APOBA, the Organ Historical Society, and the American Theater Organ Society and aired on PBS. In addition, we are delighted to have received support from the Jordan Organ Endowment at Columbus State University for our POE program, as well as a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts supporting our educational activities this year. In addition to the POE and POE+ programs, but not offered in 2018, is a POE (Advanced) that provides intermediate to advanced classes in areas such as organ literature, history, pipe organ construction and design, music theory, improvisation, conducting, and service playing for students who have achieved a high level of success in organ study. Also, there is a POE (Technical) designed for students who are interested in learning the art and craft of organ building. The event is hosted in the workshop of an organ builder working in cooperation with a local AGO chapter. POE site locations are selected by the AGO Committee on Pipe Organ Encounters and approved by the AGO National Council. Applications for 2019 are available from AGO National Headquarters and online at www.agohq.org. Editor s Note: Download the Philadelphia POE brochure here: brochure
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V O L U M E 7, I S S U E 8 P A G E 11 Positions Available/Substitute List -- by Peter Homon Editor s Note: We are updating and hoping to expand our Substitute List. If you are available to substitute, please contact Peter Homon, our Referral/Position Coordinator. Please forward or refer any items concerning positions available or substitute needs to Peter at lapajar@yahoo.com or call 856-665-0149. Position Available: Grace Episcopal Church, Merchantville - O/D, 2 man. Rogers w pipes from earlier instrument, small adult choir, small children's choir, flexible rehearsal times, 10:00 service. Contact Fr. Jeff Kirk at JM125Kirk@gmail.com These musicians are available on Sundays and also for weddings and funerals other days: Patricia Brady-Danzig 973-761-0041 (South Orange) pbradydan@erols.com - organ/piano, cantor, choir director Carolyn Thomas Cuperwich 201-317-5291 (Tabernacle) cthomas.musician@gmail.com - piano, organ, cantor, choir director John Dow 856-327-1739 (Millville) jedowfam@aol.com Mary Johnson 856-332-8869 (Pine Hill) mebayj47@yahoo.com George Mitchell 856-795-0970 (Cherry Hill) babayaga430@verizon.com Irina Nenartovich, CAGO, SPC 856-321-3465 (Cherry Hill) knenartovich@hotmail.com Joanne Owen 856-769-3212 (Woodstown) lbjkowen1982@comcast.net These substitutes are available for weddings and funerals or Saturday work only: Patricia M. Fronczek, 856-397-2773 (Blackwood) theloveofsong@comcast.net Evelyn Larter, CAGO 856-358-1112 (Elmer) ERLarter@juno.com Lee F. Milhous, 215-348-8872 (Doylestown PA) leefmilhous@verizon.net Cathy O Neill, 856-0192 (Sewell, NJ) cmo125@aol.com Marilyn Rabbai, CAGO 856-589-3901 (Pitman) mwrabbai@verizon.net
P A G E 12 AGO CERTIFIED MEMBERS Contributors 2017-18 Rae Ann Anderson, CAGO Miriam Bisbing, SPC Helen C. Carrell, CAGO, SPC Mark A. Cole, SPC Lawrence DePasquale, CAGO Ruth O. Fink, AAGO, ChM Ethel H. Geist, CAGO Carol Louise Knisell, CAGO Evelyn Larter, CAGO, SPC Irina Nenartovich, CAGO, SPC Marilyn Rabbai, CAGO, SPC David L. Rhody, SPC Glenn L. Rodgers, AAGO Joyce Ann Routon, CAGO, SPC For more information on Professional Certification requirements, procedures, materials and deadlines, visit the website of AGO National Headquarters: www.agohq.org Thank you, Andre Vermeulen Peter Homon Guy Kirk Nancy Stoking-Perry Miriam Bisbing Mark Dishong Patrons Richard Sakowski David Rhody Ethel Geist Stephen Obarski Joanne Owen Gail Gassaway Rae Ann Anderson Helen Carrell William Fenimore Robert Gladden Reneé Hatzold John Dow Evelyn Larter Marilyn Rabbai Ruth Fink Victor Pettyjohn Robert Scara George Mitchell Patricia Patelski Patrons, Contributors and Advertisers Our next issue will be May, 2018. Deadline for articles, announcements, pictures and reports will be Wednesday, April 25. S F O R Z A N D O
Sforzando is the official publication of the SouthWest Jersey Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. The AGO is a multi-denominational, non-profit organization chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York in 1896. EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Marilyn Rabbai, mwrabbai@verizon.net OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER: Joe Routon REFERRAL & POSITIONS AVAILABLE COORDINATOR: Peter Homon, lapajar@yahoo.com, 856-665-0149 PROFESSIONAL CONCERNS COORDINATOR: David Rhody, drhody1@comcast.net; (856)795-6735 CHAPTER OFFICERS DEAN: Vernon Williams, vwilliams@trinitymoorestown.org SUB-DEAN: David Rhody, drhody1@comcast.net; (856)795-6735 TREASURER/REGISTRAR: Gail Gassaway, cloaked17@verizon.net SECRETARY: Cathy O Neill, cmo125@aol.com WEBSITE: www.agohq.org/chapters/southwestjersey Dean s Message...continued from page 1 the magnificent new Fisk organ at Christ Church in Philadelphia, have a pleasant lunch together, followed by a visit to St. Peter s Church to play and hear the Skinner organ. Finally, we have our Annual Picnic to look forward to in July. I d like to thank Larry DePasquale and all the musicians who participated in the memorial service at St. Matthew Lutheran on March 4. The service was beautifully conceived, and the music was interesting and wellperformed. The combination of musical gifts and warm concern for our fellow members that was evident in the service is one of the qualities that sets our chapter apart. We are all lucky to be part of a chapter that has such healthy traditions. Planning for our 2019 Regional Convention continues apace, as you can see from this month s column. There is a lot of work to be done, and if you are not involved yet, please get in touch with Steering Committee chair Evelyn Larter. We ll find something for you to do, and you will make a difference to a lot of grateful people! Looking forward to seeing you in Deerfield on April 15!