The Church Musician ~ The Quilisma The Bulletin of the Church Musicians Guild of Buffalo A Chapter of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians September 2016 Save the Date for Upcoming Guild Events Tuesday, September 20-7:00pm - Workshop on Contemporary Music at St John XXIII, West Seneca Friday, September 23 7:30pm - Works by Polish Composers for Organ by Dr. Abigail Rockwood, Lockport s First Presbyterian Church Sunday, September 25 4:00pm - Organ Recital given by Scott Hyslop at Buffalo Religious Arts Center Monday, October 3 5:15pm - Regional Meeting of Parish Musicians at The Pub, Jamestown Saturday, October 22 9:00am - Cantor Workshop at Our Lady Help of Christians, Cheektowaga Friday, November 11 7:30pm - Organ Recital given by Ron Martin at SUNY Buffalo, Slee Hall Saturday, November 19 Time TBA - Workshop on the Aging Voice @ Kenmore Presbyterian Changes in Membership Dues As we more closely align the guild with National Association of Pastoral Musicians norms, we now offer several options for our members. Last year, we introduced a dual membership for pastor and musician for only ten dollars more. The national organization created this category as an option to reflect the idea that the relationship of the musician with the pastor is key to a successful music ministry program. This year we offer the option for retirees to continue in the guild at a reduced rate. NPM offers the same option. This means that any member who is 65 years or older and no longer derives income from music ministry may continue at the reduced rate. We appreciate having our seniors contribute to our organization at this level. The dues have been raised for our regular members. We do so keeping in mind what similar organizations charge for membership. Remember that the dues may be deducted from expenses on your income tax form.
Lorem Ipsum CMG September 2016, page 2 The Bridget Dick Blesnuk Memorial Cantor Workshop We will have a very special event on Saturday, October 22. Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, we are able to bring in a NPM master cantor trainer, Mary Lynn Pleczkowski. She has given workshops all over the country and is in charge of the cantor division of NPM. Mary Lynn will be driving in from Pittsburgh to offer us training that can lead to cantor certification by our national organization. We will meet at 9 AM in Our Lady Help of Christians choir loft. The program will conclude mid afternoon so that musicians can return to their churches. We will charge $10 to cover lunch and handouts. Bridget was a beloved member of the guild and a valued cantor at the cathedral. Let s honor her memory by our participation in this event and bring our cantor skills up to the highest level possible. Please let us know if you can participate by contacting Bill @musicman08@verizon.net so that we will know how many people will need to be served lunch. New Music Review: The SS Simon and Jude Organ Book By Peter Gonciarz I recently came across a rather small collection of short organ works in a collection called "The SS Simon and Jude Organ Book." The book is published by the Selah Publishing Co., and can be purchased at their website (selahpup.com). The reader can also preview the first page of each piece through a PDF on the publishers website. The collection features six pieces by contemporary composers, and what attracted me most was the setting of the well-known Polish tune "Serdeczna Matko" (Beloved Mother). In this collection is a "trio" setting of this tune titled "Trio on "Stainless the Maiden" by J.R. Daniels. This setting is extremely useful, especially here in the Diocese of Buffalo when this tune is frequently requested at many parish funerals. This setting can be a solution to the request, especially if the cantor is uncomfortable with the Polish text. The tune is very recognizable as it is played in the left hand. The other highlight of this collection is a work titled "Song of Peace" by Craig Phillips. This work makes a perfect piece for the Preparation of Gifts, or as a prelude before the liturgy. I found this piece useful during my parish's Confirmation mass as an instrumental piece to give the choir a break of singing during the actual sacrament. This collection also includes an attractive "Trumpet Tune" by John Erickson. Enjoy! Condolences Word has reached us that Anthony Woronowski passed away on July 20 in Sautee, Georgia. At one time he was the organist of St John the Baptist Church in Alden. We extend our deepest sympathy to our guild member, Sarah Steffen, on the passing of her husband, Roy, on August 2. The family lives in North Collins.
Inaugural Event for the Allegany/Olean/Wellsville Subchapter CMG September 2016, page 3 Most people are not aware that one of the options in the NPM by-laws is the creation of a subchapter for parish musicians who live far from the seat of the diocese. There are only two subchapters in the national organization. Saint Louis and Cincinnati have sub-divisions in their archdioceses. After much discussion, the guild has opened a subchapter in the southern tier under the direction of board member Mary Weimer. Mary is a trained music educator and the music director at Immaculate Conception Church in Wellsville. She is an adjunct instructor at Alfred University and sings with the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus. There was a kick off event in Wellsville in June attended by your director. Eleven people participated including the vicar for the southern Cattaraugus vicariate, Father Gregory Dobson. There was much enthusiasm to begin this three-year experimental program. As your director was researching the guild archives at Canisius College library, he discovered that a precedent had been set many years ago with the creation of the Pius X chapter of the southern tier. It was suspended some years later. We ask for your prayers that this new program will be successful and that liturgical musicians will take advantage of this opportunity to exchange ideas, offer mutual support and seek to update skills. CMG Director Travels to Jamestown Some of you may be aware that I have attempted to meet with parish musicians around the diocese. I started several years ago with a meeting of ten musicians in Niagara Falls. Since that time I have met musicians in Fredonia/Dunkirk, Batavia, Lockport and Olean/Wellsville. It is always a pleasure to meet people with the same interests and concerns as one s own. I have tried to create an awareness that the guild is a diocesan organization that intends to serve ALL members of our diocese. Many spoke to me about isolation and lack of support in their endeavors. Some talked about the difficulty in attending guild events considering distance and weather. I have tried to create an awareness that we have a website and a Facebook page. Our board members are only an email away from conversation with those in areas outside of Erie County. On Monday, October 3, I will convene a meeting at The Pub Restaurant in Jamestown. We will meet at 5:15 and end our meal and conversation around 6:45. If you know any pastoral musician who lives in the area and might like to join us, please have him or her contact me at musicman08@verizon.net to reserve a place for supper. The Buffalo Master Chorale Recruits New Singers The Buffalo Master Chorale, Dr. Doreen Rao, Music Director, is continuing to audition new singers. The Chorus rehearses on Monday evenings at Rockwell Hall, Buffalo State College. Highlights of our 2016-2017 season include a collaboration with the Amadeus Choir of Toronto in Orff's Carmina Burana. More detail about our Chorus and 2016-2017 Season at our web-site: BNCHOIRS.ORG If you have sung in a choir as an amateur or professional singer, love choral music, and read music, please schedule an audition by contacting Chorale Manager Robert Kiersz at 838-2263 or rkiersz@gmail.com Singers in all sections are welcome.
CMG September 2016, page 4 Dr. Scott Hyslop in Concert Many people will remember the marvelous organ recital given at the Buffalo Religious Arts Center some years ago. Dr. Scott Hylsop will return on Sunday, September 25 to perform on the Schlicker pipe organ, opus 2. The setting is the former Saint Francis of Xavier Church on East Street in the Black Rock area of Buffalo. The program will commence at 4 PM. Admission is $10 per person. Dr. Hyslop earned a doctorate in organ performance from the University of Michigan, studying under the famed pedagogue Marilyn Mason. He serves at St. Lorenz Lutheran Church in Frankenmuth, Michigan. The concert is jointly sponsored by the Church Musicians Guild of Buffalo and the Buffalo chapter of the American Guild of Organists. This cooperation allows us to get the organ up to to concert readiness. The organ was installed in 1932, has 16 ranks of pipes and received a citation from the Organ Historical Society. In the museum, there are many artifacts from closed Catholic churches for you to enjoy as well as the beautiful stained glass windows by F.X. Zettler of Munich, Germany. Concert Announcement Dr Abigail Rockwood, 7:30 September 23 rd at Lockport s First Presbyterian Church, 21 Church St. Co-sponsored by the Niagara Polish Cultural and Historical Society. Admission free, works by Polish composers for organ. For more information www:1stpreslockport.org Roswell Hospital needs help The Pastoral Care Department of Roswell Park Hospital conducts 4 prayer services during the year for family members who have lost loved ones. They are hoping to recruit volunteer singers and musicians to add to these prayer services. For information as to how you might assist, please call Beth Lenigan at the Pastoral Care Office at Roswell Park Hospital 845-8889. Contemporary Music Workshop The first meeting of the guild will be held on Tuesday, September 20 at Saint John XXIII Parish. The program will begin at 7 PM at the church, which can be found at the corner of Harlem Avenue and Arcade Street in West Seneca. The church is airconditioned. Glenn Hufnagel will be the clinician in presenting contemporary music for liturgy. Music styles will incorporate praise and gospel music. Correct performance practice in these styles will be discussed. Mr. Hufnagel offers this description of his workshop: Praise music can lead the assembly to worship in spirit and in truth. It can also be a flexible resource for choir anthems, especially when the voices available are less than a full SATB choir. We will sing through a number of pieces which can be unison, with 2, 3, or 4 voices, or as solos. Some music is child-friendly. We will share experiences and suggestions for dealing with some of the challenges peculiar to the genre. We'll conclude with some music from the African- American gospel tradition and suggestions on its interpretation. Music scores have been ordered and we ask for an offering of $10 for these materials that you can take with you. Many musicians are asking for help in selecting music for our young people. Let's have a great turn out for our first event of the season. CMG September 2016, page 3 Blessed Trinity Concert Series 2016, page 3 The 2016-17 Trinity Concert Series opens on Sunday, October 2, 2016 at 3 p.m. Back by popular demand after his 2014 concert at Blessed Trinity Church, Charles Reedy brings the talented musicians and singers of Touch e with their exciting blend of jazz, blues, gospel and swing music. Fresh from their smashing success at the 2016 Pine Grill Jazz Reunion in MLK Park, this band is guaranteed to get your voice singing, your feet dancing and your spirits soaring. Free-will offering; suggested $10. The Landmark church, located at 317 Leroy Avenue in Buffalo, is wheelchair accessible with secured off-street parking.