MIXTURES DEAN S MESSAGE: DECEMBER 2013 We have been blessed. Since the last issue of Mixtures we have been treated to three first-rate organ recitals. On November 10, Daryl Robinson, a Masters candidate at Rice University, and the winner of the 2012 AGO National Young Artists Competition, played an outstanding recital at Grace Episcopal Church in Elmira. On November 15, our Chapter sponsored a recital by Joseph and Erin Ripka at UPC in Binghamton. On November 23, Daniel Rosenau, a student of Jonathan Biggers, played his sophomore (!) recital at Vestal UMC. All three of these recitals were well attended, superbly played, and brought the audiences to their feet. And that s not all there is still one more to go this year! Jonathan Biggers Holiday recital on December 6 (7:30 p.m. at UPC, Binghamton) looks to be the perfect finale to an exciting series of organ recitals. There are some people who think too many organ recitals weaken public appeal for organ music. I disagree. I say the more the public gets to hear superb performances like the four mentioned here, the more they will look forward to future recitals. Bring em on! My thanks go to everyone who made Joseph and Erin Ripkas recital such a success. I provided all the worrying. Polly (and Bruce) Wendling printed the programs and organized the reception; Kimberly Chastain and her staff cooperated with all our requests during the three-days we tied up the sanctuary at UPC; Bill Lawson made sure the church facilities were available to the Chapter for this event; Rich Hedgebeth posted an article on the Chapter website home page announcing the recital and has already posted the Gallery entry about the event (http://www.binghamtonago.org/gallery-ripka.html); Marnie Wrighter at BU provided us with posters; Bill Snyder and Sam Goodyear at WSKG helped promote the recital on the air; Rich Sheasley got the recital posted on the Arts
Council calendar; Jonathan Biggers helped acquaint Joseph Ripka with the organ as well as making sure the organ was tuned properly; and Larry Hoey, a professional audio specialist, recorded the recital, and will make the CDs available at his cost. This recital was the first in what we hope to be a series of Chapter sponsored recitals featuring young artists who are finishing their academic training, and are about to begin their professional performance careers (before they get signed up with an agent). Let s hope that all future events will be as successful as this one. May you all have a wonderful Holiday Season! Don t forget to include Jonathan Biggers recital on December 6 th and our end-of-the-year Chapter Dinner at 5:00 on Sunday, December 29 th at Bob and Judy Peterson s house on your holiday schedule. John PICTURES FROM THE RECITALS: JOSEPH RIPKA 2
DAN ROSENAU AROUND the NEIGHBORHOOD Christmas Greetings from your friends in the Pennsylvania Northeast Chapter With our best wishes to all for a Blessed Christmas Season and a Happy and Healthy New Year. 3
FROM OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE WEST Chemung Chapter Activities: ADVENT SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS The Horseheads/ Big Flats/ Elmira Heights Ecumenical Council invites all to attend a community production of The Christmas story in music and word. The performance will feature our area Church's Adult Choirs, Children's Choirs, Bell Choirs with Woodwinds, Strings, & Brass. Sunday, December 8, 2013 at 5:00pm First United Methodist Church of Horseheads 1034 West Broad Street, Horseheads, NY It is a beautiful way to enter the Advent/Christmas season! Please join us! ADVENT ORGAN AND VIOLIN RECITAL Friday, December 13, at 12:10 P.M. Park Church: 208 W. Gray Street Elmira, NY Featuring: Joseph Barber - Organist Linda Couchon - Violin The Recital is free and open to the public. A Luncheon will be held after the recital in Beecher Hall as part of a three day Art and Edibles Bazaar. 4
Limited Edition CD Available to AGO Members Joseph and Erin Ripka Binghamton AGO Chapter Concert November 15, 2013 United Presbyterian Church Binghamton, New York 1. Trois Préludes et fugues Op.7; No. 1 in B major....... Marcel Dupré (1886-1971) 2. Thema mit variationen Op. 150; Erin Ripka, violin.. Josef Rheinberger (1839-1901) 3. Fantasia und fugue BWV 542............... Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) 4. Douze Pièces; Lied............................... Gaston Litaize (1909-1991) 5. Trois Préludes et fugues Op.7; No. 3 in g minor........marcel Dupré (1886-1971) 6. Concerto for violin BWV 1041; II. Andante.... Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) 7. Final from Symphony No. 5......................... Louis Vierne (1870-1937) 8. Fugue on the Magnificat...................Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) CD artwork by Daniel Sniezek Recorded November 15, 2013 at the United Presbyterian Church, Binghamton, New York. For more information about purchasing your copy of this recording, please e-mail: *lhoey*at*stny*dot*rr*dot*com* 5
ON THE CALENDAR Sat/Sun, Nov 30 th -7:30 pm/dec 1 st -3:00 pm Madrigal Singers: Lessons and Carols at Church of the Holy Trinity, 346 Prospect St., Binghamton Friday, Dec. 6 7:30 pm First Friday Ho! Ho! Ho! Holiday Organ Concert by Jonathan Biggers. Including John Lathwell, oboe; Timothy Perry, clarinet; and Stephen Stalker, cello; First United Presbyterian Church, 42 Chenango Street, Binghamton **Sunday, Dec. 8-5:00 pm Lessons and Carols at First United Methodist Church of Horseheads pg 4 **Friday, Dec. 13 12:10 pm Advent Organ and Violin Recital at Park Church, Elmira pg 4 Saturday, Dec. 14 8:00 pm Binghamton Philharmonic Holiday Concert to be held at the Forum. Fri/Sat, Dec. 20/21-8:00 pm Downtown Singers Messiah Performances Sunday, Dec. 29 2 pm the Binghamton Theater Organ Society presents The General one of Buster Keaton s greatest silent films; accompanied by Jim Ford Sunday, Dec. 29 5 pm Post Holiday get-together at the home of Bob and Judy Peterson RSVP at 607-759-9242 and leave a message. **denotes Chemung Chapter event 6
ADVERTISEMENTS / PLACEMENT ADDITIONS TO THE ORGANIST'S LIBRARY Maybe a Christmas Present?? 14 Organ Introductions & Verses is Richard Van Auken's third book of introductions and alternate harmonizations to 14 well-known hymns. You may contact Richard for a copy of the book, which retails for $15. Contact info: Phone (570) 663-2250 or email *vanrich*at*frontier*dot*com* (instead of the address listed in the AGO Yearbook) Also available Book One (18 hymn tunes) and Book Two (25 hymn tunes) are available for $15 and $25 respectively. To A Good Home: A Carpenter Parlor Organ (pump) with Bench, in excellent condition. Single keyboard, all stops work and it has both pedal and knee bellows. Made in Brattleboro VT at the end of the 19 th century. Contact Janet at *revjanw*at*gmail*dot*com*.
DEAN NEWSLETTER PLACEMENT WEBSITE John Holt Patti O Connell Jean Henssler Richard Hedgebeth 770-9865 687-2493 748-7285 www.binghamtonago.org *peoconnell1*at*gmail*dot*com* Seasons Greetings 8