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| Weekly Update | American Guild of Organists Cleveland Chapter |
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Dear AGO Cleveland Colleague,
Welcome to the Weekly Update from the Cleveland Chapter of the American Guild of Organists! Each week on Thursday, we publish this email newsletter to help you stay informed about activities and programs of the Cleveland AGO Chapter. Questions or comments? Please let us know: admin@agocleveland.org Have a news item for a future issue? Send to: newsletter@agocleveland.org. The deadline each week is Wednesday at noon for Thursday publication.
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From the Dean
 | | Fern Jennings |
I don't know about you but I am feeling overwhelmed by the holiday season. There is too much to do. Besides all the extra work at church there are the family obligations- decorating, gift-buying, entertaining, wrapping. The commercial excess is everywhere. I just want to get away. It doesn't even look like Christmas. It is just gray. Like an old film. Except the grass is green. But then I go to choir rehearsal. My singers get so much joy from singing the beloved Advent texts: "People Look East, the Time is Near", "A Lovely Rose is Blooming", "The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came". And then rehearsing for Christmas Eve. "How Far is it to Bethlehem?", "A la ru", "There is no Rose of Such Virtue". I know that by the time Christmas Eve comes and we are in that softly lit Sanctuary, the candles have been lit, the story told and the congregation (everyone's congregation sings beautifully on Christmas Eve) is singing "Silent Night" it will all be worth it. For that magic comes around once a year. That one night it is so amazing to be an organist. Pealing bells. The grandest Reeds. The harp stop and the most beautiful celestes. We, my friends, truly shine that night. We, the lucky ones, the privileged few, who play the organ.
And so I wish for you and yours a beautiful Christmas filled with joy and light. And afterwards, I hope you get some time off for a well earned rest. We will take a holiday break from this Weekly Update and be back with you on January 10.
In Joy and Peace,
Fern
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HOLIDAY BREAK FOR WEEKLY UPDATE
Weekly Update will be on hiatus for the next three weeks, and no issues will be published on December 29, 26, and January 2. Publication will resume on January 9, 2013.
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Upcoming Cleveland Chapter Events
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JANUARY CHAPTER EVENT
 Gallery Organ Open House
Saturday, January 26, 2013 - 10 am to 12 noon.
Church of the Covenant
11205 Euclid Ave. Cleveland
Organ crawl with the new Richards-Fowkes tracker organ.
Jonathan Moyer and Fern Jennings, hosts
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NEXT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
January 28 7:30-9pm, First Unitarian Church of Cleveland
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FROM THE TREASURER
Dear Colleagues, Several years ago the IRS stopped accepting canceled checks as proof of tax deductible donations. I have compiled a list of donations to date this year and will be sending IRS compliant letters to donors in early January. If you would like to make a donation to the chapter and receive credit for 2012 tax reporting, be sure your donation is postmarked no later than December 31, 2012. Donations should be sent to: Donald Jackson, Treasurer Cleveland Chapter, AGO 20508 Hilliard Blvd. Rocky River, OH 44116 Undesignated donations will go into the general fund for current programming. You may also designate a gift to any of three special funds: scholarship, competitions, and concerts. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. Don Jackson, treasurer donclef@aol.com
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YEAR-END AGO SCHOLARSHIP FUND DRIVE
The Cleveland Chapter of the American Guild of Organists sponsors a scholarship program for organ students in the Cleveland area. The scholarships pay for a portion of the costs for private lessons or college fees for qualified students. Many of our area's top teachers assist this program with reduced fees for lessons, helping to locate practice facilities, providing music, and other resources. Funding for these scholarships comes from the Cleveland AGO Scholarship fund, and from donors. Please consider this opportunity to support our educational program with a tax-deductible contribution today. Donors will be recognized in the weekly AGO update and in our Annual Report. Gifts can be made in honor of or in memory of a special person. All checks should be made payable to Cleveland Chapter, American Guild of Organists with Scholarship Fund on the memo line. Please mail your check to Don Jackson, AGO Treasurer, 20508 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River, OH 44116-3325
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MUSIC THEORY SONG
Thanks to Chris Toth for sharing this fun musical joke.  | | The Music Theory Song (Intervals Roasting) |
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TODAY IN CLASSICAL MUSIC HISTORY
 | | Phillips Brooks |
Today is the birthday of Phillips Brooks, American clergyman and author who is best known as the author of "Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem". The poem was inspired by a visit by Brooks to the Holy Land. The hymn was written in 1868 and Brooks asked the church's organist Mr. Lewis H. Redner to write the music for the hymn to be sung at the children's Christmas Eve service.
According to one account the composer recollected: "As Christmas of i868 approached, Mr. Brooks told me that he had written a simple little carol for the Christmas Sunday-school service, and he asked me to write the tune to it. The simple music was written in great haste and under great pressure. We were to practice it on the following Sunday. Mr. Brooks came to me on Friday, and said, 'Redner, have you ground out that music yet to "O Little Town of Bethlehem"?' I replied, 'No,' but that he should have it by Sunday. On the Saturday night previous my brain was all confused about the tune. I thought more about my Sunday-school lesson than I did about the music. But I was roused from sleep late in the night hearing an angel-strain whispering in my ear, and seizing a piece of music paper I jotted down the treble of the tune as we now have it, and on Sunday morning before going to church I filled in the harmony. Neither Mr. Brooks nor I ever thought the carol or the music to it would live beyond that Christmas of 1868."
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Concerts of Interest
Some of our concert listings have been gleaned from ClevelandClassical. For a complete list of concerts plus previews, reviews and more from Cleveland's classical music scene click the link www.clevelandclassical.com.
Friday, December 14, 7:00 pm - Cantores Cleveland & Choir of Mary Queen of Peace, Barbara Margolis & David Jaronoswki, conducting. Advent Lessons & Carols, including music by Palestrina, Bruchner & Elgar. Mary Queen of Peace Church, 4423 Pearl Road, Cleveland. Freewill offering.
Sunday, December 16, 3:30 p.m St. Sebastian Church, 500 Mull Avenue, Akron, Ohio 44320. A Ceremony of Lessons and Carols. Lynn Frey-Steward, CAGO, MM-Director of Music, Parish Choir, Praise & Worship Ensemble, Children's Choir, Handbell Choir and Gregorian Schola . Reception to follow.
Sunday, December 16, 4:00pm. Holiday Concert and Carol Singalong with Burning River Brass, The Federated Church, 76 Bell St,, Chagrin Falls, OH 44022. Freewill Offering for general seating or patron seating available.
Sunday, December 16 7:00 pm - River Valley Ringers, Elizabeth Lucas, conducting, with guest percussionist Joseph Fox. Holiday music for handbells by Wagner, Moklebust & others and a sing-along. Reception following. Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 3740 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland Hts. Freewill offering.
Sunday, December 16 4:00 pm - NEOVocE (North Eastern Ohio Vocal Ensemble), Jennifer Cochran, director, Daniel Hathaway, organ & piano. Thirteen professional opera singers perform fifteen sacred carols and Christmas Hymns arranged by John Rutter. North Royalton Methodist Church, 13601 Ridge Rd., North Royalton. Freewill offering.
Wednesday, December 19 12:10 pm: Annual Messiah Sing Trinity Chamber Orchestra, soloists, and YOU in the massed choir! Todd Wilson, conductor. Trinity Cathedral,2230 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland.
Friday and Saturday, December 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, December 23 at 3:00 p.m. Trinity Cathedral, 2230 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland. Quire Cleveland. Tickets: www.quirecleveland.org.
Sunday, December 23, 11:00 AM, Saint-Saëns Christmas Oratorio The Fairmount Choir and Orchestra perform this beautiful pastoral work depicting the Nativity of Christ. Minister of Music Robert Moncrief conducts. Fairmount Presbyterian Church.
Saturday, December 29 at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.: Trinity Cathedral, 2230 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115. 216.771.3630. www.trinitycleveland.org. THE BOAR'S HEAD AND YULE LOG FESTIVAL. 50th Anniversary. A Cleveland Christmas tradition, the festival is a multi-sensory Elizabethan Christmas experience with pageantry and music that celebrates the light of Christ coming into the world. Freewill offering boarsheadcleveland.org.
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About Us
The purpose of the American Guild of Organists is to promote the organ in its historic and evolving roles, to encourage excellence in the performance of organ and choral music, and to provide a forum for mutual support, inspiration, education, and certification of Guild members.
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Contact Us
American Guild of Organists Cleveland Chapter
21600 Shaker Blvd
Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122
216-751-2320
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A Note About Job Postings
Gerry Mass, our Cleveland Chapter Placement Officer collects and updates job openings in the area. Although they are not listed in the weekly updates, there is a link in the "Quick Links" section every week that will take you to the updated list on the chapter website. Questions or need help finding a position? Email: placement@agocleveland.org
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