Weekly Update - Cleveland Chapter

American Guild of Organists

October 10, 2013

From the Dean

Fern Jennings

This fall I am celebrating a very big anniversary. So big it doesn't even seem possible to me and I lived it! I have been a church musician for fifty years! Like many of you I started in this profession when I was very young. I began organ lessons when I was thirteen years old. My parents bought a Minshell organ for me to practice on from Sebring Music. It had two full manuals, an AGO pedal board and tubes. If you remember those you are showing your age. They bought it on store credit. After a year the proprietor, Zig Pazzedas, asked my parents if I would play the organ at his church, the Sebring Methodist Church (not United, yet) in lieu of the $20 per month payment. I did and I have been pretty much playing for church continuously ever since.

I don't even want to calculate all of those weekly Preludes,

Albert Schweitzer

Offertories and Postludes, not to mention hymns and choir anthems. Sometimes there were two Sunday services. A number of years were with only two weeks off a year. And don't even think of being sick- too hard to get a sub. I did take off one month with each of my babies. Well, playing the organ was really all I wanted to do. I really was hooked on this marvelous instrument!

I will celebrate with a program and a reception. I have chosen to present "The Words of Albert Schweitzer and the Music of Bach" by Thurston Moore. The program is a wonderful combination of spoken word, slides and organ music by Bach. I could not image a more fitting way to celebrate my long tenure. I have enlisted some fine actors from my church for the speaking parts. The music includes some I have played for most of my fifty years and some things I just learned. And Schweitzer's philosophy of respect for all life resonates as much as ever.

The program is on Sunday, October 20 at 5:00pm at my church, the First Unitarian Church of Cleveland, 21600 Shaker Boulevard, Shaker Heights, with the gala reception immediately following. I would love it if you could come!

Best to you,

Fern

CHAPTER OCTOBER PROGRAM

Young Organist Showcase

Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013 - 4 pm

Fairmount Presbyterian Church

2757 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Heights

Mitchell Miller

Emily Meixner

Competition winner,

Mitchell Miller - Oberlin Conservatory and

Scholarship

winner,

Emily Meixner - Cleveland Institute of Music, play the Ruggles tracker organ in the Chapel and the Schantz pipe organ in the sanctuary.

Program:

Trio Sonata III - J.S. Bach

Chorale Prelude: Allein Gott - J. S. Bach
Praeludium in f# - D. Buxtehude

Evocation, Op. 37 - M. Dupré
Chorale II - C. Franck
Prelude and Fugue on ALAIN - M. Duruflé

plus an organ duet with both players

Free-will offering to benefit the Cleveland AGO Organ Scholarship Fund.

Greet-the-artists reception follows the concert.

For further information contact Robert Moncrief, Minister of Music, Fairmount Presbyterian Church (music@fairmountchurch.org) (216) 321-5800

Organ Master Class with Thomas Trotter
Cleveland Institute of Music organ students perform


		Mon Nov 18, 2013 - 7:30 to 9 pm

		Fairmount Presbyterian Church, 2757 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Heights

NEXT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

Monday, February 3, 2014, 7:30 PM
Location TBD

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR BOSTON CONVENTION

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the Steering Committee, I extend a warm invitation for you to join us June 23-27 for the 2014 National Convention in Boston.

Centered in Boston's Back Bay, within easy walking to many of our great churches, this 4 ½ day convention will inspire and thrill with a diversity of instruments - from Meantone to WurliTzer - played by an outstanding international roster of organists. It will feature many recently installed instruments in addition to a long list of landmark organs.

We will not only feature great organs, but outstanding choral concerts, many commissioned works, a diverse array of worship opportunities, and stimulating workshops.

The convention is created for you to be comfortably paced. Celebrate your choices.

We encourage you to register before January 31, 2014 to take advantage of discounted rates. Register online now at regonline.com/agoboston2014 to ensure your choices. Registration by paper is available using the form in the October issue of The American Organist.

The Marriott Copley place is our convention headquarters hotel. You may register for hotel reservations through the Marriott's online system at https://aws.passkey.com/reg/326GFM29-G682, or by calling the hotel directly at 800.228.9290. Ask for the AGO 2014 Convention rate of $195/night when calling.

If you have any questions, please contact us at info@agoboston2014.org. We will respond quickly to your inquiries.

New England beckons you to join us for an inspirational week.

Ray Cornils
Convention Coordinator

NOMINATING COMMITTEE

The following members have been approved by the Chapter Executive Committee to serve as this year's nominating committee: Tim Hemry, Leah Hottel, Betty Meyers, Robert Schneider and Lloyd Max Bunker, Chair.

TODAY IN CLASSICAL MUSIC HISTORY

Composer Johann Krebs was born in Germany on this date in 1713. A students of J.S. Bach, his counterpoint is considered to be on a par with Bach's. Unfortunately the Baroque style was out of favor by that time and Krebs was never able to establish himself in a prominent position. Shockingly he played for only food to feed his family, not a salary. Most of his significant collection of works was not published until the 1900s. He died in 1780. Here is a link to his beautiful Fantasia in F minor for oboe and organ.

J.L. Krebs - Fantas??a en fa menor para Oboe y ??rgano

J.L. Krebs - Fantasia in F Minor for Oboe and Organ

Concerts and Events of Interest

Remember to send us your concert listings for our Google calendar and weekly updates. Send them to newsletter@agocleveland.org. 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.

The Phoenix Rising. Friday, October 11, 7:30pm. STILE ANTICO - an ensemble of young British singers, established as one of the most original and exciting new voices in its field, presents , celebrates the glory of English Tudor music. Works by Byrd, Tallis, Morley, Gibbons, White, Weelkes, Taverner. Cathedral of St John the Evangelist, Helen D Schubert Concert Series, 1007 Superior Ave (at E 9th St), downtown Cleveland. FREEWILL offering; Free secure parking.

"DISPELLING THE MYTHS OF BACH" Friday, October 11, 7:30 pm. Lecture by Dr. Paul Barte , Ohio University, Akron Chapter AGO Meeting. Redeemer North Hill United Methodist Church, 265 E. Cuyahoga Falls Avenue, Akron, Ohio

Dave Brubeck Tribute Concert. Sun, October 13, 3:00pm - 4:30pm. Jeff Meyers and his jazz quartet will join First Lutheran's Adult Choir to perform sacred and secular works of this great American composer. The combined forces will perform portions of Brubeck's rarely-heard pieces To Hope! A Celebration and Pange Lingua Variations. The quartet will also play some of Brubeck's well-known tunes, such as Take Five. First Lutheran Church 603 Washington Ave Lorain OH

Kaori Hongo, organ. Tuesday, October 15 12:15 pm. Program to be announced. 12 Noon carillon recital by George Leggiero. Newberry (Richards, Fowkes & Co.) and Skinner/Holtkamp organs.Lunches welcome. Church of the Covenant, 11205 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Free

Robert Myers, organ. Wednesday, October 16 12:15 pm. "Luther wrote the tunes." Music by Buxtehude, Bach & others. Beckerath organ. Trinity Lutheran Church, W. 30th & Lorain, Cleveland. Freewill offering.

Scott Hanoian, organ. Friday, October 18, 7pm. Divinity Lutheran Church in Parma Heights is celebrating its 65th anniversary this year. The celebration will include a concert by organist, Scott Hanoian There will be a wine and cheese reception following the concert and a freewill offering supporting the church Arts in Action Scholarship Fund. Scott Hanoian is Director of Music and Organist at Christ Church Episcopal in Grosse Pointe, Michigan and a former Assistant Director of Music and Organist of Washington National Cathedral. Divinity Lutheran Church, 11877 Blossom Ave,Parma Hts., OH

Gale Kramer, organ. Sunday, October 20, 4:00 pm. Program includes music by Raison, J.S. Bach, Boëly & Widor. Fairlawn Lutheran Church, 3415 W. Market St., Fairlawn. Freewill offering

William Porter, organ. Sunday, October 20, 4:00 pm. Widor's Praeludium circulare, Pastorale & Finale (Symphonie II), Ermend Bonnal's La Vallée du Béhorléguy, au matin (Paysage Euskariens), Fredrik Tobin's Pièce Sonatique, Vierne's Toccata, op. 53, no. 6, Porter's improvisations on given themes & Mulet's Carillon-Sortie. Schantz-Ellenberger organ. Westlake United Methodist Church, 27650 Center Ridge Rd., Westlake. Free.

Albert Schweitzer and the Music of Bach. Sun, October 20, 5:00pm - 6:30pm. With Roland Moore as Schweitzer and Organist Fern Jennings. A multimedia presentation. A reception will follow the concert honoring Fern Jennings for 50 years as a church musician and her 10th year as Director of Music at First Unitarian Church. First Unitarian Church of Cleveland 21600 Shaker Blvd. Shaker Heights

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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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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:

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Contact Us

American Guild of Organists Cleveland Chapter
21600 Shaker Blvd
Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122
216-751-2320

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.