Weekly Update - Cleveland Chapter

American Guild of Organists

November 7, 2013

From the Dean

Fern Jennings

These days when I look out my family room windows in the morning the yard is all golden. I think of the line from the hymn "I Sing of Golden Mornings". Such beauty. The sight of a flaming red tree can be achingly beautiful. The poignancy of autumn. Because we know that soon all the leaves will be on the ground and we won't have their lovely cover for five long months. Now that we have changed the clocks we have long winter evenings cocooned in our homes with family, a book, a movie, or... music. Those of us who make music are the luckiest of all in the winter I think. When we brave the outdoors on a dark winter evening and enter a warm room where our friends have gathered for a weekly ritual of singing, we are the luckiest of all. In the notes for Ron Jeffers' short anthem" I Have Had Singing " the story is told of the old ploughman recalling a difficult childhood. "I never did any playing in all my life. There was nothing in my childhood, only work. I never had pleasure." But then he remembers singing and goes on "But I lie. I have had pleasure enough. I have had singing." The song is enough to break your heart. If you are not familiar with it here is a link to a You Tube video. If you do not have this piece it is available as a pdf free from the publisher, Earthsongs. Included are versions for SATB, TTBB and SSAA. It could become a tradition for your choir to sing it at the close of every rehearsal.

We have had pleasure enough. We have had singing.

-Fern

CHAPTER NOVEMBER PROGRAM

Collaboration, cooperation, creativity - important concepts that are bringing a major European artist to perform in Cleveland this month. Acclaimed British concert organist, Thomas Trotter will play the 72-rank Holtkamp pipe organ at St. John's Cathedral in a program featuring organ masterworks and virtuosic transcriptions. The performer will be seen on video screen as well as heard in this magnificent space. This concert evolved from the collaboration and co-sponsorship of three institutions: the Cathedral of St. John, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, and Cleveland Chapter AGO. In addition, the Cleveland Institute of Music is sponsoring an Organ Master Class with CIM students performing for Trotter at Fairmount Presbyterian Church. Guests are welcome to both events.

Be sure to get these dates on your calendar!

Organ Artist Recital - Thomas Trotter, UK
Tuesday, November 19, 2013 - 7:30 pm
Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
1007 Superior Ave. Downtown Cleveland

FREE ADMISSION - Free secure parking in the surface lot on Rockwell Ave or the Cathedral Plaza Garage on Rockwell Ave at E 9th St.

Thomas Trotter is the Birmingham England City Organist and has had a huge international performing career for many years.

He was named the 2012 International Performer of the Year by the New York City Chapter AGO.

Click on the links below to see and hear Thomas Trotter:

http://concertorganists.com/artists/Thomas-Trotter

Thomas Trotter - The Town Hall Tradition

PROGRAM

J.S. Bach	Prelude & Fugue in G, BWV 541
Robert Schumann	Three Studies in canonic form
Judith Weir	The Wild Reeds (2013)
Richard Wagner	Romance to the Evening Star (Tannhäuser) arr. E.H. Lemare
	The Ride of the Valkyries (The Valkyrie) arr. E.H. Lemare
Eric Coates	Knightsbridge March arr. Trotter
Julius Reubke	Sonata: The 94th Psalm

Organ Master Class with Thomas Trotter

Monday, November 18, 2013, 7:30 - 9:00 pm
Fairmount Presbyterian Church
2757 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Heights
Cleveland Institute of Music organ students perform.

Chapter members are invited to attend this free Master Class.

NEXT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

Monday, February 3, 2014, 7:30 pm, Place TBD

FREE CHOIR ROBES

Free to a good home: 42 navy blue choir robes with liturgical stoles. We have replaced our choir robes. You may have our lovingly used washable navy robes. You can pick them up at our church, or pay for us to ship them to you. Contact Carol Neff, Organist, Mayfield Church, 7747 Mayfield Road, Chesterland, OH 44026. carol8861@aol.com 216-970-5654

THIS WEEK IN CLASSICAL MUSIC HISTORY

On this date in 1786 the Old Stoughton Singing Society began in Massachusetts. It is the oldest continuous choral society in America. It evidently was organized in the aftermath of a singing school of William Billings. Not the Old Stoughton Singing Society but here is a link to Billing's "Jordan":

Jordan by William Billings

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.

Baldwin Wallace Jazz Ensemble. Saturday, November 9, 7:00 pm. The Baldwin Wallace Jazz Ensemble, directed by Grammy-nominated jazz saxophonist Greg Banaszak, will present an evening of jazz standards. Trombone soloist Chris Anderson has performed with many different musical groups, including the Canton Symphony Orchestra, the former Cleveland Chamber Symphony, Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Heritage Orchestra and many others. Dover UCC, 2239 Dover Center Rd., Westlake, Ohio. A freewill offering will be received.

Florence Mustric, Organ. Wednesday November 6, 12:15 p.m. "From C to shining C," featuring music by Bach, Walcha, Bovet, and Schroeder. Trinity Lutheran Church, West 30th Street at Lorain Avenue, Cleveland

Todd Wilson, Organ. Friday, November 8, 2013 8:00pm FREE , Reception to follow. Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 50 N Prospect St., Akron.

Nritya Gitanjali School of Indian Classical Dance & Music. Sunday, November 10, 4:00 p.m. Artistic Director Shoba Narayan will provide an overview of Hindu religion and Indian culture; she will also discuss the symbolism of the dancers' movements. A free-will offering will be received, and a light reception will follow the program. Brecksville United Church of Christ, 23 Public Square, Brecksville.

Christopher Toth, organ, with Joy Parker, piano. Tuesday, November 12, 12:10 pm. STRAUSS: "Thus Spoke Zarathustra", BOWEN: Fantasia, MATHIAS: Fenestra, PLANYAVSKY: Four Pieces for 2 Keyboards, STOUGHTON: Persian Suite, HERBERT: March of the Toys from "Babes in Toyland". Messiah Lutheran Church 21485 Lorain Rd Fairview Park.

David Tidyman, organ & harpsichord. Sunday, November 10 3:00 pm - David Cherwin's Prelude & Toccata on Thaxted, J-N-P Royer's Allemande-Sensible-Vertigo (Pièces de Clavecin), Cabezon's Diferencias sobre el canto llano del Caballero, Louis Couperin's Tombeau de M. Blancrocher & Vierne's Final (Symphonie 1). Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, E. 9 & Superior, Cleveland. Freewill offering

James Riggs, Organ. Tuesday, November 12 , 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.

Florence Mustric, Organ. Wednesday, November 13 12:15 p.m. "From C to shining C," featuring music by Bach, Walcha, Bovet, and Schroeder. Trinity Lutheran Church, West 30th Street at Lorain Avenue, Cleveland

Cameron Carpenter, Organ. Wednesday, Nov 13, 2013 - 7:30 PM. Virtuoso organist Carpenter plays the Wurlitzer Theatre organ at the Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St. Akron, OH , Tickets: $26.50 ($11.50 students). Contact the Thomas Hall ticket office to purchase tickets or for more information:330-972-7570.

Nicole Keller, Organ. Saturday, November 16 , 7:30 pm. The program will feature works of Buxtehude, Mendelssohn, Vierne, and Messiaen on the recently renovated Casavant organ. Brecksville United Methodist Church, 65 Public Square, Brecksville. Free will offering.

Bowling Green Collegiate Chorale. Sunday, November 17, 4:00pm - 5:30pm. The Collegiate Chorale is the premiere choral ensemble in the College of Musical Arts at Bowling Green State University and part of a five-choir program in a college comprising over 600 music majors. Fairlawn Lutheran Church 3415 Market St Fairlawn OH

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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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The deadline each week is Tuesday at 5 PM for Thursday publication.

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.