AGO logo Weekly Update - Cleveland Chapter

American Guild of Organists

December 5, 2013
From the Dean    

 

Jennings, Fern
Fern Jennings

 

 

I am continuing to read (slowly) The Re-Enchantment of Everyday Life by Thomas Moore, the subject of one of my posts earlier this fall. I am currently reading a chapter titled, "Musica Humana". Moore writes about the word "harmony". In human psychology this is often used for an unreachable goal of blissful togetherness when in fact reaching a state of harmony in a relationship is a tough ongoing task. In music the word "harmony" denotes a way of joining tones together to produce meaningful and creative changes. Often musical  harmony has unexpected twists and dissonances. In fact it is the twists and dissonances that make the music interesting. Too  much consonant harmony is deadly dull. What if this definition of harmony was applied to human relationships? What if the challenges of life were viewed as creative opportunities to connect the themes of our life in a different way? Moore points to the astonishing harmonic creativity in Bach's Preludes and Fugues and suggests that an entire psychology course could be devised using them as the only textbook!

 

Our Chapter meeting on February 10 is a Professional Concerns workshop. One of the topics is clergy-musicians relationships. One of our presenters is  trained in a method of conflict resolution which involves guided conversation between a moderator, a subject, and the audience. He suggests this as a format for our workshop. So, if any of you are involved in a difficult clergy-musician relationship and might be willing to be the "subject" on February  10 let me know. This could be a pretty intense (and public) exercise. I would refer anyone interested to the presenter for more information before making a decision. Who knows, though? This could be an opportunity for some creative harmonic working out of a difficult passage. Something unexpectedly vibrant could come from the experience!

 

In Harmony,

Fern

 

 

 

UPCOMING CHAPTER PROGRAM   

Christmas Choral Concert - Clare College Choir, Cambridge
Saturday, December 14, 7:30 pm
Fairmount Presbyterian Church
2757 Fairmount Blvd. Cleveland Heights 

Clare College Choir
Clare College Choir

  

Veni Emmanuel 

 

The Choir of Clare College  

Cambridge University   

Graham Ross, Conductor  

 

Free Admission.  

 

Cleveland Chapter AGO is sponsoring the reception to be held following the concert.

 

 

 

 

The complete program listing can be found here. Works by Byrd, Howells, Sheppard, Poston, Britten, Bach, Tavener and others. The new Clare College Choir album upon which this concert is based can be downloaded from iTunes.

The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge University: Biography

Since the founding of a mixed voice choir in 1971, the Choir of Clare College has gained an international reputation as one of the leading choral groups in the world. In addition to its primary function of leading services three times a week in the College chapel, the choir keeps an active schedule recording, broadcasting, and performing throughout the UK and the world. The choir has been fortunate to have had four very fine directors: Peter Dennison, John Rutter, Timothy Brown and, since 2010, Graham Ross. In addition to live performances, the choir has produced an impressive catalogue of recordings.

Recent releases on the Harmonia Mundi label include VeniEmmanuel: Music for Advent which was released in September 2013 and Imogen Holst's Choral Works which has been hailed by Gramophone as 'thrilling ... A tribute to the superb ensemble singing of the Choir of Clare College under Graham Ross. The CD has been awarded the coveted Diapson d'Or Découverte and was shortlisted for a 2013 Gramophone Classical Music Award.

Graham Ross, Music Director
Graham Ross

Graham Ross is Director of Music and Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge and Principal Conductor of The Dmitri Ensemble. The composer and conductor of a very broad range of repertoire, he has had works performed throughout Europe and beyond. A passionate believer in the unveiling of both unjustly-neglected and newly-written works, he has given numerous first performances as both a pianist and conductor of a very broad spectrum of composers. 

 

DINNER ANYONE?

Would you like to join some fellow AGO members for dinner before the Clare College concert? We plan to meet at the Larchmere Tavern, 13051 Larchmere Blvd. at  5:30 pm. This restaurant is close to  Fairmount Church. If you would like to join in please email your reservation to Sub-Dean, Barbara MacGregor macmus@roadrunner.com by Tuesday, December 10th.  (See menu at www.larchmeretavern.com)  
 

Or Cookies?

 

Our AGO chapter is joining Fairmount Presbyterian Church in sponsoring the reception for the Clare choir and audience immediately following the program. Traditionally, college students have great appetites! If you can assist by providing cookies, either homemade or from your favorite store, please email Bob Moncrief.

 
 
NEXT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

Monday, February 3, 2014, 7:30 pm, Place TBD
 
 
THIS WEEK IN CLASSICAL MUSIC HISTORY

On this date in 1791 the composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died at the early age of 35 after a short illness. The popular film Amadeus and numerous articles deal with the possibilities around the death of Mozart. Was he poisoned? An infectious disease? Trichinosis? Since he was buried in a pauper's grave there is no body, hence no DNA or other evidence so we will never know for sure. What we do know is that we had an extraordinary,  brilliant, cocky, infuriating, masterful talent with us for a short time. He left us with sublime music and a place for himself in the highest lexicon of composers. His legacy is in stratosphere of immortality to which few ever attain. What to listen to? The Requiem, of course. This video of John Eliot Gardiner's period ensemble singing the complete Requiem has over 1 million hits on You-Tube. The performance looks as sumptuous as it sounds (The chorus performs from memory!) Don't start it unless you have fifty minutes to spare- you will be mesmerised.
Requiem - Mozart by Gardiner
Requiem - Mozart by Gardiner


 
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.   

  

 

 

Buck McDaniel, organ, with Matthew Jones, tenor. Friday, December 6, 7:30 pm. Cleveland premiere of Nico Muhly's O Antiphon Preludes with interspersed chant. Historic St. Peter's Church, 1533 E. 17th Street at Superior, Cleveland. Freewill offering.

 

River Valley Ringers, Elizabeth Lucas, conducting. December 8, Sunday 1:00 pm - & 3:00 pm - Holiday music for handbells. Holiday CircleFest event. Judson Manor, 1890 E. 107 St., Cleveland. Free.

 

Advent Music with music of Hugo Distler. Sunday, December 8, 3:00pm. A service of organ and choral music by Hugo Distler set in a reflective service of Evening Prayer. Violin, flute, oboe, and cello will join First Lutheran's Adult Choir under Director of Music Brian Wentzel. Featured music will include Distler's A Little Advent Music (for combined forces); organ partitas on Savior of the Nations, Come and Wake, Awake!; and Maria Walks amid the Thorn for a cappella choir. Hymns and service music will also be sung by all.  First Lutheran Church, 603 Washington Ave,  Lorain OH

 

A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten, Wed, December 11, 12:10pm - 1:10pm. The sopranos and altos of the Trinity Cathedral Choir with harpist Jody Guinn present this holiday favorite. Trinity Cathedral 2230 Euclid Ave Cleveland OH .

 

Winter  Concert for Chorus, Brass   &  Organ, Sunday, December 15, 2013,  3 pm   Directed by Dr J.D. Goddard, with accompanist Patrick   Wickliffe,  the  Chagrin Valley  Choral  Union will  perform  its annual winter concert to include works by  Palestrina, Holst, Mozart,  and Tye.   Featured will be  the  Magnificat by  Pachelbel (1690 - 1750). Ss  Cosmas  and  Damian Church,  10419   Ravenna  Road, Twinsburg.  

 

A Ceremony of Lessons and Carols,  Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, 3:30 p.m The program features 9 scripture readings of salvation with hymnody or choral of Advent/Christmas in nature.  This presentation will feature the 65 voice Parish Choir, Handbell Choir, Gregorian Schola, and Praise and Worship Ensemble.  Some selections will be:  Gaudete (anonymous); O Nata Lux and O Magnum Mysterium by Lauridsten, The Kings by Cornelius. St. Sebastian Parish, 476 Mull Ave., Akron.

 

The Annual Messiah-Sing, Wednesday, December 18, 12:10 pm. Trinity Chamber Orchestra, soloists, and YOU in the massed choir! Todd Wilson, conductor. Trinity Cathedral, 2230 Euclid Ave.

 

Quire Cleveland, Friday, December 20 & Saturday December 21, 7:30 pm and Sunday, December 22, 3pm. Carols for Quire from the Old and New Worlds (now in its fourth year) celebrates the season with beautiful and inspiring music from yesterday and today, Ross W. Duffin, Director. Trinity Cathedral 2230 Euclid Ave, Cleveland.
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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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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.