My visit to Brick Presbyterian Church

Well, this summer I managed to get at least one organ crawl in.  August 17^th was not just your typical Friday afternoon.  My good friend and colleague, Ed Gattsek, has a varied network of people.  Well, he cashed in a goodie for me that day.  I had the honor to meet one of New York City’s premier organists, Mr. Keith Tóth.  He is the Minster of Music of Brick Presbyterian Church and plays the magnificent sanctuary organ built by Casavant Frères of Saint-Hyacinthe, Canada.

The only way I can sum up the afternoon in one word—breathtaking!  This instrument certainly proves that the legend of the great organ builder, Cavaillé-Coll, can be recreated note for note in today’s modern instrument.  If you would like to read more about this great instrument, please click your mouse here.

Mr. Tóth was gracious enough to spend the afternoon with us demonstrating the instrument, it’s vast tonal resources and other stories that give the instrument more character than just pieces of wood and metal put together.  The organ has a soul and the organ at Brick Church will certainly tell you her story through her diverse palate of sound.  From the mightiest roar to the most delicate hush, Mr. Tóth is certainly one of the luckiest organists in New York City.

Whenever you go on a crawl, you always end up bring more music that you will actually need.  I made sure that I had some French and German Romantic literature available.  This is a Cavaillé-Coll inspired instrument and I was not going to miss out on this opportunity…. not by a long shot!  Since I was the first player at bat after our organ demonstration, I decided to warm-up a little by doing an improvisation on the hymn tune Lasst uns erfreuen (All creatures of our God and King and other various English titles that accompany this tune).  This instrument has every from A to Z and I was humbled when Mr. Tóth stood next to me and encouraged me to push the organ further in its sound.  I was beyond happy—I was like a kid in a candy store!

After a glorious afternoon of playing for each other, we had to part ways.  I am very humbled to have wonderful friends and even more gracious to Keith Tóth for hosting us that Friday afternoon.  I hope to visit this grand instrument again in the future and hear more stories about its place in the realm of church music.  Keith has a gem of an instrument.  This year, he will celebrate his twentieth year as the Minister of Music of Brick Presbyterian Church.  May he enjoy another twenty more years with his marvelous French icon in New York City!

Cheers!

Starting a new church position is like a soft casino opening...

I think the Oceans movies are great cinema works.  Nice pace, great lines, tons of laughs.  Oceans 13 hits one running bit about "soft openings," also known as soft launches for Las Vegas casinos.  Gone are the days of the big grand gala openings that people have waited for months...well, you still get the big grand gala opening...but the place has been up and running for months, basically to get the kinks out and other anomalies.  So, you ask how does this connect?

August 1st was my official start date at Christ Episcopal Church, Ridgewood...which I was on the road returning from a family trip to Williamsburg VA.  That's OK though.  I have already played for one major funeral of a long standing parishioner, one major wedding which the bride was not terribly delayed for once, consulted on another wedding for August, prepared the office space for painting (thank God for our sexton), analyzed the music library, ordered music, still waiting for said music to arrive, put in my 12 cents on things for the coming months well before the 1st, with my first official service on the 5th and a little welcome kibble** afterwards.

So, this church organist basically got the ball rolling before there was a ball in play.  Being a church musician is like a casino in Vegas that is up and running months before the big reveal.  It's OK.  A little birdie told me that there will be a big welcome party in September with much more kibble!  Cheers!

**kibble: a party term for snacks, munchies, or any variety of finger food at a gathering.  You can thank my buddy Jonathan for this term.

I LOVE Lego!!!

OK...while this is not a 'professional' related matter, this is something of the inner child that loves to play.

LEGO ROCKS!

While working from home today, I discovered this awesome link (http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/371#) to propose an organ Lego set.  I want to get the word out and am signing up as a supporter, so go check it out.  Who doesn't enjoy putting together a Lego set?  It's about playtime, too!  It's the best of both worlds for me!

Cheers!

Same Shoes…Different Bench

On August 1^st, I will start as the new Organist and Adult Choirmaster of Christ Church, Ridgewood.  The last couple of weeks have been a mix of emotions.  I have been a very fortunate person with the churches that I have served as organist and music director.  There have been so many lives that have intersected with mine, and I am blessed.  I have forged great friendships with people and in this busy day of Internet, smart phones, texting, tweeting, and other forms of social media, I do my best to keep in touch with people.  So what has me in this contemplative mood?

As I go through several boxes of music and sundry items that I have amassed in almost twenty years, it is almost like going back in time.  So many people have asked me when did I start playing organ.  To be honest, and I still think this today, I was a late bloomer starting piano just before I turned 10 and was literally dropped into playing organ before age 13 (that was a hot summer I will never forget).  From that point onward, it has been this lifelong partnership of regular Sundays that I rarely felt a need to run away from it or abandon.  Instead, I just knew it would be something that would be for life—but not knowing where it would take me.  My mother says that it is a divine calling, one that I should never ignore (although, she feels that I should be more grounded in my Lutheran roots, but I am playing for an Episcopal church).

If I could recommend something to read, it would be Oh the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss.  This should be required reading of every human.  If you haven’t, I will not give it away—just read it.  You will see your life in print on the pages of this children’s classic and you will be in awe.  I wish I read this book years ago, but I’m glad I did this spring.

Ah, my time capsule of music.  There are pieces that I have kept a hold of over the years and they each have a story.  They tell a story of a would-be organist from Brooklyn thinking he knew everything and his journey from the city, through college, and the churches that he would serve beyond.  Some stories are memorable and sweet, others a little bitter, but every one a learning experience.  As I prepare to move my career in several boxes, these last couple of weeks of packing, condensing, and letting go has offered many remembrances.  I can honestly say that I have grown as a musician and in my faith, and will continue to grow.  This is the joy of a life-long learner:  I don’t know everything, but I’m going to have fun trying!  Same organ shoes, but a new bench and a new chapter in my career.

There’s fun to be done!

A Day at the Cathedral Basilica in Newark

Oh yes!!  What could be better than taking a Friday to make music in one of the greatest spaces in Newark, NJ?  Umm...NOTHING!

I had the great honor to perform with my friend, Ed Gattsek.  He's the band teacher at Freehold Township High School and a fine musician.  We've known each other since our grad school days at Teachers College, Columbia University and have collaborated several times with organ and wind ensemble performances, and today was no different.  He has great kids and always impeccable taste in music.

And, to get my hands on the magnum opus built by Schantz Organ Company performing Symphony No. 3: Finale ("Organ" Symphony) by Saint-Saëns, Walton's Crown Imperial, and Puccini's O bio babbino caro with talented kids just validates all the hard work Ed, myself and all the other music educators in the world do to help our kids experience great music and shine!  So, it was special to spend the day with them and playing their last pieces for the school year.  Ed really does know how to find great places to perform, and today was no different!

OK!  You're wondering about the organ?  This is my third time playing this might instrument--which feels like you're flying a 747!  Well, it is everything that an organist could want and them some more.  It's actually two complete pipe organs that can be controlled either from the chancel console, where I am seated in the picture above.  The second console is in the gallery at the read of the cathedral.  I only used the stops for the chancel section, otherwise I'd blow the kids out of the water.  Certainly a place to visit when you're in Newark!  So yeah...I'm a lucky guy!

Cheers!

Accidents do happen!

As a church organist, you would think that it is a relatively safe profession.  No falling engine parts, unless it's an organ pipe with a precarious lean to it.  Nothing that would explode, providing that all mechanical parts that provide wind to the instrument is maintained properly.  And the list can go on and on.  Well, during Easter Sunday this year, I may have created one for the record books.  Or, at least for a few good hearty laughs.

Everything was progressing well.  The choir sounded well.  Flowers were abundant.  Parishioners and guest in their Sunday best.  The choir already knocked one anthem out of the park and by the time for the offering, the choir was ready with a solid arrangement of a Beethoven work, The Heavens Resound.  We're green and good to go!  At least I though.

The piece repeats when you get to the end, so we were on the second take.  All was well until page 6 of the 8-page anthem.  You see, as organists AND choir directors at the same time, we are always conducting from the bench.  Cue the left hand.  Left hand--meet left eye ball.  Left eye ball--meet left hand.  SLAP!  By page 7, the right eye ball is wondering what is going on with its counterpart with all the commotion.  The right hand and feet are trying to keep things together, while the brain is processing this freak accident and why the left hand and eye are not getting along.

You are wondering if the anthem was ruined by this act of musical terror.  Rest assured, everything was in complete control--until the second to last measure.  By the time all body parts agreed everything was under control, the left hand and eye apologize profusely to each other, join the rest of the body--only for the brain to have a mental lapse of judgement, therefore missing a beat.

Oh the blessed joys of Easter and being a musician!  So a word to the wise--musicians or non-musicians--please make sure that all essential functions of your body are happy, alert and in common accord with one another to avoid mutiny or any other form of sabotage.  As for the left eye, I think it is still a little annoyed with the left hand.

Cheers to everyone!

There's a new addition a-comin'!!! Part 3

SHE'S COMING HOME!  After a long wait, the 1905 Estey will leave the rolling hills of Georgia this weekend and make the journey to its new home the following weekend!  I'm so excited!  There's a little prep work and the purchase of some cool accessories, like a lamp for the music rack that I would need to get and those furniture discs to help move the organ console in place.  But once the Estey is here, I can promise some more pictures and hopefully some video as well.

Stay linked to "From the Organ Bench" for the closing chapter on this awesome find!  More later!