2013 AGO Regional - Hartford

Greetings!

It's been a little spell, but I have returned from attending this year's Region I / Region II convention that was hosted in Hartford, Ct.  This was a remarkable undertaking by the regional AGO chapter and I tip my hat to them for a successful event!  Bravo!  Keep in mind that this is Austin Organ territory, but there were a few nice surprises along the way, as far as instruments are concerned.  While I cannot comment on every aspect of the convention, I will hit some of the highlights that I enjoyed during the week.

After making the drive up Sunday (6/30) and settling in my room for the week, it was off to hear Isabelle Demers.  She presented a thrilling recital at St. John's Episcopal Church, West Hartford, CT.  Indeed, she is a remarkable talent and presented a varied program for the audience.  While this was an Austin, the voicing was very French in nature and glorious to listen to during the evening.  I came away with some future ideas for my instrument at my church that we should certainly look into incorporating.

Monday (7/1) we listened to the winners of the Region I and Region II Quimby winners.  They presented a solid program, considering that these two events were in the morning--not to be accomplished unless you have not had your morning coffee.  Personally, I think the highlight of the remainder of the day was the afternoon recital by Anne Kirk Laver at Immanuel Congregational Church, West Hartford, CT.  We will keep an eye on this young lady's career.  She played a commanding set of pieces while using the full tonal resources of their Austin Organ.

The two recitals that thrilled me the most were at Trinity College Chapel (7/2), Hartford featuring Christopher Houlihan on their new Austin console and Todd Wilson (7/3) at Asylum Hill Congregational Church on their well maintained Aeolian-Skinner (surprise-not every organ in CT happens to be an Austin).  Nathan Laube closed out the convention with his recital at Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford with an impressive host of fantasy works from the Baroque to 20th century for organ.

I know this is not even touch on all of the well-designed workshops.  What I have mentioned is just the tip of the iceberg.  Regionals are a great time to recharge, share ideas, meet and reconnect with colleagues, hear powerful new commissioned compositions, and enjoy the favorite places to eat that the city offers.  I will certainly be attending the 2015 regional that will be hosted in New Haven, CT.

There will be a site devoted to candid shots during the convention.  When that link is available, I'll share it with you.  Enjoy the summer and here's to great music.

Through the sands of time....

It's 2013, almost one-third of the year has gone by and I have not posted anything!  YIKES!!!!!!  Well, to everyone--a much belated Happy New Year!

Recently (March 10th to be exact), I had the honor to work with a church colleague in Ringwood, NJ.  Scott Sadlo is a fine organist and director of music at Christ the King Lutheran Church.  He puts on a fine concert each March and for the last two seasons, I have had the honor to sing and accompany the choir.  It's always a joy to create wonderful music.  The pit this year was very fine...string quartet, two horns, two oboes, timpani, and with me sharing the helm for harpsichord, this was a very sophisticated group.  I've earned my stripes...the choir is looking forward to me coming back another year.

And then, there's Holy Week right around the corner!  It's my first one at Christ Church, Ridgewood.  We just had the bishop of the Newark diocese visit--and if I can make it through that coming out of a nasty 48-hour cold, then everything else is cake.

So, to everyone out there....have a wonderful spring (unless your in the northeast...then it's just another gray day outside with dirty mounds of snow still around) and a blessed Easter.

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!