In the November, 25 2018 issue of Vox Humana Douglas O’Neill writes about Charles Tournemire’s L’Orgue Mystique and the Ordinary Form Mass ( 1870-1939). It is unparalleled among Roman Catholic organ music; Tournemire had desired to do for the Roman Catholic Mass what J.S. Bach had done for the Lutheran Mass with his Orgelbüchlein. It is a set of 51 suites for nearly every Sunday and select feast days of the church year. Gregorian chant permeates Tournemire’s music, with motives drawn from the appointed proper chants for the day. Each suite consists of five movements: a “Prélude à l’Introït,” “Offertoire,” “Élévation,” “Communion,” and “Pièce terminale”.
AGO & Organ News
In the News
The AGO National Council is following closely the news of recent allegations of inappropriate behavior by an organ teacher toward his students at institutions of higher education. Council members have reached out to the students to offer their concern and support. The academic institutions are conducting independent investigations about the allegations toward their faculty member, and the results of those investigations will help determine any further action on the part of the Guild.
As a reminder, all AGO members agree to abide by the Code of Ethics, which requires “responsible conduct toward those whom we serve” and to “avoid any sort of abusive behavior, whether verbal, physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, or other.” Read the full Code of Ethics here.
An Interview with Former AGO President Searle Wright, FAGO
In June 1990, professor of music and composer Dan Locklair sat down with former AGO president Searle Wright, FAGO, at First Congregational Church in Binghamton,New York to conduct an extensive interview for The American Organist. The transcript of their talk was published in the September 1992 issue. Dan recently unearthed the recording (on two cassettes), transferred the audio to CDs, and sent them to me for the archives at AGO Headquarters.
Since 2018 is the centenary of Searle Wright’s birth, we would like to share the audio of this fascinating interview, in which Wright discusses a wide range of topics, from his early development as both a classical and theater organist, work as a musician in New York City (including the first U.S. performance he gave of Tallis’s Spem in Alium), his work with the Guild, his friendship with Herbert Howells and Leo Sowerby, and the Columbia riots that really brought an end to his work in New York.
The interview is available on the AGO YouTube Channel.
Central Arizona Chapter Completes its Pipe Organ Encounter, Opus 2
After a 15 year hiatus, the Central Arizona Chapter of the AGO held its second Pipe Organ Encounter from June 17-22, 2018. Sixteen students from Metro Phoenix, Texas, Kansas, Las Vegas, Kentucky, and Idaho enjoyed significant instruments throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area. Some were talented pianists who had never played the organ, and some were in their second or third POE. Local faculty were mainly from the graduate program at Arizona State University with Prof. Kimberley Marshall as their primary instructor. Amanda Mole, laureate of several national and international competitions and in her final stages of doctoral work at the Eastman School of music, was the featured recitalist for the week.
The week began Sunday evening with a barbecue where the students could meet the faculty and play harpsichord and piano for each other. Thanks to dedicated volunteer drivers and a fantastic line-up of caterers, students enjoyed more time at the console than is usually the case in a POE. Each student was at the console for three hours, enjoying 90 minutes of instruction and 90 minutes of practice. There was open console time every afternoon or evening. We were fortunate in using churches that had smaller tracker instruments in chapels in addition to larger instruments in their sanctuaries. Arizona State University was extremely generous in making available not only their practice rooms, but also the Organ Hall with the “Fabulous Fritts.”
The first workshop was by Dr. Guy Whatley on articulation, using the Richards and Fowkes organ at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church in Scottsdale, AZ. Dr. Whatley relied on primary sources and covered a wide range of repertoire from the 16th through the 19th centuries. The faculty presented an extremely colorful and well registered recital on the Sipe organ at First United Methodist Church, Phoenix, AZ, that evening. Tuesday’s presentation was done by Brian Berghaus of Berghaus Pipe Organ Builders on the genesis and construction of his organ at La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church, Scottsdale, AZ, with a large number of the congregation also in attendance. This was followed by a registration demonstration by chief voicer Jonathon Oblander with carefully selected repertoire. On Wednesday the students visited the world class Musical Instrument Museum in Scottsdale, and the day closed with a powerful recital by Amanda Mole back at La Casa de Cristo. Thursday was the high point for many of the students, as we enjoyed lunch with Lew Williams playing the awesomely massive Wurlitzer. The staff was gracious enough to allow the students some console time on this singularly amazing instrument. Dr. Skye Hart gave two sessions on improvisation and hymn playing, with even beginners discovering something new in themselves. Friday was dedicated to the student recital on the Casavant organ at American Lutheran Church in Sun City, AZ.
The students were housed at Arizona Christian University in Phoenix. The rooms were amazingly large with full size stoves and refrigerators. Needless to say, no one went hungry. Large common rooms allowed evening practice on digital pianos with headphones, as well as an acoustic upright piano.
The entire week was gratifying for all. All the students rated the faculty as one of the best aspects of the month. Several students committed to auditioning for the local scholarship program, brand new organists found a whole new realm of expression, and the veterans who were driving and chaperoning also came away with new insights.
Thanks to Our 2018 Silent Auction Bidders
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the donors of more than 160 unique and interesting auction items and the 193 bidders who placed 749 bids. The online auction raised approximately $20,000 for the AGO Annual Fund. As we close out the auction, we are putting winning bidders and donors in touch with each other, as appropriate, and sending auction items to winning bidders. Please be patient as we complete this process. For further information or assistance, please e-mail fathurman@agohq.org.
Vox Humana Completes its First Season
Our affiliate journal Vox Humana has just concluded its first season, and now has 20 articles online. With over 800 subscribers and 1,000+ followers on social media, this new project presents current ideas, trends, and research about the organ in a contemporary format, and is becoming a respected and valued resource about every aspect of organ art worldwide.
