December - American Guild of Organists

Principal Pipings
Vol. 68, Issue 5 December, 2012
Greetings from the dean
Greetings of the Season, AGO friends!
It’s hard to believe that December is here. Wasn’t it just a couple of weeks ago that we had our
choral and organ reading session to kick off the year, followed by that wonderful recital given by
Katelyn Emerson? And our hymn festival and workshop led by Eric Wall gave us some great
ideas to introduce into our service playing—I know I’ve already implemented some of his suggestions.
And we’re just getting started! Your Executive Committee has some exciting programming coming in January, beginning with our social in Wilmore where we’ll learn more about some of the
fantastic organs Schuyler Robinson played when he was in Europe. And be sure to mark your
calendars for Alan Morrison’s recital in Louisville, jointly sponsored by our chapter and Louisville
AGO. Details for both of these January activities, as well as upcoming events in February and
March, are listed in the calendar of events found elsewhere in this newsletter. Make plans now
to attend, and bring a friend!
Speaking of friends, if you’re stumped for gift ideas why not consider giving your friends a gift from AGO National this year.
From AGO sweatshirts and t-shirts, to CDs, to various educational resources, they have something for nearly everyone who
likes music. You can also give the gift of membership or a subscription to The American Organist magazine—the perfect
present for that beginning organist that you know. For the musician who has everything, consider a contribution to AGO’s
Annual Fund, Endowment Fund, or New Organist Fund in his/her honor. (It’s even tax-deductible!) And in all the gift-giving
frenzy, don’t forget yourself—maybe 2013 is the year you give yourself the gift of guild certification. Robert Whitaker, our
Education Chair, has written some great articles recently about certification. If you would like to become certified, we’re
here to help!
With the arrival of the holiday season, many of you are working overtime to prepare the best music possible for your congregations and audiences. Through your efforts, you are fulfilling the mission of the Guild by enriching people’s lives with
your organ and choral music. Thank you! Oh, and Merry Christmas! See you in the New Year!
Jane
A publication by the American Guild of Organists
Lexington, Kentucky Chapter
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Members in the News
Where in the world is
Schuyler Robinson?
Send us your guess!
We knew Schuyler would come well prepared to host the
chapter’s January event, a member’s social and presentation about French and German organs, but we didn’t expect
him to go all the way to Europe to get pictures.
Where is he? Send your guess of church and town/country
to the chapter webmaster at [email protected]. The
first correct respondent will be listed on www.agolexington.
org. Hint: It’s not the Sydney Opera House. (He played
there on a prior trip!)
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Principal Pipings is published ten times annually by the
Lexington, KY AGO Chapter. The chapter also maintains
the web site www.agolexington.org.
Members in the News
Joan Stafford
Organ Dedicatory Recital and Public Reception to Celebrate Organist’s Retirement
Scott Heydinger, Newsletter Editor
Shortly after Joan Stafford and her husband arrived in
Danville, KY, the organist at Centenary United Methodist
Church vacated the position. Little did Joan know at the
time but this created an opportunity for a long career as an
organist to come. As a teacher of piano and trumpet at nearby Centre College Joan was asked to take the job. Joan
had a Masters degree in piano and had previously played in
orchestra and band, but had never had the prior opportunity
to take organ lessons. “Think about it,” she was told.
Tim Johnson, Director of Music at Centenary, writes, “We
are thankful for Joan and her continued faithful ministry to
her church at Centenary.” Be sure to join Joan, her family
members coming from Lexington, Michigan, Ohio and Indiana and many other guests and friends in celebration of a
beautifully restored pipe organ and a long, successful musical career!
Not to be intimidated, Joan accepted. She began with English service music since it didn’t require the use of pedals.
As she learned pedal technique she asked for the hymns a
month in advance to properly prepare. “The minister probably won’t like it, but he’ll get used to it” Joan was told by her
teacher, the organ instructor from Centre College, who gave
her lessons on the Reuter organ so that she could get more
familiar with the instrument.
Dedicatory/Retirement Organ Recital
Stephen G. Schaeffer, Organist
During Joan’s career the Centenary community experienced
a multi-year period of silencing of the pipes as the downtown Danville area experienced a massive flood. With their
church condemned as a biohazard the worshipers moved to
their Christian Life Center, a multipurpose facility more suited
to athletic events and no place for a pipe organ. Now with a
new sanctuary, the Centenary pipe organ was removed from
storage and refurbished by the Reuter Organ Company.
The Reuter Organ Company and Centenary church will
host a celebration of Joan’s service and the refurbished organ with a recital by Stephen Schaeffer. The event is open
to the public and a reception will follow. Details are to the
right.
Joan is a member of the Lexington Chapter of the American
Guild of Organists and Sigma Alpha Iota, a professional musical fraternity for women.
SAT / 12.08.12
3:00 pm
Centenary United Methodist Church Reuter Organ
1441 Perryville Rd., Danville, KY
Chorale Variations on the theme “Veni Creator,” Op. 4
Maurice Duruflé
Sheep May Safely Graze, Johann Sebastian Bach
Fugue in E-flat Major, BWV 552b, J.S. Bach
Three Hymn Tune Preludes
on Happy Land, George Shearing
on New Britain, Craig Phillips
on Greensleeves, Richard Purvis
Noel: Where have all the merry shepherds gone?
Claude Balbastre
Two English Pieces
Voluntary No. 1 in D Major, William Boyce
Solemn Melody, Walford Davies
from Pièces de fantaisie, Troisième Suite, Op. 54, Vierne
Impromptu
Carillon de Westminster
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Area Events
FRI / 12.07.12
G.F. Handel: Messiah
Christ Church Cathedral, Lexington
SAT / 12.08.12
Joan Stafford Retirement & Organ Dedicatory Recital
Stephen G. Schaeffer, Organist, Reuter Organ, Sponsor
Centenary United Methodist Church, Danville
7.30p 3:00p SUN / 12.09.12
Sing Noel, Lexington Chamber Chorale
Central Baptist Church, Lexington
SAT / 12.15.12
Handel: Messiah
Cathedral of Christ the King, Lexington
SUN / 01.06.12
Glenna Metcalf, Organ Recital & Evensong
St. Francis in the Fields, Louisville
FRI / 01.11.13
Members’ Social and a French/German Organ Tour
Sights and Sounds by Schuyler Robinson
Wesley Village Community Center, Wilmore
TUE / 01.22.13
Alan Morrison, Organ Recital
Joint meeting with Louisville AGO, St. Agnes Church, Louisville
SUN / 01.27.13
2:00p Christ the King Concert Series
The Women’s Choirs of Lexington Catholic H.S.
and Lexington Christian Academy
Cathedral of Christ the King, Lexington
SAT / 02.23.13
Pedals, Pipes and Pizza
5:00p 7:30p 5:00p 7:00p
Lexington AGO Sponsored Event
7:30p
Lexington AGO Sponsored Event
Lexington AGO Sponsored Event
Job Openings
New Listing
First Christian Church, 555 E. Lexington Avenue, Danville, KY. Part-time position as organist for Sunday morning Worship
and special services involving music ministry. Send resume via email to [email protected] OR jerry@firstchristian
danville.com. See www.agolexington.org for further details and more listings.
Organ for Sale
A Baldwin C670, purchased 11 years ago with 3 manuals, 2 expression pedals, full foot board, walnut cabinet, and
6 Viscount V-28 speakers is offered for sale by Winchester First Church of God. It is in perfect working condition.
Price:$7,000.00. For more information, contact Amy Berryman (859) 806-2084 or [email protected].
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Event Details
A French/German Organ Tour:
Sights and Sounds by Schuyler Robinson
Members’ Social to Follow Lexington Chapter’s January Event
FRI / 01.11.13
7:00p
Wesley Village Community Center
1125 Lexington Rd., Wilmore, KY
Travel with Schuyler to France and Germany to see and hear the organs of France and Germany that he encountered during
his summer 2012 tour. Bring finger food to share for a social time following the program.
Wilmore is easily accessible from Lexington and environs, and not as far away as you think! It’s a curve-less, 4-lane-all-theway. Drive West on Hwy 68 (Harrodsburg Rd.), or you can approach 68W from 27 South (Nicholasville Rd) by way of the
Wilmore exit onto 29S. Either way, when you arrive at the 29S/68W stoplight intersection, proceed .6 miles on 68W to the
“Y” in the road (Marathon service station). Turn left at the “Y”, following the sign directing you to Wilmore/Asbury University.
After a 1-mile drive through idyllic Wilmore countryside, turn right into Wesley Center. At the stop sign inside the entrance,
turn right again. The Community Center is on the left, recognized by its large, cupola-topped, covered portico. It’s a beautiful venue, with a great projection system, and home to Gerard Faber’s Johannus organ. Join us for a relaxing finish to the
busy holiday season!
8th Annual Bach Marathon
SAT / 03.23.13
9:00a
Maxwell St. Presbyterian Church
180 E. Maxwell St., Lexington
The morning session of the marathon will feature organ works performed by local artists on the church’s Rieger organ. The
church is located one block east of Good Samaritan Hospital. Clif Cason reports that all pieces are accounted for. See
www.agolexington.org for a program.
SAT / 03.23.13
1:00p
Faith Lutheran Church
1000 Tates Creek Rd., Lexington
Vocal and instrumental works will be performed by Central Kentucky musicians at Faith Lutheran Church in Chevy Chase. Interested performers are asked to contact Kristy Kirsch ([email protected]) or Bonnie Harstad (bharstad@windstream.
net) by February 1. A schedule of performances will be posted on Faith Lutheran’s website (www.faithlutheranchurch.com).
Correction
The correct date of the dedicatory recital of a new Randall Dyer & Associates organ at the Cathedral of Christ the King,
Lexington, is May 3, 2013.
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