THOMAS MURRAY IN RECITAL

October, 2010
RCCO Toronto Centre Newsletter
Volume 13 Issue 2
THOMAS MURRAY IN RECITAL
ORGAN SPECTACULAR!
Music at Metropolitan and the Toronto Centre RCCO present
Yale University Organist Thomas Murray in recital.
Friday, October 1, at 7:30 pm Admission: $20
Metropolitan United Church 56 Queen St. E. At Church
Music by Saint-Saens, Hindemith, Widor, Schumann and Locklair
Thomas Murray, concert organist and recording artist, is
University Organist and Professor of Music at Yale
University, where he has served on the faculty for 29 years,
and has taught many of the leading performers of a younger
generation. Widely known for his interpretations of
Romantic repertoire and orchestral transcriptions, his
recordings are highly acclaimed. High Fidelity has credited
him with “ ….consummate skill and artistry in treating the
organ as a great orchestra” and American Record Guide said
of his Elgar CD: “Murray’s performance and his handling of
the immense resources of the Woolsey Hall organ are
beyond superlatives … the shape of every phrase, the use of
every color….could not be more perfect.”
Master class - Saturday, October 2, at 10am - free admission
Both events at Metropolitan United Church, 56 Queen St. E.
For Info. phone 416-363-0331 Ext. 26
Meet for coffee at 9:30 am class begins at 10 am
Students playing:
Rachel Mahon
Aeterna Christi Munera by Healey Willan
John Paul Farahat Alleluias sereins (Ascension Suite) Olivier Messiaen
Sarah Svendsen
Chorale #3 in A minor Cesar Franck
Stephen Boda
Toccata (Suite) Maurice Durufle
These students are undergraduates at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto.
Thomas Murray’s Program is on Pg. 10
2
The President’s Voice
James Bailey
eflecting on the opportunity that Tom Fitches provided, the
morning of September 18th, for our Centre Members to visit
three north Toronto Churches, and to hear and play their
organs, I feel that it is the occasion to recognize the role that organ builders play in the lives
of RCCO members. What we saw in all these churches were organs which have evolved in
response to geographical moves, building alterations (acoustical as well as placement), and
evolving musical requirements and tastes.
R
In the case of the gallery organ at St. Clements, we heard an organ which was built by Mead
& Son of Montreal in 1842 for the earlier Cathedral Church of St. James. It subsequently
served (old) St. Paul’s, Bloor Street, Trinity Church, Aurora, and the home of the Hillary
family in Aurora, before becoming the gallery organ of St. Clement’s, used antiphonally with
its Chancel Organ (two organists—not coupled).
At Eglinton St. Georges United Church, a 1968 Casavant designed by Lawrence Phelps has been “Anglicized” by
Harrison and Harrison (who added the requisite Tuba and 32’ pedal reed) and considerably enhanced acoustically by
the church’s stunning architectural alterations of earlier this decade. A moveable console allows for flexibility of
placement which permits changes to the choir and congregational seating.
The Glenview Presbyterian Church organ had its beginnings as an instrument designed and built by Casavant Freres
in 1930 (I believe that the Englishman, Stephen Stoot was the Technical Director of that time) for the home of W.W.
Evans in Erindale, Ontario. It began its life of “divine service” in 1945 when it was moved to North Parkdale United
Church. When, in 1962, this congregation was disbanded and the building became a Greek Orthodox, “organless”,
house of worship, it was moved to its current home, Glenview Presbyterian. Always an organ of impressive
proportions for a residential organ, at Glenview (where I heard it being used for the funeral of Alan Cowle, one time
owner of our former International Music and a former Director of Music at Glenview) its tutti dropped to a
mezzo-piano half-way down the nave. A rebuild by the firm of Guilbault-Therien in 1993 resulted in an organ what,
while a bit raucous heard in the chancel, has managed to conquer the acoustical challenges of a long and quite
un-resonant nave.
The Organ Crawl concluded back at St. Clement’s where (as a delicious lunch likely described elsewhere was being
prepared) we had the opportunity of hearing the current main organ, which is the product of some four or five
“interventions”—including changes in placement of some divisions, changes of pipe-work, console replacement,
additions and re-voicings. The success of the current organ is clearly due to the strong leadership of Tom Fitches,
Director of Music at St. Clements. It is no easy task to achieve integrity in concept and cohesiveness in sound
through such an evolution. The building has gone through architectural (as elegant as those of Eglinton St. George’s)
and acoustical improvements which can also alter the tonal impact of an instrument. Thankfully, in the case of St.
Clements, the refurbished terrazzo floor and extended chancel have enhanced the completed instrument.
We must remember that none of these instruments have come together “accidently” or are simply the product of good
luck or someone’s financial benevolence. I assure you from my own association with organ projects that there has
been a “champion” who has pushed the project from beginning to end. There has been an organ builder who has
invested untold hours in consideration and design (and much “on spec” leading up to congregational approvals, I am
sure). And without an organist who has a clear sense of what is needed (technically, financially and politically) and a
commitment to the project, an organ project will likely die.
Perhaps, by way of a postscript, I would take this opportunity to recognize Alan Jackson of Alan T. Jackson &
Company, who has had such a leading role, from the organ builders’ side of the equation, in providing the Toronto
organ community with well designed and built instruments—which continue to be competently serviced by the firm
under the management of Robert Hiller.
3
ORGAN CRAWL LIKED BY ALL
Beverley Oziewicz
B eauty for the ear and eye awaited the merry band of pilgrims along a seven-block walk on a bright Saturday morning,
September 18, in an Anglican, United and Presbyterian church. Four organs were visited in these three churches, the
first, oldest and smallest being the 1842 4-stop Mead instrument sitting in the gallery of St. Clement’s Anglican.
Visitors were astonished by the beauty and clarity of its tone.
The four-manual Casavant in Eglinton St. George’s United, two blocks
north, sat smack-dab in the centre of the 150-foot-square space,
surrounded by about eight ranks of chairs. Its combination of English
and French characteristics was ably demonstrated by organist Peter
Merrick in his playing of the Elgar Nimrod variation
One wall of this beautifully refurbished space is lined by the higherlevel thrust chancel into which, for traditionally styled services, the
organ can be raised like a trap door and folded back on itself, as one
might fold back a strip of broadloom which has been invisibly sliced
along two parallel lines. The console, remaining always on the same
level, is then wheeled along this sunken highway to its final central
position, surrounded by the chancel a few feet higher.
Peter Merrick demonstrates the organ
At our last stop, Glenview Presbyterian, where the intense reds and blues of
the stained glass windows hallow the interior, the unavoidable absence that
day of newly appointed organist Michael Bloss was compensated for by the
arrival of Janet MacFarlane Peaker, who played Buxtehude for us. Janet was
certainly in her element following her recent organ tours through France.
This four-manual Casavant was refurbished by Guilbault-Therien in the last
decade, the specifications being outlined for us, as was the case for all the
organs, in a carefully prepared handout.
Janet Peaker performs Buxtehude
Back at St. Clement’s we heard the three-manual Casavant,
reconfigured and enlarged three times in recent decades, largely
through the generosity of parishioner and philanthropist Don
Wright, and played for us by organist Tom Fitches, responsible
for the redesign and voicing of the instrument in conjunction with
Casavant. It is his “baby”, and the love with which he
demonstrated the various stops in their full registers was only
surpassed by the beauty of his improvisations.
Gastronaomy, another of Tom’s specialties, was evidenced in the
delicious lunch we enjoyed of hot pies and quiches with superb
pastry, spinach and strawberry salad, cole slaw, pasta, over which
wine and conversation flowed.
A splendid day from the musical, social and gastronomic points of
view, and an enviable kick-start to our new RCCO season.
The Grande Orgue in the renovated St. Clement’s Chancel
4
PHANTHOMS OF THE ORGAN !
OHHHHH, YAHHHH!!
Friday, October 29, 10pm - in the sanctuary at
Metropolitan United Church
56 Queen St. E. at Church
Co-sponsored by the Toronto Centre RCCO.
Admission by donation to support organ students.
Some real scary music played by Rachel Mahon,
Sarah Svendsen, Stephen Boda, Patricia Wright,
Michael Bloss, Tom Fitches, and…....THE PHANTHOM
BE THERE IF YOU DARE
Organ Skills Workshop
Saturday, November 20, 2010
The Toronto Centre is presenting a 2-hour workshop for skills development. It is a FREE “boot camp” for new and notso-new music people charged with providing organ hymn accompaniment. Participants have a choice of attending either
the morning in Markham or an afternoon session in Port Credit. These sessions facilitated by Gordon Mansell and led by
Lydia Pedersen are designed to give hands-on instruction and will focus on providing solutions for pianists pressed into
playing the organ. Participants are encouraged to bring lots of questions, and one hymn or short voluntary to play or to
use as an example (optional). The locations for each seminar are: St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Markham
(45 stop Allen Heritage organ, installed 2010) 9:30 – 11:30 and St. Andrew’s Memorial Presbyterian Church in Port
Credit (22 stop Casavant, installed 2008) 2:00 – 4:00 pm.
As members of the RCCO, if you know of any newbie organists who would benefit from a bit of a primer, then please
have them contact Gordon Mansell through email at [email protected].
2010
BULLETIN
November issue
To be mailed
November 3
Submissions are due
Saturday, October 30 to:
tfitches@stclements–
church.org
THE BULLETIN is published by the Toronto Centre
eight times a year. Send events listings , submissions,
and editorial material to Tom Fitches, Editor, at St.
Clement’s Anglican Church 59 Briar Hill
A v e . , T o r o n t o O n . , M 4 R 1 H 8
Or email: [email protected]
Letters to the editor or to the
president are encouraged
Web-site: www.rccotoronto.ca
5
Freebie Recital Series
St. James Cathedral Music at Midday
King and Church Sts. Tues. at 1:00 PM
October
5 TBA
12 Julian Bewig, (Germany) organ
19 Simon Walker, organ
26 Thomas van der Luit, organ
November
2 Victoria Hathaway, oboe
9 Jonathan Oldengarm, organ
16 Simon Walker, organ
17
Metropolitan United Church Noon at Met
56 Queen St. E
Thurs. 12:15-12:45PM
October
7 Matthew Coons, organ
14 Julian Bewig (Germany), organ
21 Trevor Wilson, recorder; William Wright, organ
28 Miriam Tikotin, soprano; Suzy Smith, piano
November
4 No concert
11 Patricia Wright, organ
18 Michael Bloss, organ; and guest trumpeter
Christ Church Deer Park
Lunchtime Chamber Music
1570 Yonge St. at Heath Thurs. 12:10 pm
October
14 Allison Arens, soprano;
Imre Olah, organ/piano
21 Sara Moorehouse, flute; Jeanie Chung, piano
28 Mara Plotkin, clarinet; Christine Faye, piano
Twilight Recital Series
Sundays 4:00pm
St. James Cathedral, King & Church St.
October
3 Andrew Adair, organ
10 Victoria Hathaway, oboe
November
7 Andrew Adair, organ
The RCCO Toronto Centre
encourages all
underemployed
members to contact
Gerald Martindale at
416-551-5183
Email: [email protected]
He will put your name
on the Toronto Centre
Supply Organist List.
A list of organists is available to all churches
who need supply organists
Emergency requests
are also handled.
86 Orchard Park Blvd.,
Toronto, Ontario,
Canada
M4L 3E2
Alan T. Jackson & Company Ltd.
Pipe Organ Sales & Service
Regional Representative for
Casavant Fréres
Alan T. Jackson, President
Tel: 416-481-8910 fax: 416-481-6247
Email: [email protected]
Service department:
Robert Hiller, Manager
Alice Hiller, Secretary
Tel. 416-481-9080, fax 416-481-2260
Toll Free 1-877-311-0103
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.atj1.com
6
AGO NATIONAL CONVENTION
By David Wiends
Washington, DC 4-8 July, 2010 - Perspectives from a first-timer
I had selected the option of joint AGO/RCCO membership at renewal time and decided to take the next logical step and
attend a National Convention. This was made easy by the location, Washington, DC, a relatively easy nine hour drive
from Toronto. As well, Hugh Drogmueller from the London Centre wanted to attend and we could share expenses.
We were not disappointed in our first National. It was wonderful. The convention is very large—to use a slang term
perhaps humongous. It was limited to approximately 2100 participants simply because there are not venues large
enough to hold more. Many events are repeated and early registration is advised not to be disappointed. However we
found it fruitful to check at the registration desk at a sold-out concert as you could usually ‘crash’ if you were prepared
to sit on the chancel steps. One such event was the Bach Vespers in St Paul’s Lutheran. Consider the irony: about 50
folks actually crashing a Church Service on a 40C Monday afternoon in an already packed church. And they were glad
they did. We worshiped using Cantata 130 (Herr Gott, dich loben alla wir). This was the cantata for Michaelisfest and
was beautifully and worshipfully performed by the Washington Bach Consort. The Vespers was fully integrated with
music, Scripture and homily. It’s good when we can get Worship right. Unfortunately…
Major events (Opening Convocation and Concert, St Celica Organ Recital and Closing Concert) were held in spaces
large enough to hold all of us: The National Cathedral, US Naval Academy Chapel, and the Basilica of the Shrine of the
Immaculate Conception. Washington has many beautiful and organ friendly worship spaces. By organ friendly these
spaces had hard floors and walls with little or no carpeting. It seems every major Christian denomination has a presence
suitable for a National Capital. I really complement these Washington Churches. Not only were the spaces wonderful
for the organ and its music, they were beautiful and they were comfortable. It was 100F for many of the events and the
air conditioning was not only effective, it was quiet. At no time did was there any noise distraction. This is all the more
amazing when you consider the volume of some of these spaces.
Along with the Canadian builders Casavant and Letourneau, we were heard instruments by Lively-Fulcher, Dobson, MP
Moeller, EM Skinner, Hutchings, Aeolian-Skinner and Schoenstein. As well we heard quite a bit of Walker Digital. In
this category as well as the now familiar 32’ digital we heard whole divisions of digital. For example the US Naval
Academy organ (Hutchings/Moeller V/268R) consists of 15,688 equivalent pipes and 5,773 are actual pipes and the
remainder Walker digital. The National Cathedral (EM Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner IV/189R) has complete digital choruses
in the rear gallery augmenting the chancel organ to support a full cathedral. At the workshops this prompted many to ask
if it was the way of the future.
The concerts for the most part exceed expectations. We heard many Canadians such as Michael Unger and Isabel
Demers perform and no fewer than three major compositions by Rachael Laurin one of them for harp and organ
commissioned for the convention. A lot of credit goes to our organ education system and teachers as they are certainly
producing prodigious world-class talent.
However the closing concert at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception was little less than satisfying. The MP
Moeller Organ (IV 124R Gallery, 48R Chancel with two consoles) did not live up to the performer (David Briggs et al)
or the music. Technical difficulties meant it took a full half-hour to get the consoles to communicate with one another.
As well Mr. Brigg’s four movement improvised symphony was a little less than successful when he introduced the
choral Lasst uns erfreuen in the pedal and gaps of dead stops and notes occurred.
To this hearer this was not the norm as all other events were flawless. The organizers of the Washington National deserve kudos for pulling off a spectacular event.
There are a few items we will remember for our next time.
Continued on pg. 7
7
Musical terms explained:
•
•
•
We will consider coming early or staying a few days
after as there were a number of events and concerts
available.
Be patient with the logistics. It is almost impossible to
move about 2100 folks to churches about a city without
some issues.
Be prepared to purchase items/music in the exhibits.
There are good bargains available.
Finally, these concerts and worship services of the AGO and
RCCO conventions are among the best our profession has to
offer. Participate and enjoy them without reservation.
Membership Matters
The following people have become new members of the
Toronto Centre:
Wayne Gilpin Mus Bac MMus BEd as a Regular Member
PO Box 597 Alliston ON. L9R 1V7 Tel: 416-887-2151
Email: [email protected] Postions: Minister of Music —
Westminster United Church, Orangeville, ON.
The Windbag
Metropolitan United Church Carillonneur Gerald Martindale
recently completed his 5th and most extensive carillon concert
tour of Europe. From July 28 to Aug. 29 inclusive he
performed 28 carillon recitals in England, Denmark, Sweden,
Lithuania, Germany, Holland, and Belgium.
Elisa Mangina of the Toronto Centre has won the judges' prize
in the St. Luke's 2010 Hymn Tune Competition for her original
tune "Glenlake." The competition was sponsored by St. Luke's
Anglican Church in Victoria, BC, in celebration of their 150th
anniversary.
Thirty-four tunes were submitted by composers in Canada, the
USA, and the UK. The new hymn, with words by Judy
Trueman, will be premiered at the parish's Patronal Festival
service on Sunday, October 17. Congratulations Elisa!
Upcoming Toronto Centre Events
Friday, October 1, 7:30 pm Thomas Murray Recital at Metropolitan United.
Saturday, October 2, 10am Masterclass with Thomas Murray
Friday, October 29th 10 pm Phantoms of the Organ—
Metropolitan United
Saturday, November 20 Organ Skills Workshops
Friday, January 14, 2011 New Years Banquet, Guest
Speaker Eric Friesen
Saturday February 19 Professional Support Workshops
Obligato - being forced to practice
Dominant - what parents must be if they expect
their children to practice
Con moto - yeah, baby, I have a car
Allegro - a little car
Metronome - short, city musician who can fit into a
Honda Civic
Lento - the days leading up to Easto
Largo - beer brewed in Germany or the Florida Keys
Con spirito - drunk again
Tonic - a medicinal drink consumed in great quantity
before a performance,and in greater quantity
afterwards
Sotto voce - singing while drunk
Piu animato - clean out the cat's litter box
Colla voce - this shirt is so tight I can't sing
Improvisation - what you do when the music falls
down
Prelude - warm-up before the clever stuff
Flats - English apartments
8
Concerts and Events
October
Glionna Mansell
Corporation
Saturday, October 23, 7pm A Night of Operatic Obsessions
Deanna Pauletto, Soprano; Annalisa Oucharenko, Mezzo-Soprano;
With guest artists Rocco Rupolo, Tenor; Gene Wu, Baritone and
Benjamin Cruchley, Piano. Grace Church on-the-Hill
300 Lonsdale Rd., Toronto, ON. Admission: $30 Adults, $25
Seniors/Students. Info. 416-892-3525
November
DB-390
80 Stop / Three-Manual Console
Friday, November 5, 7:30 pm Organ Recital with Dr. Andrew
Henderson, Director of Music & Organist at Madison Avenue
Presbyterian Church, New York City, performing at Trinity United
Church (461 Park Ave. at Main St.), Newmarket On.
Tickets $20 (adults) and $10 (students) available from church
office 905-895-4851 or at the door. Reception following concert!
Saturday, November 13, 7:30 pm The Oratory, Holy Family
Church, 1372 King St. West. Music of J.S. Bach & Vincent
Lubeck. Philip Fournier, Organist
Sunday, November 14 at 3:00 pm Diane Bish will perform the
inaugural concert of the new Allen organ at St. Patrick’s Catholic
Church Mississauga On. Info: 416-769-5224
Sunday, November 21, 3:00 pm “Made in Canada” Quartet
Sharon Wei (viola; Judy Kang, Stradivarius violin; Rachel Mercer,
Stradivarius cello; Angela Park, piano.
Royal York Road united Church 851 Royal York Road.
Admission: $20 suggested donation Tel: 416-231-9401
Music by Faure, Brahms, Mozart and Ravel.
When concert and recording artist, Diane Bish heard her first
Renaissance™ organ, she became so impressed with its tonal
integrity and quality that she asked Allen Organ Company to
jointly develop a series of instruments with her own special
design touches. The result is the unique,
Quantum™ technology -based Diane Bish Signature Series
Organs.
Glionna Mansell
Corporation
presents Diane
Bish in concert.
www.dianebishconcert.ca
See and hear Diane inaugurate the newest Allen Heritage™
organ on Sunday November 14, 2010. She will be performing on
a spectacular 50-stop, three-manual concert instrument crafted
specifically for Mississauga’s St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. For
more information and tickets to this rare opportunity visit
www.dianebishconcert.ca
To learn more about the Diane Bish Signature Series, the Elite
program or any of the other fine digital organs from Allen Organ
Company, please contact Gordon Mansell, President and Artistic
Director at: 416-769-5224
Glionna Mansell Corporation
represents excellence
in organ building and performance
www.glionnamansell.com
416-769-5224, toll free: 1-877-769-5224
9
IMPORTANT--PLEASE RESPOND NOW
Coming up on Saturday, Feb.19,2011
Professional Support Day.
NOW is your chance to influence the
content of this workshop! Please check
two or three topics that you are most
interested in hearing about.
♦
Tax law for organists
♦
Copyright issues for church
musicians
♦
Avoiding injury: how to use your
body when playing
♦
Job hunting: the resume and cover
letter; networking; upgrading your
skills
♦
Clergy/organist relationships
Employment contracts
♦
Easy repertoire for preludes and
postludes
♦
Choir directing as a ministry
♦
Managing stress and avoiding burn
out Using Internet resources
wisely
(Your response does not commit you to
attending the event, but it will help
us help YOU, our members. Please
respond now, before you forget!)
Music at St. Clement’s
Thomas Fitches, Director of Music
John Paul Farahat, Organ Scholar
Valerie Hume-Oliver, Associate
Conductor
Sunday, October 17, 2010, 11am
Choral Mattins
Music: Jubilate in C & Rejoice in the Lamb
by Benjamin Britten
Email your responses to:
[email protected]
or send by regular mail to:
Elisa Mangina
282 High Park Ave.
Toronto, ON M6P 2S7
Sunday, October 31, 2010, 4pm
Commemoration of All Souls
Music: Messe Solennelle - Louis Vierne
St Clement’s Anglican Church
59 Briar Hill Ave., Toronto, 416-483-6664
www.stclements-church.org
10
THOMAS MURRAY RECITAL
PROGRAM
Rhapsody on a Breton Theme, opus 7, number 1
(Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)
Sonata II (1937) Paul Hindemith (1895-1963)
I.
Lebhaft
II.
Ruhig bewegt
III.
Fugue
Four movements from Symphonie II
Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937)
I.
Praeludium Circulare
II.
Pastorale
III.
Andante
VI. Final
INTERMISSION
Four Sketches for Organ or Pedal Piano, opus 58
(1845) Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
I.
in C minor
II.
in C major
III.
in F minor
IV. in D-flat major
Glory and Peace, a Suite of Seven Reflections for
Organ (2008)
Dan Locklair (born 1949)
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
“King of Glory, King of Peace” (Prelude)
“… seven whole days…” (Pavane)
“… I will praise thee…” (Galliard)
“…I will love thee…” (Aria)
“… with my utmost heart…” (Scherzo)
“… I will sing thee…” (Trio)
“…e’en eternity’s too short to extol
thee” (Finale)