Tuesday, April 28

ORGAN & BRASS CONCERT WRAP UP

There were about 100 people that attended the Organ & Brass Concert with Organist Tim Claubaugh and the Terra Brass Choir. The Terra Brass Choir consists of 4 Trumpets, 2 French Horns, 2 Trombones, and 2 Tubas all under the direction of Jeff Blanchard.

Below is the program that was performed:

Performed from the balcony:
BRASS: "Toccata from "L Orfeo" - Monteverdi / arr. Leavitt
ORGAN & BRASS: "Praise the Lord With Drums & Cymbals" - Karg-Elert/arr. Brantigan BRASS: "Ave Maria" - Schbuert / arr. Gale

Performed down front:
ORGAN: "Legende" - Louis Vierne
ORGAN & BRASS: "Voluntary in D" - Stanley / arr. Leavitt
ORGAN: "Hornpipe" (From "Water Music") - G. F. Handel BRASS: "Fugue on the Magnificat" - Pachelbel / arr. Dishinger
ORGAN & BRASS: "In Dulci Jubilo" - Praetorius / arr. King
ORGAN: "Fantasy Prelude on an Easter Hymn" - Gilbert Martin
ORGAN & BRASS: "My Spirit Be Joyful" (from Cantata No. 146) - J. S. Bach
ORGAN: "Tuba Tune in D Major" - C. S. Lang
ORGAN & BRASS: "Maestoso" (From "Symphony No. 3") - Saint-Sanes/arr. Gardner


A special thank you to St. Mary's photographer, Craig Rudolph! !
Click on the picture to see it in a larger format.


The church before the concert began.



The first three pieces on the program were played from the balcony
First Row: Thomas Hetzel, Stephanie Lehr, Jackie Macko
Second Row: Rosemary Titkemeier, Travis Magoto
Third Row: Duane Waite, John Waite, Steve Shimer, Barry Cover

Terra Brass Choir Director, Jeff Blanchard, talking to the audience.








The final bows.

Wednesday, April 15

ORGAN & BRASS CONCERT

An "Organ & Brass Concert" will be held at St. Mary's, 429 Central Ave., Sandusky, on Sunday, April 26, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. The brass are the "Terra Brass" from Terra Community College with St. Mary's Organist, Tim Claubaugh. This concert is FREE and open to the public. Mark your calendars now and plan to attend this exciting concert! ! !

For more information, contact Tim Claubaugh at 419-625-7465, ext 18 or email at music@stmarysandusky.org

Monday, April 6

MONTHLY VIDEOS

MARCH 2010:
This months video features again the English Boy Choir "Libera." This 5:22 long video is of the Libera Choir singing "Going Home" live at one of their many concerts that they give every year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2aLSat3h0w



FEBRUARY 2010:
This month's video is Fr. Edward Beck on ABC News Now interviewing Joe Simmons and Nancy Meyer. Meyer is a singer and actress and cantor at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Lincoln Center, New York City. Simmons is the “Principal Cantor” at St. John The Baptist Church in New York City and was the cantor at the recent Yankee Stadium Mass with Pope Benedict. Both Meyer and Simmons have recent CD’s out. This video is 6:51 in length.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpNEr1UKBGI


JANUARY 2010:
This months video features the English Boy Choir "Libera." This video contains highlights from the U. S. tour in 2008. It shows the boys being boys as well as showing their "angelic" side while performing. The video also shows short clips of some of their concerts including the Pre-Mass concert at Yankee Stadium when Pope Benedict was there. With their musical talent, Libera is a group of very gifted boys. The video is 6:31.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8UITvUW_VQ


DECEMBER 2009:
With Christmas coming upon us, a version of "O Come, All Ye Faithful" is in order. And who best to play this wonderful Christmas Carol than the famous Virgil Fox in concert, complete with audience participation! ! ! This video is 5:51 in length.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hwJubxie88&NR=1



NOVEMBER 2009:
This weeks organ clip is another Virgil Fox clip. In this clip, he is playing the “National Anthem” and parts of it he plays only with his feet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ocgQ-00deI



SEPTEMBER 2009:
With the National Holiday, Labor Day being this month, we have another Virgil Fox video of Fox playing the "National Anthem" and parts of it he plays only with his feet! ! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ocgQ-00deI


AUGUST 2009:
THE WEATHER CHANTED (2:57)
Perhaps if the weather was reported like this on the evening news, we would pay closer attention.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4z2jwDcb9wI

Good Anglican chant is hard to find!



JULY 2009:
LIBERA (5:30):
The group is comprised of about 15 boys from all over London, England. Their ages are six to sixteen. They toured the US back when Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass at Yankee Stadium (April 2008). They are an amazing choir with rich, pure, and yet haunting voices.
Check this link out the link:
http://www.libera.org.uk/video/wvx/newdawnepk_b.wvx

A colleague of mine said it so well when he wrote,
“It really angers me that in our American culture we place so much emphasis on sports and by their audacity of questioning their masculinity, heap ridicule on innocent children when they sing to their hearts’ desire, sometimes destroying that innocence forever….for what gain? State championships, all-league, all-state honors are really only temporary and fleeting. And THAT is supposed to teach our young people about life?

These kids raise the beauty of the human voice to the highest level of musical art. I have been blessed to hear the Moscow Boys Choir, the Vienna Boys Choir, the Texas Boys Choir, the Pittsburgh Children’s Choir and now Libera (although not in person, yet!).

Through these childrens’ voices, they have soared and touched the wings of angels and have shared their God given talents for the nurturing of our spirits and the edification of our souls. In their simplicity, by sharing their art, they….have allowed us… a glimpse of the Sacred Artist…..”



JUNE 2009:
This months organ video clip is a “Funny.” In this video, the organist supposedly has at their disposal a 128’ stop (complete with a “danger” sign) which he draws on and then the video shows you the consequence of drawing this stop on and how it effects an entire city! ! ! VERY funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Wpn7xyzUqg&feature=related




MAY 2009:
This months organ clips are from the famous Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Utah. This building is considered by many to be the most acoustically perfect building in the world. It recently underwent a massive multi-million dollar renovation. This huge pipe organ has grown in size over the years. The last additions were done in the 1950’s.

The Renovation of the LDS (Mormon) Salt Lake Tabernacle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akgRN6ITYyw&feature=related

Mormon Tabernacle Choir Celebrates Re-opening of Tabernacle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-AlNVGzdr4&feature=related



APRIL 2009:
This month's organ video clip is again on the largest pipe organ in the world at the Atlantic City, New Jersey Convention / Auditorium also known as the “Boardwalk Hall.” The organ is a 449 Rank Midmer-losh, Op. 5550 with 2 consoles. The first console has 5 manuals (keyboards) and the second console has 7 manuals.

The Auditorium Organ
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Recording date & location
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SItAmyEByE&feature=related

Boardwalk Hall Midmer Losh Atlantic City
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2mWgrz98Z8&feature=related



MARCH 2009:
The largest pipe organ in the world at the Atlantic City, New Jersey Convention / Auditorium also known as the “Boardwalk Hall.” The first video (2 minutes, 5 seconds) is a little intro to the hall itself: it’s history and the $90 million renovation / restoration project that it has undergone. The second video (1 minute, 54 seconds long) is a summary of this massive instrument which is currently under a multi-million dollar restoration project. It is a 449 Rank Midmer-losh, Op. 5550 with 2 consoles. The first console has 5 manuals (keyboards) and the second console has 7 manuals. Next month's video will go into a little more detail about the organ itself.
Boardwalk Hall - Atlantic City Tour:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y7PNUeQmx0&NR=1
The Senator's Masterpiece (trailer):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHJ-ral_IVM&feature=related



FEBRUARY 2009:
Virgil Fox playing “Perpetual Motion” by Middelschultehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbGCriVk9UM&feature=related

Monday, March 23

ST. MARY'S MUSIC MINISTRY NEW WEB SITE

Sandusky St. Mary's Church has a new Music Ministry website. It can be viewed at http://stmarysmusicministry.blogspot.com/.

The parish website is http://www.stmarysandusky.org/

If your church has a Music or Music Ministry web site, contact the editor (Tim Claubaugh) at agosandusky@yahoo.com and we will write a brief article about it and post it in the side bar.

THIS MONTH IN MUSIC HISTORY

MARCH

01, 1620 – Thomas Campion, poet & composer died.

02, 1714 – J. S. Bach, while serving as organist in Weimar, is given the new title of “Konzertmeister” with the duty of composing a cantata every month.

02, 1824 – Bedrich Smetana was born in Litomyschl.

03, 1875 – Premiere of Bizet’s “Carmen” at the Opera-Comique in Paris.

04, 1678 – Antonio Vivaldi was born in Venice.

04, 1703 – J. S. Bach is appointed court violinist at Weimar, but serves only through July before accepting the organist post at Arnstadt.

05, 1953 – Serge Prokofiev died; the same day the Joseph Stalin died.

06, 1853 – Premiere of Verdi’s “La Traviata” in Venice.

06, 1932 – John Philip Sousa died.

07, 1875 – Maurice Ravel was born in Cliboure.

07, 1896 – Priemere of Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Grand Duke.”

08, 1714 – Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach is baptized in Weimar. Georg Philpp Teleman is
godfather.

08, 1869 – Hector Berlioz died.

09, 1842 – Premiere of Verdi’s “Nabacco” at La Scala.

09, 1844 – Premiere of Verdi’s “Ernani” in Venice.

10, 1749 – Lorenzo Da Ponte, Mozart’s great librettist, was born near Venice.

11, 1829 – Mendelssohn led J. S. Bach’s “St. Matthew Passion” in Berlin. The works
first performance since Bach’s death in 79 years.

11, 1851 – Premiere of Verdi’s “Rigoletto” in Venice.

11, 1867 – Premiere of Verdi’s “Don Carlo” in Paris.

12, 1710 – Thomas Arne born in London.

12, 1857 – Premiere of Verdi’s “Sinon Baccanegra” in Venice.

13, 1797 – Premiere of Cherubini’s “Medea” in Paris.

13, 1860 – Hugo Wolf was born in Slovenigrade, Yugoslavia.

14, 1681 – George Philipp Telemann was born in Magdeburg.

14, 1804 – Johann Strauss, Sr. was born in Vienna.

14, 1847 – Premiere of Verdi’s “Macbeth” in Florence.

15, 1700 – Due to the lack of funds, the 15-year old J. S. Bach leaves school at Ohrfruf to become a chorister at Lueneburg.

15, 1842 – Leiugi Cherubini died.

15, 1956 – Premiere of “My Fair Lady” in New York.

16, 1736 – Giovanni Battesta Pergolesi died.

16, 1881 – Modest Mussorgsky died.

17, 1846 – Premiere of Verdi’s “Attila” in Venice.

18, 1731 – Baptisim of Christiana Dorothea, J. S. Bach’s 15th child, in Leipzig.

18, 1844 – Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov was born in Likhoin.

19, 1859 – Premiere of Gounods “Faust” in Paris.

19, 1873 – Max Reger was born in Brand, Bavaria.

20, 1890 – Beniamino Gigli, Italian tenor was born in Recanati.

21, 1685 – Johann Sebastian Bach was born in Eisenach. He was named after godfathers
Johann Georg Koch and Sebastian Nagel.

21, 1829 – Modest Mussorgsky was born in Karedo.

22, 1687 – Jean Baptiste Lully died in Paris

23, 1729 – Premiere of J. S. Bach’s “St. Matthew Passion” in Leipzig.

23, 1731 – Premiere of J. S. Bach’s “St. Mark Passion” (BWV 247) in Leipzig.

24, 1721 – Bach dedicates his “Six Brandenburg Concertos” to the Margrave of
Brandenburg in Coethen.

24, 1916 – Enrique Granados died when his ship was torpedoed in the English Channel.

25, 1875 – Premiere of Gilbert & Sullivan’s “Trial by Jury.”

25, 1881 – Bela Bartok was born in Nagy Szent Miklos.

25, 1918 – Claude Debussy died.

26, 1730 – Premiere of J. S. Bach’s motet “Come, Jesus, Come” in Leipzig.

26, 1827 – Ludwig Van Beethoven died during a thunderstorm in Vienna.

27, 1723 – Premiere of J. S. Bach’s “St. John Passion” in Leipzig.

27, 1859 – Vincent D’lndy was born in Paris.

28, 1896 – Premiere of Gindano’s “Andrea Chenier” in La Scala.

28, 1903 – Rudolf Serkin was born in Eger, Bohemia.

28, 1942 – Sergi Rachmaninoff died.

29, 1839 – Premiere of Schubert’s 9th Symphony, conducted by Mendelssohn in Leipzig.

29, 1906 – English Organist E. Power Biggs born at Westcliff-on-Sea England.

30, 1729 – J. S. Bach takes over the duties of director fo the University’s “Collegium Musicum,” in Leipzig.

30, 1982 – Karl Orff died.

31, 1732 – Franz Joseph Haydn was born in the village of Rohrau, Austria.




If you have an event to add to this month or any month during the year, contact Tim Claubaugh, editor at agosandusky@yahoo.com.

Wednesday, March 18

MUSICIANS AVAILABLE

Below is a list of musicians that are available either for a permanent position or to sub.

David Howat, 6056 Liberty AveVermilion, OH. 44089-1040, Home phone: 440-967-8716; Cell Phone 440-396-8185; email: dhowat@ashland.edu . Looking to play (organ or piano) Saturday afternoon or evening service / Mass.

Tuesday, March 17

ORGANIST NEEDED FOR CONCERT SERIES

The Don Glasgow Organ Series in the Opera House in Fayette, Ohio is looking for someone to perform at one of their series organ concerts on Sunday, December 13, 2009. The opera house has a 3mp Mason & Hamlin reed organ, an Alexandre harmonium, another American reed organ and a Yamaha grand piano.

There would be a stipened for this. For more information contact Larry Claus email at behsstlc@cros.net or phone at 419-577-6071.

Monday, March 16

ST MARY'S CHOIR SPRING CONCERT DATE CHANGED

The 27th Annual St. Mary's Spring Concert date has been changed from Sunday, May 17 to Saturday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m. This concert will be dedicated to St. Mary's pastor, Fr. Philip Feltman who will be retiring on June 30, 2009. The concert will feature the Children's Choir, Contemporary Choir and the Parish Choir. For more information, contact Tim Claubaugh at 419-625-7465, Ext. 18 or at music@stmarysandusky.org .

Monday, March 9

FROM OUR DEAN

Several members of our Sandusky Chapter met recently to talk about the future of our group. We realize we are failing to attract members to monthly programs that end up poorly attended and of limited interest or benefit. Yet we want to remain a viable Chapter in the national organization and have offered fine programs to the community, for example: the Schweitzer / Bach program in March 2007 and the October 2008 Organ Spectacular recitals. How should we plan for the future?

First of all, please answer the few questions prepared by James Gardner enclosed with this letter to give us YOUR thoughts and input. For the immediate future we will continue to keep in touch with newsletters, listing the many musical events scheduled in our area. If your church has a special musical event planned, let us know so we can help with publicity. As opportunities present themselves, we will sponsor major programs to share with our members and the community. Of course, we are looking for new members to be part of this world’s largest organization of musicians serving 20,000 members in more than 300 Chapters throughout the United States and abroad. You should know that Tim Claubaugh has opened a web site for our Sandusky Chapter. Check it out at http://agosandusky.blogspot.com/ . Thanks Tim for your interest, skills, and initiative in this project.
-Laura Stellhorn, Dean

QUESTIONNAIRE

Dear Chapter Members,

In an effort to plan the most interesting, educational and entertaining programs for the next program year, we are asking your help. Please complete this questionnaire and return it to our dean Laura Stellhorn. We all agree that better attendance at Chapter events is a sure way to help sell ourselves to prospective members. So, please take a few minutes to express your views and mail or deliver your copy to Laura at 113 E. Jefferson St., Sandusky, OH 44870. To print out a copy of this questionnaire, just click on the article title ("Questionnaire") then you should be able to print just this article / questionnaire rather than the entire web page. Or you can request an email copy from agosandusky@yahoo.com .

1. Here is a list of some of our most recent successful programs:
a. Progressive organ recitals in Danbury/Marblehead, Port Clinton, Norwalk,
Huron and Sandusky.
b. Organ crawls at rural churches east and south of Bellevue, the Frohman/Weeks Mansion and Jackson Jr. High School
c. Attending the Oberlin Conservatory organ student’s concert for the Lorain County AGO Chapter and dining with that Chapter and student recitalists afterwards.
d. Pedals, Pipes, and Pizza event for young musicians – hoping to awaken their interest in the organ.
e. Concerts/Programs for the community such as the Aaron David Miller recital and the Albert Schweitzer / J. S. Bach program – both very well attended.
f. Recitals by Henry Kihlken and concerts by the St. Mary’s Parish Choir under the direction of Tim Claubaugh.


2. In the space provided, please comment if you might like to see any of these programs repeated or reincarnated in other forms.












3. Have you attended any programs, recitals or meetings during the last two years?





4. If you have not attended meetings and care to share your reasons, please do.







5. Some ideas for other kinds of programs include a hymn sing or festival, a choral or organ music workshop, and demos of music for organ and instruments. Please comment on any of these that interest you and list other ideas you may have.










6. Are you interested in having social events such as a dinner or picnic once or twice a year? Other ideas for socials?







7. Please give us the names of prospective members. They may be organists, choir directors and/or persons interested in organs or church music. If you can include an address and something about the person it will be helpful.








8. Signing your name is optional, however, we are hoping for 100% participation in completing and returning the questionnaire.





- Jim Gardner