T H E APRIL 2021 - Countryside Community Church Omaha, Nebraska Cover feature on pages 22-23 - The Diapason
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
THE
D I A PA S O N
APRIL 2021
Countryside Community Church
Omaha, Nebraska
Cover feature on pages 22–23
PHILLIP TRUCKENBROD
CONCERT ARTISTS
ŚĂƌůĞƐDŝůůĞƌWƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚ
WŚŝůůŝƉdƌƵĐŬĞŶďƌŽĚ&ŽƵŶĚĞƌ
THE DIAPASON Editor’s Notebook
Scranton Gillette Communications
One Hundred Twelfth Year: No. 4, 20 Under 30
Whole No. 1337 We thank all those who submitted nominations for our Class
APRIL 2021 of 2021. There was an impressive number of fine entries for
Established in 1909 the brightest and most promising young leaders in the field of Stephen Schnurr
ISSN 0012-2378 the organ, church music, harpsichord, carillon, and organ and 847/954-7989; sschnurr@sgcmail.com
harpsichord building. The members of the Class of 2021 were www.TheDiapason.com
An International Monthly Devoted to the Organ,
announced on March 8. To see the 20 Under 30 Class of 2021,
the Harpsichord, Carillon, and Church Music
visit The Diapason website (thediapason.com, click on “20 2016. From my lecture at the conference I have extracted an
Under 30”). article on the early work of Skinner in Chicago. John C. Hughes
CONTENTS The Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America (APOBA) is contributes a brief essay on organ and choral collaborations in
FEATURES
graciously providing one-year subscriptions to The Diapason the worship setting.
Ernest M. Skinner in Chicago: The first for each member of the Class of 2021. Next month’s issue will John Bishop, in “In the Wind . . .,” ponders what it will be
contracts include in-depth entries and photographs of each member of like for church musicians and choirs to return to the wor-
by Stephen Schnurr 14 the class. ship setting as the world experiences the benefits of recently
Organ and choral collaborations in the wor- released Covid vaccines. In “On Teaching,” Gavin Black muses
ship setting: Issues and solutions In this issue further on the influences of masters such as Alfred Brendel and
by John C. Hughes 21
This month’s cover feature is the recent installation by Marcel Dupré on his early development as a musician. Kim-
NEWS & DEPARTMENTS Buzard Pipe Organ Builders in Countryside Community berly Schafer has authored a “Carillon Profile” on the Mayo
Editor’s Notebook 3 Church of Omaha, Nebraska. The congregation is one partici- Clinic Carillon in Rochester, Minnesota.
Here & There 3 pant in a “Tri-Faith Initiative,” which features a campus shared This month, we present a list of summer conferences,
Nunc Dimittis 4 by this church, a synagogue, and a mosque. Each faith works workshops, and institutes. While many organizations will not
Carillon Profile by Kimberly Schafer 8
together yet retains its distinctive beliefs and practices, and this have events this summer, others are hopeful to do so, whether
On Teaching by Gavin Black 11
In the wind . . . by John Bishop 12
new pipe organ is likely the first such installation in the region in person or digitally or both. While this list is accurate as of
in two decades. our deadline for this issue, we strongly urge those considering
REVIEWS Readers of this journal will recall the Ernest M. Skinner Ses- these events to contact the sponsor organizations early in the
Book Reviews 25 quicentennial Conference held in Evanston, Illinois, in April planning process for updates. Q
New Organ Music 26
New Recordings 27
Here & There
SUMMER CONFERENCES 24
CALENDAR 28 Events
ORGAN RECITALS 29
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING 30
THE
D I A PA S O N
APRIL 2021
Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption,
San Francisco, California, Ruffatti organ
Around the World in 80 Minutes
The Cathedral of St. Mary of the
Countryside Community Church
Omaha, Nebraska
Assumption, San Francisco, Califor- Matthew M. Bellocchio program, Around the World in 80 Min-
nia, continues recitals, Sundays at 4:00 utes, as a livestream concert on January 3
Cover feature on pages 22–23
p.m.: April 4, Gail Archer, organ; 4/11, Sampson, who served as president for through the YouTube channel of St. Paul’s
COVER Norm Paskowsky, organ; 4/18, St. Mary’s nearly forty years. Episcopal Church, Salem, Oregon, fea-
Buzard Pipe Organ Builders, Champaign, Cathedral Choir. On April 25, celebrat- The year 2021 marks the 75th anni- turing the church’s Gabriel Kney organ.
Illinois; Countryside Community Church, ing 50 years of the present cathedral and versary of the 1946 acquisition and Viewers from around the world watched
Omaha, Nebraska 22
its organ, Christoph Tietze will perform. incorporation of Music Hall as a private, the program at the time of its occurrence
May 2: The Pianissimo (Piano Trio of nonprofit community cultural center. and afterward. Paul Klemme is minister
Editorial Director STEPHEN SCHNURR the Musical Arts Association); 5/9, Quan- Designed by the English architect of music for the church.
and Publisher sschnurr@sgcmail.com tum Quarantet (piano quartet); 5/16, St. Henry Vaughan and completed in 1909, The Jordans are in the process of
847/954-7989 Brigid School Honor Choir; 5/23, Car- the building was erected to house the recording a second organ and multi-
President RICK SCHWER
men Maret, flute, and Andrew Bergeron, famed “Great Organ,” the first concert media program, Bach and Sons, for
rschwer@sgcmail.com guitar; 5/30, Duane Soubirous, organ. organ in the United States. Originally a livestream to be presented by First
847/391-1048 St. Mary’s Cathedral houses a 1971 built between 1857 and 1863 by the Presbyterian Church, Portland, Oregon,
Fratelli Ruffatti organ of four manuals, E. F. Walcker firm of Ludwigsburg, in mid-March. For information:
Editor-at-Large ANDREW SCHAEFFER
diapasoneditoratlarge@gmail.com 89 ranks. These events are available Germany, for the Boston Music Hall, www.promotionmusic.org.
livestream. For information: the instrument was purchased in 1897
Sales Director JEROME BUTERA www.stmarycathedralsf.org. by Edward F. Searles of Methuen, who
jbutera@sgcmail.com
608/634-6253 had the organ rebuilt and installed in the Competitions
Circulation/ purpose-built hall. In 1947, the Aeolian- The Organ Club in association with
Subscriptions THE DIAPASON
P.O. Box 300
People Skinner Organ Company of Boston the Northern Ireland International
Lincolnshire, IL. 60069-0300 Matthew M. Bellocchio is elected completed an extensive renovation of the Organ Competition announce their
DPP@omeda.com president of the Board of Trustees instrument. Today, the organ’s resources 2021 competition for teenage organists,
Toll-Free: 877/501-7540 of Methuen Memorial Music Hall, include four manuals, five divisions, 85 December 29–30, at St. Clement Danes
Local: 847/763-4933
Methuen, Massachusetts. An organ- stops, 116 ranks, and 6,000 pipes. Church, London, UK. Competitors are
Designer KELLI DIRKS builder with over fifty years of experi- Music Hall has presented an annual required to play a work by Bach and
kellidirksphoto@gmail.com ence, Bellocchio has also served as summer concert series attracting organ- another work of their choosing.
president of the American Institute ists from around the world, with 2021 The Junior Section, for ages up to 16,
Contributing Editors LARRY PALMER
Harpsichord of Organbuilders (2012–2015) and marking the 75th consecutive year. includes a first prize of £500 and a sec-
has authored many published articles In 2020, the hall began livestreaming ond prize of £250. The Senior Section,
BRIAN SWAGER on pipe organ history and technology concerts and expanding its reach. For for ages 17–19, has a first prize of £1,000
Carillon
appearing in national and international information: www.mmmh.org. and a second prize of £500. Deadline for
JOHN BISHOP journals. He succeeds Chad P. Dow, who application is November 2. For informa-
In the wind . . . served as interim president following Jeannine and David Jordan pre- tion: cegb36@gmail.com.
the January 2020 death of Edward J. sented their organ and multimedia ³ page 4
GAVIN BLACK
On Teaching
THE DIAPASON (ISSN 0012-2378) is published monthly by Scranton Gillette Routine items for publication must be received six weeks in advance of the month of
Reviewers Stephen Schnurr Communications, Inc., 3030 W. Salt Creek Lane, Suite 201, Arlington Heights, Illinois issue. For advertising copy, the closing date is the 1st. Prospective contributors of articles
Jay Zoller 60005-5025. Phone 847/954-7989. Fax 847/390-0408. E-mail: sschnurr@sgcmail.com. should request a style sheet. Unsolicited reviews cannot be accepted.
Steven Young Subscriptions: 1 yr. $45; 2 yr. $83; 3 yr. $115 (United States and U.S. Possessions). Copyright ©2021. Printed in the U.S.A.
Canada and Mexico: 1 yr. $45 + $11 shipping; 2 yr. $83 + $16 shipping; 3 yr. $115 + $19 No portion of the contents of this issue may be reproduced in any form without the
John L. Speller shipping. Other foreign subscriptions: 1 yr. $45 + $31 shipping; 2 yr. $83 + $42 shipping; specific written permission of the Editor, except that libraries are authorized to make
3 yr. $115 + $50 shipping. Digital subscription (no print copy): 1 yr. $35. Student (digital photocopies of the material contained herein for the purpose of course reserve reading
only): $20. Single copies $6 (U.S.A.); $8 (foreign). at the rate of one copy for every fifteen students. Such copies may be reused for other
Periodical postage paid at Pontiac, Illinois, and at additional mailing offices. courses or for the same course offered subsequently.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE DIAPASON, P.O. Box 300, Lincolnshire, IL. THE DIAPASON accepts no responsibility or liability for the
60069-0300. validity of information supplied by contributors, vendors,
This journal is indexed in the The Music Index, and abstracted in RILM Abstracts. advertisers or advertising agencies.
WWW.THEDIAPASON.COM THE DIAPASON Q APRIL 2021 Q 3
Here & There
³ page 3
Concert management
Colin MacKnight (photo credit: Jiyang Chen)
Nathaniel Gumbs (photo credit: Norman
Oates)
the Eastman School of Music, Roches- Andrew Morris
Concert Artist Cooperative ter, New York.
Prior to his position at Yale, Gumbs The Fort Wayne First Presbyte-
Concert Artist Cooperative III, served as director of music and arts and rian Church National Organ Playing
an artist advertising management since church organist at Friendship Mission- Competition was to be held on March
1988 founded by Beth Zucchino, has ary Baptist Church, Charlotte, North 21, 2020. Due to the Covid-19 pan-
been reorganized to continue to provide Carolina, where he led several hundred demic, the final round of the competition
direct marketing services for emerging volunteer musicians and staff in four was initially postponed and ultimately
and credentialed classical artists. The choirs and other ensembles. He has cancelled. Three finalists were selected,
cooperative promotes integrity, diversity, also been a frequent guest musician at and the church has honored each of Daniel Minnick
creativity, and professionalism, focusing Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem them with the distinction of being a 2020
on the artist, not the agency. Beginning and served as organist and clinician finalist and an award to each of a third of the total prize money. The three final-
its 34th year of operation on April 1, an for the Hampton University Ministers’ ists were: Andrew Morris, a master’s degree candidate at the University of Kansas
updated roster with new international Conference. He is a member of The studying with James Higdon; Colin MacKnight, associate organist and choirmaster
soloists and ensembles is now available. Diapason’s 20 Under 30 Class of 2017. at the Cathedral of the Incarnation, Garden City, Long Island, New York, and a C. V.
For information: In 2018, Gumbs curated the opening Starr Doctoral Fellow at The Julliard School, New York City, studying with Paul
concertartistcooperative.com. hymn festival, “Singing Diverse Music in Jacobs (and a member of The Diapason’s 20 Under 30 Class of 2019); and Daniel
the New Church,” for the Hymn Society Minnick, who is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in organ performance
Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc., in the United States and Canada’s annual and literature from the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York, with David
announces the addition of two new art- conference. His teachers include Steven Higgs, having previously studied with Nathan Laube.
ists to its roster. Cooksey, David Higgs, and Martin Jean. First Presbyterian Church will hold its next competition on March 26, 2022. The
Nathaniel Gumbs is a native of the biennial competition was started in 1960 and is the longest running national organ
Bronx, New York, and has performed playing competition in the United States. For information: firstpresfortwayne.org.
throughout the United States and
abroad, including Antigua, St. Thomas,
Ghana, Paris, and Munich. He cur- School, New York, New York, where he Competition, the Albert Schweitzer
rently serves as director of chapel music also received his bachelor’s and master’s Competition, and the Northeast region
at Yale University where he works degrees studying with Paul Jacobs. of the American Guild of Organists/
with students, faculty, and guests to MacKnight currently serves as associate Quimby competition for young organ-
coordinate music for three worshiping organist and choirmaster at the Cathe- ists. The latter led to a performance
communities: the University Church dral of the Incarnation, Garden City, at the AGO 2016 national convention
in Battell Chapel, and at Yale Divinity Long Island, New York. in Houston. He also was a laureate of
School in both Marquand Chapel and Prior positions include assistant the 2016 and 2019 Longwood Gardens
at Berkeley Divinity School. Gumbs Colin MacKnight (photo credit: Jiyang Chen) organist and music theory teacher at International Organ Competitions. In
earned his undergraduate degree from St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue and December of 2016, MacKnight and
Shenandoah Conservatory in Virginia, Colin MacKnight has performed at assistant organist at Church of the composer Jon Cziner were selected for
his Master of Music degree from Yale venues across the United States as well Resurrection, both in New York City. an AGO Student Commissioning Proj-
University, and he is currently complet- as in Canada and Jamaica. He is a C. V. He is a laureate of several competitions ect grant, resulting in Cziner’s Fantasy
ing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Starr Doctoral Fellow at The Juilliard including first prizes at the Paris Music Chorale, which MacKnight premiered
in 2017. MacKnight has also earned the
Fellow and Choirmaster certifications
from the AGO, receiving the prize for
top Choirmaster score. He is a member
ATLANTA CHAPTER, AGO of The Diapason’s 20 Under 30 Class
of 2019.
For bookings and information, contact
A N N O U N C E S John McElliott: john@concertorganists.
com or concertorganists.com.
The Taylor Organ Nunc Dimittis
Competition James Sands “Jock” Darling,
Jr., organist, choirmaster, and music
director, died January 26, 2021, in Wil-
liamsburg, Virginia. Born May 29, 1929,
Saturday, MARCH 12, 2022 in Hampton, Virginia, he attended
OPEN TO INDIVIDUALS BORN AFTER JUNE 1, 1998 Christchurch School, Middlesex County,
Virginia, and graduated from Phillips
Academy, Andover, Massachusetts, in
$10,000 1946. He attended Yale University, New
1 st
prize and a solo
recital in Atlanta 2 nd
prize $5,000
Haven, Connecticut, where he earned
undergraduate degrees in music theory
and piano in 1950 and 1951, and in 1954
he completed a master’s degree in organ
³ page 6
Application deadline October 15, 2021
For complete details including repertoire,
please see www.taylororgancompetition.com
www.agoatlant a.or g
4 Q THE DIAPASON Q APRIL 2021 WWW.THEDIAPASON.COM
Allegro Elisa Jackson Robert Jeremy S. Tyler Vincent
con fuoco Bickers Borges Brewer Bruns Canonico Carr
Joseph Carson Shin-Ae Angela Theo. S. Laura Faythe Joy-Leilani
Causby Cooman Chun Kraft Cross Davis Ellis Freese Garbutt
Simone Margaret Justin Sarah
Gheller Harper Hartz Hawbecker
Jacob Christopher Jason Peter
Hofeling Jacobson Klein-Mendoza Krasinski
David Mark Colin Katherine Scott Shelly Brenda Joseph
Lamb Laubach Lynch Meloan Montgomery Moorman-Stahlman Portman Ripka
Vicki Patrick A. Thomas David Richard Beth Rodland Duo
Schaeffer Scott Sheehan Von Behren Webb Zucchino Organ & Viola
www.ConcertArtistCooperative.com
Faythe Freese, Director
512.470.7782
Colin Lynch, Assistant Director
ConcertArtistCooperative@Gmail.com
Beth Zucchino, Founder & Director Emerita
Here & There
³ page 4 gatherings of visiting musicians, instru- Walter Joseph Gundling retired from grandchildren. A memorial service will
ment makers, choirs, and for a time, the business in 2005, at which time the be held at a later date. Memorial gifts
the Wednesday morning meetings of firm closed. The Moravian Church of may be made to Urban Ministries of
the Williamsburg Music Club, which he Lancaster hosted a retirement concert Durham, Triangle Land Conservancy,
helped found in 1964. and reception on June 12, 2005, Walter or a charity of your choice.
James S. Darling is survived by his Joseph’s birthday.
sister Sarah Winfree “Sally” Darling; Walter Joseph Gundling is survived
children Elizabeth Ann Darling, Rus- by his children Daniel Gundling (Patri- Social media
sell Christian Darling, James Andrew cia) of Emmaus, Pennsylvania; Joseph Karen Beaumont, Milwaukee, Wis-
Darling, Jonathan Lee Darling, Sarah Anthony Gundling (Janet) of Lebanon, consin, is collaborating with Musikver-
Trevilian Darling, and their spouses and Pennsylvania; Mary Ellen Gundling lag Doblinger, Vienna, Austria, by
partners; four grandchildren and two Koval (Mark) of Wilmington, Delaware; recording selections of the publisher’s
great-grandchildren. His wife of 67 years, Anne Marie Gundling Williams (Andy) organ music scores for posting on You-
James Sands “Jock” Darling, Jr. Mary Lee Oliver Darling, preceded him of Lancaster; and Barbara Kathleen Tube to extend the reach of the music.
in death on January 13 of this year. Gundling Raihall (James) of Glen Mills, For information:
at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. A memorial service will be held at Pennsylvania; as well as ten grandchil- karenbeaumontorganist.mysite.com
On January 31, 1953, he married Mary Bruton Parish Church at a future date. dren and three great-grandchildren. A and youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7t2eJz
Lee Oliver of Gloucester, Virginia. Donations in James S. Darling’s memory funeral Mass was celebrated at Sacred Xt2LeVz2XoiK_irkzNH6y8P1wa.
From 1954 to 1961 he was organist may be made to Bruton Parish Church Heart Catholic Church, Lancaster, on
and choir director at Plymouth Church, (brutonparish.org) or the Organ Histori- February 25. Memorial gifts may be
Shaker Heights, Ohio, and from 1961 cal Society (organhistoricalsociety.org). made to the Dominican Nuns of the Publishers
to 2006, he held the position of organ- Perpetual Rosary, 1834 Lititz Pike, Lan- Editions Walhall announces new
ist and choirmaster at Bruton Parish Walter Joseph Gundling, 82, of caster, Pennsylvania 17601. publications: Danse macabre (EW1113,
Church, Williamsburg. At Bruton Par- Mountville, Pennsylvania, died February €21.80), by Harald Feller, for organ and
ish Church, Darling directed an active 17. A native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, percussion; Sonata in G Major (G379,
program in music for all ages, including he was active at Sacred Heart Catholic €16.80), by Christoph Schaffrath, edited
offerings for adult, boys, and girls choirs, Church in his youth and a member of a by Leonore and Günter von Zadow,
as well as approximately 125 candle- family of pipe organ builders. His father, for harpsichord obbligato and viola da
light concerts annually, which were Walter Sebastian Gundling, grandfa- gamba. For information:
performed by himself, Bruton Parish ther, Sebastian, and families came to edition-walhall.de.
associates, local musicians, and visiting the United States in 1926 after leaving
artists. He taught organ and harpsichord a family pipe organ building business
at the College of William and Mary, Wil- in Laudenbach, Germany. They settled
liamsburg, and as music consultant for in Erie, Pennsylvania, working for the
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, he Tellers Organ Company, where Walter J. Samuel Hammond (photo courtesy Duke
presented many concerts in the Gover- Sebastian completed his apprenticeship. University)
nor’s Palace and other historic buildings, In 1929, the family settled in Lancaster
often playing and conducting in colonial and founded the Sebastian Gundling & J. Samuel Hammond, 73, longtime
costume. Among the dignitaries who Son Co., which was engaged in maintain- carillonneur at Duke Chapel, Duke
attended his recitals were four United ing and rebuilding pipe organs as well as University, Durham, North Carolina,
States presidents and several heads of building new instruments. In 1953, the died February 25. Hammond retired
state. As a guest artist, he also performed firm, now including the teenaged Walter from the university in December 2018
throughout the United States and in Joseph Gundling, installed the organ in after 53 years of service spanning six
Europe. Darling published numerous Sacred Heart Church. university presidents. He performed
recordings of colonial period music and After graduation from Lancaster Cath- daily carillon recitals at 5:00 p.m. on
edited four publications of keyboard olic High School in 1956, Walter Joseph weekdays and on Sundays after chapel
music for the Colonial Williamsburg began full-time work for the family services and at university ceremonies.
Foundation. In 2003, he authored Let business, having completed his appren- Upon his retirement the university board
the Anthems Swell, a monograph on ticeship. He was the third generation to of trustees dedicated the 50-bell carillon
the history of music at Bruton Parish carry on the business, with clients in 225 in his honor.
Church. He especially enjoyed offering churches in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Born August 22, 1947, Hammond
the Saturday morning recitals in William In 1981, Walter Joseph Gundling’s son, came to Duke as an undergraduate stu-
and Mary’s historic Wren Chapel on an Daniel Walter, joined the firm. dent in 1964 from Americus, Georgia, Organ Music in Bulgaria?! Heck Yeah!
18th-century English chamber organ. On April 28, 1962, Walter Joseph and began playing the chapel carillon
This concert series, which he initiated in Gundling married Kathleen Ann Wie- shortly after his arrival. He graduated Pavel V. Madzharov announces
1971, continues to this day. gand in Lancaster, and they were mar- with a Bachelor of Arts degree in his- publication of his e-book, Organ Music
The Darling residence was a musi- ried for nearly 59 years. Together they tory in 1968 and later earned a master’s in Bulgaria?! Heck Yeah! ($19.99). The
cal center, where the family hosted raised five children. degree in theological studies, both at first e-book on this subject, it is the result
Duke, as well as a master’s degree in of research over the course of four years.
library science from University of North With 223 pages, the publication covers
Carolina-Chapel Hill. Hammond was the history with pictures of 24 Bulgarian
promoted to chapel carillonneur upon pipe organs and a catalog of 185 Bulgar-
graduation in 1968 and was named uni- ian organ pieces composed between
versity carillonneur in 1986, becoming 1972 and 2020. There are also interviews
only the second person to hold the title. with 16 Bulgarian professionals in the
In 2018, he was named university caril- area of organ music. For information:
lonneur emeritus. For 41 years, he was imakemyownmusic.com/product-page/
a librarian in the university’s rare book organ-music-in-bulgaria-heck-yeah.
room, music library, and other library
departments. Upon retirement from the MorningStar Music Publishers
“one of this era’s library in 2012, he was honored through announces new organ publications:
most adventurous the collection’s acquisition of a rare first Third Sonata for Organ (MSM-10-
interpreters of edition of the illustrated 1612 book, De 038, $16), by Gerald Near; Be Glad
the classical campanis commentarius (“A Commen- & Rejoice! Ten Postludes on Familiar
organ repertoire” tary on Bells”). Hammond performed Hymn Tunes (MSM-10-041, $21), by
NY MUSIC DAILY recitals in bell towers of churches and Charles Callahan; Blessed Assurance:
universities across the United States. In Five Gospel Hymns for Organ (MSM-
addition, for more than 50 years he vol- 10-442, $16), by Matthew H. Corl; and
unteered as accompanist for young musi- Dance Prelude and Harmonizations on
cians in the Duke String School, playing Duke Street (MSM-20-416, $15), by
piano in rehearsals and performances. Michael Burkhardt, for organ and flute
During his lifetime, Hammond served with optional unison voices. For infor-
as organist at Methodist, Episcopal, and mation: morningstarmusic.com.
Catholic churches, substitute organist at
Duke Chapel, and accompanist for the
Triangle Jewish Chorale, Durham Savo- Recordings
yards, Longleaf Opera Company, and Alba Records announces a new two-
other groups. CD release: Pekka Kostiainen: Triduum
J. Samuel Hammond is survived Paschale (ABCD 455 1-2). The work
by his wife Marie, son Christopher was commissioned by the Jyväskylä
MORE INFORMATION: gailarcher.com TO PURCHASE: meyer-media.com and his wife Kelli, son John, and four ³ page 8
6 Q THE DIAPASON Q APRIL 2021 WWW.THEDIAPASON.COM
Here & There
Carillon Profile
The Mayo Clinic Carillon,
Rochester, Minnesota
The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Min-
nesota, is the only medical center in
North America to house a carillon. The
instrument is further distinguished by
possessing bells from three different
bell founders, performing its own
unique clock-chime pattern, and spon-
soring an annual carillon composition Bells in the frame
commission (see the February 2021
issue of The Diapason, page 20, for
information on the upcoming compe-
tition). The carillon was donated by Triduum Paschale
brothers Drs. William J. and Charles
H. Mayo, founding physicians of their Taulumäki Church in Jyväskylä, Finland.
namesake clinic. The original 23 bells The Mayo Clinic’s Plummer Building, For the recording, Kostiainen’s composi-
were cast by England’s Gillett & John- Rochester, Minnesota tion is performed by Jyväskylä Sinfonia,
ston bell foundry and installed in the St. Michael Strings, Musica Choir, with
Plummer Building in 1928. soloists, conducted by Ville Matvejeff.
In 1977, 33 bells were added to the For information: alba.fi.
instrument, raising the total to 56 bells,
or 4.5 octaves. This expansion was
funded by Mrs. Frances G. Sheets and
Mrs. Isabella Gooding Sanders, who
descended from an early Rochester
settler. In addition to casting the new
bells, Petit & Fritsen of Aarle-Rixtel,
the Netherlands, provided a new per- The performance clavier
formance keyboard, practice keyboard,
and enclosed playing cabin. The cracked bell now in the Mayo
In 2006, the smallest Gillett & John- Clinic Museum
ston bell from 1928 was found to be
cracked. John Taylor & Co. of Lough- the famous “Big Ben” and its compan-
borough, UK, cast a replica for use in ion bells in the Palace of Westminster
the instrument, while the damaged in London, UK. In 2016, then-Mayo’s
bell was moved for permanent display carillonneur Jeffrey Daehn received
in the nearby Mayo Clinic museum, an audio record of Mayo’s first caril- Jeanne Demessieux: The Decca Legacy
along with the original practice key- lonneur James Drummond. On it was
board. Het Molenpad of the United a recording of a piece Drummond had Decca announces new organ record-
States and the Netherlands installed composed for the Mayo Clinic carillon. ings. Jeanne Demessieux: The Decca
the new bell, re-tuned the Petit & Frit- This serendipitous discovery propelled Original Gillett & Johnston bells Legacy (4841424), an 8-CD collection,
sen bells, and installed new clappers for the effort to create a singular chime brings together for the first time Demes-
them. They also replaced deteriorated pattern for the instrument, which a commission through the Music for sieux’s complete Decca recordings and
components of the suspension system began at the suggestion of David R. Mayo Carillon Music Series. The a previously unpublished BBC Radio
and re-wired the transmission system. Daugherty, M.D., to John Noseworthy, initiative expands modern carillon rep- broadcast, released to mark the cente-
In 2018–2019, the carillon was over- the Mayo Clinic’s president and CEO. ertoire, while making the compositions nary of her birth. It includes Demes-
hauled by Christoph Paccard of North Jeffrey Daehn adapted Drummond’s free and accessible to anyone. For 2021, sieux’s Franck recordings; her recordings
Charleston, South Carolina. A major composition to a clock-chime pattern, Geert D’Hollander, carillonneur of Bok from St. Mark’s Church, North Audley
feature of this project included raising and the “Mayo Clinic Chimes” now Tower Gardens composed Old Style Street, London, many released for the
the bell frame, allowing for proper performs at 8 a.m. as a “call to work.” Variations on KINGSFOLD. The piece was first time since the original 78s; little-
egress of the lowest bell sounds. Other The Mayo Clinic carillon has had four premiered on February 1 on the Mayo known recordings of sacred songs with
improvements included replacement carillonneurs, with the current carillon- Clinic carillon by Austin Ferguson. Q Demessieux accompanying the Belgian
of the outdated roller-bar transmission neur, Austin Ferguson, having started —Kimberly Schafer, PhD soprano, Suzanne Danco; and an impro-
system with a directed crank system in early 2017. He performs daily at 4:45 Founder and Partner, visation on a submitted theme from the
and the replacement of the Gillett & p.m. and on Mondays at 7:00 p.m. and Community Bell Advocates, LLC only extant BBC radio broadcast with
Johnston pneumatic strike mechanism Wednesdays and Fridays at noon. Addi- www.communitybelladvocates.com Demessieux, which also includes works
with new electronic strikers. A new tional performances are scheduled dur- communitybelladvocates@gmail.com by Bach, Buxtehude, Widor, and Mes-
World Carillon Federation standard ing the summer and on holidays. The siaen. The accompanying booklet details
keyboard will be installed in 2022. Mayo Clinic carillon features a Second Carillon website: history.mayoclinic. Demessieux’s unpublished recordings;
Like many tuned bell installations in Summer Saturdays series, bringing in org/tours-events/carillon-music-and- photos and facsimiles of some of her
North America, the instrument initially three performers annually. concerts.php programs; details of some of the record-
marked 15-minute intervals with the Since 2019, the Dolores Jean Lavins ing sessions; and notes on the instru-
Westminster Chimes, popularized by Center for Humanities has sponsored All photos credit: Austin Ferguson ments and full specifications for each of
the five organs.
(See the following articles in The
Diapason on Demessieux: “The Leg-
³ page 6 end of Jeanne Demessieux: A Study,”
The right Symphony and Jyväskylä parish church by D’Arcy Trinkwon, November 2008,
organ at the and consists of a three-part oratorio for
Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter
pages 30–33; “The Rise and Fall of a
Famous Collaboration: Marcel Dupré
right price Sunday, premiered Easter Day 2000 in ³ page 10
We’ll help you chose from
the hundreds of vintage organs
available through our website.
We can deliver it to the
organ builder of your choice
or refurbish, revoice, and
install it ourselves.
“In choosing OCH, I know that the work has been done
with the utmost knowledge, enthusiasm, care and integrity.”
David Enlow, Sub-Dean, NYCAGO
Organ Clearing House
www.organclearinghouse.com or call John Bishop at 617-688-9290
8 Q THE DIAPASON Q APRIL 2021 WWW.THEDIAPASON.COM
ALLEN RL-90
92 Stops / Four-Manuals
An Allen Designer Series Organ
This 92-Stop Rudy Lucente Design is the culmination of his many years
of experience in the Catholic music tradition. Employing Allen’s advanced
technology, the organ is designed with the versatility for both worship and
Rudy Lucente concert use.
Designer, Allen RL-90
“The RL-90 meets the need for a larger instrument, allowing Allen to offer
the right choice to customers seeking the particular capabilities of the RL organs. I incorporated
many of the specification attributes from the fine pipe organs that I am privileged to play, and the
samples in the RL-90 have been meticulously selected to provide a cohesive ensemble, rich texture, and
extraordinary solo voices.
It is a privilege to have been asked to assist in this design, and I am confident that the RL-90 will meet
with the same success as has the RL-66a.”
50 YEARS IN DIGITAL MUSIC
SOUND | TECHNOLOGY | SUSTAINABILITY
www.allenorgan.com
Here & There
³ page 8 €15). The disc features six of his organ
and Jeanne Demessieux,” by Lynn Cava- compositions that he performs on the
naugh, July 2005; “The American Recital 1854 Kam organ of the Catharijnekerk in
Tours of Jeanne Demessieux,” by Laura Brielle, the Netherlands. Works include
Ellis, October 1995; “An interview with Folk Suite, Moto Ostinato, Arabic Dance,
Pierre Labric,” by Jesse Eschbach, Feb- Seven Miniatures, Just Relax, and God is
ruary 2020, pages 14–16.) a DJ. For information: gijsboelen.nl.
A Quiet Beauty: Works by Kvandal Sacred Ayres: Choral Music by Paul
Ayres
A Quiet Beauty: Works by Kvandal
(LWC 1203), features works by Johan and David Leigh, with David Leigh
Kvandal performed by Arnfinn Tobias- and Harry Meehan, organists. The disc
sen on the Verschueren organ of Our includes works by Stanford, Vaughan
Savior’s Church, Haugesund, Norway. Williams, Howells, Judith Weir, Philip
Compositions include Tre Julesalmer Ledger, and others.
Gillian Weir: A Celebration (1946), Partita on the Folk Tune Hvor Sacred Ayres: Choral Music by Paul
er det godt å lande, op. 36 (1971), and Ayres (REGCD 536) features the Cha-
Gilliam Weir: A Celebration (4841435) Fantasia for orgel, op. 83 (1996). For pel Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge,
is a 22-CD collection of the recordings of information: lawo.no. UK, directed by Sarah MacDonald.
Weir celebrating her 80th birthday this Louis Vierne: The Complete Organ Compositions by Ayres include Be Thou
year, spanning her career of nearly five Symphonies My Vision, This Is the Day, Go Tell It on
decades. It presents Weir’s complete the Mountain, Quanto sei bella, and A
Argo recordings, selected recordings on Fugue State Films announces a New Commandment. For information:
other labels, and ten discs of previously new release (1 DVD and 3 CDs): Louis regentrecords.com.
unpublished BBC radio broadcasts. The Vierne: The Complete Organ Sympho-
first twelve CDs in the set are made up of nies (£31.50). The symphonies are per-
studio recordings, and the remaining ten formed by Roger Sayer on the organ Organbuilders
CDs comprise previously unpublished of the Temple Church, London, UK.
recordings of BBC broadcasts. (Note: For information on the Temple Church
the BBC recordings are not included on organs, see Sayer’s article in the Novem-
digital services for streaming or down- ber 2019 issue of The Diapason, pages
load.) The set features sixteen organs 14–16. For information on the Fugue
from six countries and includes a booklet State release: fuguestatefilms.co.uk.
with informative introductions to the
recordings, along with Gillian Weir’s
reminiscences and anecdotes from the New Music for a New Organ
recording sessions and her encounters
with composers such as Olivier Messiaen Raven announces a new CD: New
and William Mathias. For information: Music for a New Organ (OAR-167, The Roosevelt organ case in All Saints
eloquenceclassics.com. $15.98 postpaid) featuring Rebecca Catholic Church, Harlem, New York (pho-
to credit: John Rust)
Davy and JanEl Will, organists, assisted
by Suzanne Daniel, bassoonist, per-
forming newly composed music on the The Organ Clearing House
2019 Dobson Pipe Organ Builders, Ltd., announces that the organ of the former
Opus 96 of 46 ranks at Bruton Parish All Saints Catholic Church, Harlem,
Church, Williamsburg, Virginia. Music New York, has been sold for relocation to
on the CD includes works commissioned St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church,
for the dedication of the organ: Holy Columbus Circle, New York, New York.
Kühmstedt, Van Eyken, Reubke for Organ Seasons: Four Tone Poems for Organ by All Saints Church is a Venetian Gothic
Dan Locklair and Concerto per organo building designed by James Renwick,
LAWO Classics announces new by Carson Cooman. Other works on Jr., finished in 1893. The edifice is in the
CDs. Kühmstedt, Van Eyken, Reubke the CD are by Craig Phillips, Gwyneth process of being sold.
for Organ (LWC1205) features Halgeir Walker, and Aaron David Miller. The organ of the church was built in
Schiager performing works of Fried- The 12-page booklet contains notes New York City by Frank Roosevelt, Opus
rich Kühmstedt (Fantasia, op. 47, and on the music and extensive notes on the 525, three manuals, 59 ranks, the last
Grosse Sonata, op. 49), Jan Albert Van organ and organ history of the church instrument to be finished by the builder.
Gijs Boelen: Organ Works Eyken (Sonata No. 2, op. 15), and Julius written by John Panning of the Dobson It was rebuilt in 1931 by Welte-Tripp of
Reubke (Sonata on the 94th Psalm) on firm. (See also the January 2020 issue of Sound Beach, Connecticut, becoming
Gijs Boelen announces release of his the 2014 Eule organ of the Sofienberg The Diapason, pages 1, 20–21). For a four-manual, 70-rank organ retaining
CD: Gijs Boelen: Organ Works (GBR02, Church, Oslo, Norway. information: ravencd.com. most of the Roosevelt pipework with a
new Solo division. Removal from All
Saints Church occurred in February.
Daniel Ficarri, a member of The Dia-
pason’s 20 Under 30 Class of 2019, is
organist of St. Paul the Apostle Church.
For information:
organclearinghouse.com.
Digital edition promotion
From April 15 through June 30, those
purchasing a new or renewal one-year
subscription can receive a free one-
year digital subscription for a friend.
This offer is valid when purchasing a
print or digital subscription; the free
Hark! What Sound: Advent from Dublin subscription is digital. For information
and to subscribe: toll free, 877/501-
Regent Records announces new 7540; local, 847/763-4933; for new
AUSTINORGANS.COM CDs. Hark! What a Sound: Advent subscriptions: https://sgc.dragonforms.
t8PPEMBOE4U)BSUGPSE$5 from Dublin (REGCD 556) features the com/DPP_NewFriend&PK=2021; for
Choir of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, renewals: https://sgc.dragonforms.com/
Ireland, directed by Stuart Nicholson DPP_renewFriend&PK=2021.
10 Q THE DIAPASON Q APRIL 2021 WWW.THEDIAPASON.COMOn Teaching By Gavin Black
Random I would want to get out of that music quieter; and so on. I feel convinced
Last month, as I was finishing up the now, and that later music challenged or from my own experience that whatever
column recounting my youthful discov- upset that sense in a way that I was not the template may be, the result is more
ery of the playing of Alfred Brendel and ready for. It took a while for that crum- effective musically if there is a small
discussing some of the effects of that dis- bling of my resistance to bear fruit. As amount of random variation from that
covery on my life and work, it occurred I wrote last month it was in 1974 that I template. When I do a total voicing of a
to me that my affinity for Brendel was first became receptive to Schumann, and harpsichord stop, I do the initial, rough
something that came about utterly at later to Liszt, for example, or for that voicing as carefully as I can, according
random. I alluded to this briefly at the matter Brahms. to whatever plan I have in mind. Then
end of the column, but I have continued Most germane to my work at the organ I wait until the following day to do the
to muse about it. was that I discovered Dupré, and this is final refining of that voicing, which rarely
Randomness is a flexible concept where it gets particularly interesting, needs to be done.
as well as one that is subject to various since the story is not that I became a I believe that these very slight devia-
interpretations or restraints. I would not great devotee of him or his playing, as tions from the theoretical ideal help
expect to be able to sort all of that out much as I do indeed admire both. The to enliven the sound and compensate
here. Instead, I will posit some of the first thing my exposure to his playing of for any aesthetic stiffness that might
ways this randomness affected my own the magnificent Saint-Saëns organ part come from the lack of player control for students. There are various ways of
story—some aspects of music making did was to help push me away from the over dynamics. But there is something approaching that task. At one extreme is
that seem to engage the idea of random- bassoon and back toward keyboard play- about the way that this works that I had the concept of having a list of pieces that
ness in a fruitful way, and how this might ing. I was forcefully reminded that I was not sorted out until now. It is actually you expect all students to work on, per-
benefit teaching. excited about the organ, even though the critical that it be genuinely random, not haps in a set order. (This is, I believe, rare
I invested a lot of time in 1970 listening return to keyboard playing meant, for the a planned-out slight deviation from the as a practice, but is a concept that can
to BBC 3 and thus hearing its broadcasts time being, going back to piano lessons. plan. That would just be a second, more inform the process.) At the other is sim-
of Brendel Beethoven records was itself Second, it got me interested in Dupré detailed version of the template. The ply letting students bring in and work on
random. It was also a matter of chance and the kinds of organs that he was gen- randomness is what makes it feel alive. any pieces that they happen to like. (I am
that I was then at a particularly receptive erally associated with. As I grew up and Random variation will relate in various temperamentally inclined to this, though
moment to encounter that music and became generally a bit more diligent, ways to different pieces in different keys, I do recognize the glaring problem with
those performances. In other words, that that led to a significant amount of time without any danger that the voicer will it, namely, that it fails to introduce stu-
receptivity did not arise out of, or have reading about and listening to Romantic favor one over another. dents to pieces that they do not already
any connection to, my having injured my organs, especially in France, but also I suspect that there are similar things know about or happen to hear or other-
back, my wanting to skip school as much Germany and England. I already knew to say about organ voicing. This logically wise discover.) Most approaches are a
as I could get away with, my family being that in my own playing I wanted to focus should relate differently to a wide variety hybrid, and many approaches can work.
in London at the time, or the BBC’s on Baroque music and the instruments of harpsichords or organs. It is a subjec- But it is fun to ponder how to randomize
choice to program that music. I wrote last that pertained most directly to that rep- tive reaction, but still an example of the this process: line up all of the pieces ever
month, “As a ‘classical music person’ in ertoire. This is something that has never way that randomness can come into play written on the desk, swirl around until
the latter third of the twentieth century wavered. But the chance encounter with in music. dizzy, then lunge over and pick one! Or
and thereafter, I would certainly have that Saint-Saëns recording is the specific This puts me in mind of an aspect of put them all on a dartboard and throw!
been familiar with Alfred Brendel.” But source of my awareness of organs and the sound old natural horns make. Some These are joking ways of describing the
at a later time, I may have gotten little organ music beyond my own performing notes have a sonority that is completely idea. But I wonder whether choosing the
or even nothing out of my encounter specialties. If I never had that encoun- different from the adjoining notes— occasional piece utterly at random might
with that playing. Or I might have gotten ter but had returned to and stuck with vastly different, on the scale of placing be a way to enliven study and might not
more. In any case it would have been study of the organ I would someday have a few Vox Humana pipes throughout teach both the student and the teacher
something different. By that point, per- had to learn about all manner of details a stop that is otherwise a Gedeckt, for something about the learning process.
haps I would have more-or-less given up about the organ and its music. Perhaps example. These notes are distributed at If the actual experience of working on
on piano listening and not paid any atten- my interest in doing so would have been random with respect to any given piece the randomly chosen piece was boring
tion; or at another time, maybe I would sparked by another chance encounter; and add a surprisingly vivid color dimen- or fruitless it might be humane to let
have been so inspired that I would have after all, I grew up less than a mile from sion to the effect of a performance. the student drop it after a while. But in
decided to rededicate myself to actually the Woolsey Hall organ at Yale Univer- I have observed similar concepts order for this to be a good experience or
learning piano, and would thus not have sity. But maybe I would have simply had about interpretation and performance. experiment, the student would have to
ended up as an organist or harpsichordist. to grapple with that music as a part of my As players we often have templates want to give any such piece an honest try.
Another development in my educa- education, understood to be necessary. It for how we want pieces to go: tempo I plan on choosing my own next piece
tion as a musician came about at random occurs to me now that discovering some- and registration, but also details like this way. I need to concoct an actual
and yet was of tremendous importance. thing by chance or at random can give an articulation, phrasing, rubato, dynam- method for doing the random choosing.
I took bassoon lessons during the extra jolt of excitement and can help it to ics or dynamic inflections, voicing of But I am very curious to see how it feels
1968–1969 school year. Late in that year feel more personal. chords on piano (a different use of that to work on a piece for none of the sorts of
my teacher, JoAnn Wich, downsized her word, of course), arpeggiation, and so reasons that I usually have. That should
record collection and gave me a pile of Randomness in music on. We map these things out; doing so mean starting the work itself with fewer
LPs. Among those was the recording So what about randomness in music is an important part of the process of preconceptions or expectations. That is
of Saint-Saëns’ Third Symphony, con- itself, be it performance, improvisation, creating our interpretation. Drilling the part of what is intriguing about it, and I
ducted by Paul Paray with Marcel Dupré perhaps composition, and maybe even results of this planning into our fingers will report back at some point.
at the organ. At some point I listened to instrument design? I will not write about and feet is an important part of making Next month I will write about some of
this at random: I had essentially never composition or improvisation here, since an interpretation into a performance. the feedback that I have received about
heard of Saint-Saëns and thought of randomness in those settings is compli- However, my own experience tells me my pedal method column from several
myself as someone who did not like post- cated, and I do not have direct experi- that a bit of random deviation from what months ago. I have not done that yet
Classical-era music. I could easily have ence with these concepts myself. Besides, we have planned and drilled so diligently because other things have come up and
never listened to this record. In fact, I other scholars have canvassed these topics is usually a good thing. It is as a listener because that feedback is still coming in.
fell head-over-heels in love with it: the at great length. But I have some thoughts rather than as a player that I have Interestingly, most of it by far, though
music, the performance, the sonorities, about instruments and performance. noticed this. In particular, I realized that not all, has been about shoes.
even the discussion on the record jacket One of these concerns harpsichord performances in which a fugue-subject So, I shall kick off the discussion in
of the recording technology that was voicing. In the case of harpsichords, phrasing or the shaping of a recurring May by talking about shoes. Q
used. I became an instant Saint-Saëns voicing means causing the plectra to be motif is exactly repeated without change
fanatic—I still am—and Paray became the way that you want them to be. It is tends to sound sterile, boring, and, even- Gavin Black is director of the Princeton
one of my favorite conductors, which about size, shape, and relative rigidity tually, annoying. There can be planned Early Keyboard Center, Inc., Princeton,
he still is. In discovering Saint-Saëns or flexibility. It affects volume of sound, deviation from one instance of a theme New Jersey (pekc.org). He can be reached
I allowed the first crack to form in this character of sound, and touch. The to another. However, I feel that a little at gavinblackbaroque@gmail.com.
resistance that I had to music from after plectra are relatively ephemeral, and bit of random variation, including from
the Classical era. voicing has to be reworked or touched the planned variation, brings the results
It would be impossible to overstate up on harpsichords rather regularly. closer to feeling alive and human.
how strong that resistance had been Many harpsichordists do most or all of
up to that time. I can still remember their own voicing, and I have done so for Random choice of repertoire
the feeling that music after Beethoven several decades. In thinking about voic- Another aspect where randomness
engendered in me (come to think of it, ing, the voicer probably has a template seems to be a fruitful lens through which
maybe music after early Beethoven). It in mind for all the notes of a stop on a to ponder is that of finding repertoire
was a kind of fear of chaos or anarchy— harpsichord. That could be that all the
probably, really, death. I thought that it notes should be the same strength as one
would be wrong as well as dangerous to
engage with that sort of music.
another; or that the middle two octaves
should be even and the volume and touch
BACH AT NOON
I do not know where those feelings should gradually ascend in the high and Grace Church in New York
came from. I suspect that I got from low outer octaves; or that the middle
Baroque and early Classical music more should be even, the top notes gradu- www.gracechurchnyc.org
of a sense of order and reassurance than ally louder, and the bass notes slightly
WWW.THEDIAPASON.COM THE DIAPASON Q APRIL 2021 Q 11In the wind...
A break in the action New World Symphony is an orchestral
Last night, my wife Wendy and I academy whose mission statement is
watched the American Masters docu- “to prepare highly gifted graduates of
mentary, “Where Now Is,” about Michael distinguished music programs for lead-
Tilson Thomas, widely known as MTT, ership roles in ensembles and orchestras
who recently retired as music director of around the world.”
the San Francisco Symphony. His tenure I was especially moved to watch
in San Francisco spanned nearly twenty- MTT in private coaching sessions with
five years during which the orchestra the young musicians of the New World
grew in stature and popularity. I admire Symphony, as well as his rehearsal tech-
how a brilliant conductor can build an niques with the full orchestra. Wendy
orchestra over time, nurturing the musi- and I commented to each other that
cianship of the individual players and he was always smiling. Of course, the
the strength of the ensemble. I consider editor of the film may have had some
the symphony orchestra to be one of the control over that, moments of ill temper
greatest achievements of human culture. left on the cutting room floor, but I don’t
It amazes me that all those musicians, think so.
each an accomplished soloist with the Frank Gehry was the principal archi-
requisite ego, can come together on a tect for the spectacular New World Cen-
hundred-foot stage and perform with ter, home of the New World Symphony,
such precision of ensemble. opened in Miami Beach in 2011. Hilari-
MTT had a dramatic conducting ously, it was noted that Gehry was MTT’s The amphitheater at Epidaurus (photo credit: Carole Raddato, used through the Creative Com-
debut at a very young age. On October babysitter when both were growing up in mons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license)
22, 1969, William Steinberg was con- Los Angeles.
ducting a concert by the Boston Sym- Watching that film was bittersweet. It our grandson Samuel, four days after his or six days a week, and they learn the
phony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, open- has been more than a year since we sat in birth. In that essay, I wondered what life musical intuitions as well as the quirks
ing the program with Brahms’s Second a concert hall to hear an orchestra per- would bring him, I looked forward to and habits of their fellow musicians. A
Symphony during which he fell ill. At form. The last live performance Wendy being able to share cultural experiences violinist might think to herself, “He’s
the end of the piece, Steinberg left the and I saw together was a disappointing with him and his older brother Benja- going to flub that note at the page-turn,”
stage, found MTT, assistant conductor of new opera, four days before she left the min, and I wondered what their educa- and compensate subconsciously. A sec-
the BSO, said something like, “Put on a city for our exile in Maine. (I followed tions would be like. I remembered the ond clarinet is inspired by the principal
suit. You’re going to conduct,” and was her four days later.) MTT’s enthusiasm goitered and aptly named Mrs. Louden to stretch that phrase just a touch. How
taken to Roosevelt Hospital. and that of the many colleagues we saw who taught music in the public schools much rejuvenation will it take to rebuild
The following morning, Harold in orchestras and in separate interviews when I was a kid, making twice-a-week the intimate ensemble, that greatest of
Schoenberg of The New York Times was infectious and a poignant reminder visits to each classroom, braying simple collegial achievements? Musicians often
reported, “Young Mr. Thomas, 24 years of all that we have lost in the last year. As songs. She drew staves on the blackboard refer to a sloppy performance as a “train
old, had his golden opportunity and I remember our life in the city, I think with that cool five-gang chalk holder and wreck.” I hope “plane crash” does not
made the most of it. He conducted of the many thrilling plays, musicals, taught us musical notation. “Every good become part of that lexicon.
Robert Starer’s Concerto for Violin, and concerts we have seen. I think of boy deserves fudge,” but come to think Will a rusty theater electrician fail
Cello, and Orchestra, and Strauss’s Till the stagehands, ushers, electricians, of it, I do not remember what the girls to tighten a bolt allowing a light to fall
Eulenspiegel with an air of immense carpenters, costume designers, and got. I don’t think that is going to happen during a play?1 Will actors and danc-
confidence and authority and showed actors whose livelihood vanished over- for them in public school. ers step on each other’s toes? Will they
that his confidence was not misplaced.” night. A quick look at my calendar shows As I thought about that precious young have crises of confidence? Performance
(Leonard Bernstein had a similar sudden that I had dinner with a colleague in a life, I could not have imagined that he’d is a tricky thing that blends pedagogy,
debut. He was twenty-five when he filled posh restaurant in lower Manhattan on spend his fifth birthday on lockdown, intuition, memory, expression, and con-
in for the ailing Bruno Walter at the last Thursday, March 12, 2020, the same day or that Chris would take leave from his fidence. Remember Harold Schoenberg
minute, conducting the New York Phil- that forty-two Broadway theaters, count- job as a high school teacher, develop a writing that MTT conducted with “an
harmonic Orchestra.) less off-Broadway venues, Carnegie curriculum for approval by the school air of immense confidence and authority
MTT’s precocious brilliance kick- Hall, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, principal, and home-school his sons and showed that his confidence was not
started his storied career as music direc- the Metropolitan Opera, the New York so they would not have to spend all of misplaced.” I love that his confidence
tor of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orches- Philharmonic, and many other cultural Covid-tide glued to screens. I could not was not misplaced. Any performer
tra, principal guest conductor of the Los venues closed. It first seemed that those have imagined that they would have to knows exactly what that means and so do
Angeles Philharmonic, and principal places would reopen in a few weeks, but be isolated from their friends, many of astute listeners, as in, “He had no busi-
conductor of the London Philharmonic that was not to be. whom they can see from the windows of ness being that sure of himself.” I know
before going to San Francisco. Perhaps their condominium apartment or learn I have played concerts during which my
his crowning achievement is the creation Weathering the storm to wear masks whenever they leave confidence was misplaced.
of the New World Symphony in Miami In the December 2015 issue of The their home. §
Beach, Florida. Founded in 1987, the Diapason, I wrote of our first visit with I wonder what it will be like for them
when the coast is clear and they can Human creativity reached a zenith
re-socialize. Will they experience grow- in the last centuries before the birth of
ing pains as they reconnect with their Christ. The marvelous architecture of
pals? Will it be hard for them to return ancient Rome and Greece, the literature
to classroom learning? We all wonder of Sophocles and Euripides, and the
together what the “new normal” will be, mathematical understanding of Archi-
even as we look forward to returning to medes and Euclid all bear witness to the
2020-2022 Projects a former life. genius of that age. And don’t forget my
hero Pythagoras (570 BC–495 BC) who
86$LU)RUFH$FDGHP\3URWHVWDQW&DGHW&KDSHOĆ&RORUDGR6SULQJV&R Rusty discovered the musical overtone series,
Rebuild III/83 Moller/Holtkamp On February 3, 2021, Gregory Wal- defined musical intervals, and developed
lace and Pete Muntean reported on systems of tuning.
86$LU)RUFH$FDGHP\&DWKROLF&DGHW&KDSHOĆ&RORUDGR6SULQJV&R CNN that airline pilots who had been The Sacred Triangle of Greece com-
Rebuild III/33 Moller/Holtkamp idled by reduced air travel during the prises the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, the
pandemic are finding that they are rusty Temple of Athena Parthenos (the Parthe-
7KH)R[7KHDWUHĆ$WODQWD*D when they return to the air and making non) in Athens, and the Temple of Athena
Rebuild “Mighty Mo” Moller theater organ console errors managing their aircraft. Early in Aphaia on the island of Aegina. The three
their article they wrote, “‘This was my sites were built within a few years of each
%URDG6WUHHW3UHVE\WHULDQ&KXUFKĆ&ROXPEXV2K
first flight in nearly three months,’ one other around 500 BC and form a perfect
Build V-manual console with new windchests and more pilot wrote in a June report explaining isosceles triangle, a hundred miles on
6W$QGUHZ(SLVFRSDO&KXUFKĆ)RUW3LHUFH)OD why he or she neglected to turn on the each side. How did they plot that triangle
critical anti-icing system. ‘I placed too when one leg crosses mountains and the
New III/31 pipe organ
much confidence in assuming it would other two cross bodies of water? Celes-
St Simons Island Presbyterian ChurchĆ6W6LPRQV,VODQG*D all come back to me as second nature.’” tial navigation was first practiced by the
New III/38 pipe organ A few paragraphs down, there was a bold Phoenecians around 2000 BC, and in the
heading, “Boy, was I wrong!” second century BC, Hipparchus, a Greek
3OXVPRUHSURMHFWVIRUQHZFRQVROHVQHZIDFDGHV Watching MTT lead rehearsals had astronomer, developed the concept of
UHEXLOGLQJDQGUHVWRUDWLRQRIYLQWDJHLQVWUXPHQWV me wondering what it will take to rebuild longitude, assuming a spherical earth and
musical ensembles when the spread dividing it into 360 degrees.
of the virus is contained. A symphony Several years ago, visiting our daugh-
How can we help you? orchestra becomes great because its ter’s in-laws in Athens, Greece, her
ZZZSLSHRUJDQFRPĆ members play together all the time. father-in-law Christos, an architect, took
They are in rehearsal and concerts five us to visit the Sanctuary of Asklepios, the
12 Q THE DIAPASON Q APRIL 2021 WWW.THEDIAPASON.COMYou can also read
