Saying Goodbye
Farewell and best wishes to a long time chapter member and friend of many, Menno Scholten. He and his wife, Susan, will be relocating to Jacksonville, Florida in May to be closer to family. Having lived in Chicago for most of their professional careers, they are looking forward to their new adventure.
Menno writes, “The North Shore AGO has played a significant role during my years as a member. Organ music was a significant part of my upbringing and classical music, in general, feeds my soul constantly! Architecture and finance were the two avenues of my professional career; the organ gave my life a spirituality that I will always cherish!!!”
A Creative Idea
I’m planning to have DARCEY PRESS publications be part of one of the exhibits for the Regional Convention a year from this June, offered through one of the exhibitors coming, the way DP books have been offered at various conventions in the past.
If you consult the web site, www.darceypress.com, you will see that there are many compositions written by current and past North Shore Chapter members. So I thought of creating a volume including some of those compositions, and include 1/3 to 1/2 of the new book be works by current Chapter members.
Here are the basic details so far: Hymn Tune compositions, all styles okay but not hugely difficult; copyrights cleared, with no fees, but compositions would get royalties per the percentage of the royalties on the book; organ preludes or sets of variations, or such prelude/postlude compositions; hymns (texts) with new tunes, setting a new or public domain text, and no copyright permissions needed for free reproduction if the buyer wants to use the (new) text/tune in a religious setting.
This is not to be a Chapter-sponsored item; it is merely a timely venue through which the phenomenal talent in our Chapter can be shared.
If anyone has or will write musical contributions to share through this project, please contact me, Adrienne Tindall, at a.tindall@comcast.net, for consideration….
After the Regional, the books would continue to be available through www.darceypress.com.
Submitted by Adrienne Tindall
Being an Organist During the COVID-19 Pandemic
I am in the unique situation of being involved in three different congregations these days, during the COVID-19 Pandemic. My home church, St. James Cathedral of Chicago, has been directed by Bishop Jeffrey Lee to suspend all public worship and activities in the church. The Cathedral Choir and Organists gathered to record music before the Shelter-in-place order began. We have the benefit of listening to these recordings via SoundCloud on the internet. Also, on FaceBook we can stay in touch through occasional posts from staff, as well as “#LentWellLived Daily Reflections”, written by various members of the congregation. My husband & I wrote a devotion together which will be posted in early April.
Southminster Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights has decided to temporarily suspend worship together, instead offering weekly Podcasts. Mar. 22’s podcast was done by Pastor Matt Gearke. Today I went (alone) to the church to play and record organ Prelude, Postlude, Gloria Patri, and Doxology for use in Mar. 29’s podcast. I recorded an extra piece simply because it was so beautifully comforting – Elegy, by Douglas Wagner, based on Psalm 23:6. This will be used by pastors Matt and Liz in upcoming podcast services.
I then proceeded to The Village Presbyterian Church of Northbrook, where Sunday worship services are being live-streamed. Therefore I practiced so that I’ll be ready for Mar. 29’s service where only Pastor Spencer and I will be present. Again, I was the only person in the building while practicing today. (On Sunday I’ll be the only person in the choir loft, too.)
Music is a vehicle of comfort and inspiration, conveying God’s peaceful presence – even in the midst of this pandemic. Whether experienced “live” or from a recording, sacred music speaks powerfully. I am privileged to be able to contribute my gifts to the glory of God and neighbor’s good. Thanks be to God for music!
Sharon R. Peterson
NSAGO Board Member and Guest Contributor
Please feel free to email any submissions to Judy Kohl@agonorthshore@gmail.com.