Members of our chapter were asked to share some of the things you are doing during this shelter-in-place time. Here are some things your colleagues are doing. (Some of them were too humble to send them in, so we had to use scouts in the field.)
Barry Wenger:
This is the second mini recital Barry performed at the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest.
Music for this program was focused on Palm Sunday and Holy Week.
April 5th, 7:00 p.m. Concert:
Brian Schoettler:
First United Methodist Church of Evanston, Illinois
Prelude in D Major, BWV 532
A BIG Easter Medley (12 hymns!)
Hallelujah Chorus (16 voices + organ):
Isabella Wu:
I asked musicians to contribute four original measures to a group composition project. Every four measures, the evolving work is sent to a new composer, and there are no rules to what you may compose, except that it is playable! This project will continue until the quarantine ends, so the length of the quarantine determines the length of the piece. Since making music together is a bit of a struggle right now, I wanted to come up with something truly collaborative. It’s been really exciting and humorous for me to see what each composer adds on. I chose four measures because it’s enough to be substantive, but little enough that the end result is collaborative rather than individual. Also, no previous composition experience is needed, and it’s been great fun to see what individual composer writes 🙂
Here’s a link to the results for Week 1:
And here’s a link to the results for Weeks 2 and 3:
Adrienne Tindall:
I hope everyone is doing fine in the current “social distancing” experience. Can it be a time we can focus on something that we might not have time for during regular commitments? I’m starting to plan the contents for the book of hymn tune compositions mentioned in last month’s Overtones, composed by North Shore AGO members, to be available through an exhibitor at our Regional Convention in June, 2021. Maybe you have or can write something that would be included? The talent in our Chapter is awesome and I encourage you to share yours…. I have a couple of great possible inclusions in hand already…. And would someone help choose which things to include from DP books already published?
If you consult the web site, www.darceypress.com , you will see that I there are many compositions written by current and past North Shore Chapter members: Lovelace, Goode, Crisafulli, Lind, along with Simmons, Kraemer, Nelson, me, plus…. I’d like to use some of those, but have 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 chorale preludes or sets of variations; hymns (texts) with new tunes, or a setting for 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.
Please email me if you have questions: Adrienne Tindall, at a.tindall@comcast.net.
After the Regional, the books would continue to be available through www .darceypress.com .
Jill Hunt:
Winnetka Congregational Church YouTube channel features Jill playing the organ. Here’s the WCC service from April 19:
On another note, Jill asks, “Are you weary of not having a place to practice the organ when so many churches are closed? I have the answer! I would like to sell my Johannus Opus 37 three manual electronic organ. Fits nicely in your living room! Call me at 847-828-2665 or email huntjills@aol.com if you are interested.”
Michael Gagne:
“What God Ordains Is Always Good”
Variations on WAS GOTT TUT by Johann Pachelbel (originally written for Harpsichord)
“Abide With Me”
Organ Arrangement by Diane Bish
“If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee”
Organ Arrangement by David Cherwien
Richard Clemmitt:
We’ve used very little organ music at Christ Church in Winnetka during these past weeks. However, we did make a nice video of the hymn “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” that includes organ (although you can’t see me sitting at the console; you only can hear the organ being played.).
Marianne Kim:
I had an organ concert last Friday at Fourth Presbyterian Church. It was so great to perform the amazing instrument. The program was started with Bach, Spirituals, Gershwin and a few selections. Here I have a video recording for the “America the Beautiful” to celebrate Veterans Day.
Hope you enjoy it.
Steven Betancourt:
It has been quite nice here, watching The Ring this week, with the final tonight, so we have been making the best of it at home here.
I teach three courses in addition to my work in Campus Ministry at Loyola, the teaching has been the hardest part, but I have been making it. Applied Organ, or lessons has been either about repertoire and instrument exploration while one of my students is preparing for the AGO service playing exam and has a piano at home, so I have been helping him work on transposition at sight, hymns, and psalm accompaniment at the moment. The organ students are working on a 4 week long project as well where they are imagining that a donor has given them a large sum of money and they have to determine different aspects of commissioning a new organ from a builder. I’m pretty proud of the project!
Patricia Radosavljevic:
Here are some things others wrote they are doing during this time:
- Donated blood in Lake Bluff
- As a college student, I am continuing my on-line education and staying safe at home
- Treasuring my NSAGO friend as always
- Looking for an open church to practice in
- Working from home and pre-recording music for our streaming services
- Thinking of ways for the chapter to do some smaller webinars, FaceTimes, or Zoom sessions on specific topics such as: Finding practice times in closed churches; preparing for certifications; adapting service playing for streaming telecasts.
- Hunkering down, but otherwise no reason to complain
- Listening to my old Archive LP recordings of Helmut Walcha, including one where he plays the Art of the Fugue on organ.
- Online teaching, and for me, recording. Figuring out the correct way to store/send files has taken lots of time.
- I’m taking this opportunity to work on some more advanced long-term pieces that I rarely have time to learn.
- Playing live-streamed services from my church.
- My husband replaced all the rubber bands that hold the pedals up on my old Rodgers organ, so I am able to play a little bit at home!
- Eagerly awaiting warm spring weather and farewell to the virus!
- Working to “be the church” if even from a distance and online
- Recovering from a burst appendix and staying in pretty much anyway.
- Playing for a Sunday morning Facebook live service on Sunday morning.
- For me, this crisis reminds me of that quote in the chants: “When reason and knowledge can go no further, faith alone persists”
- Now that I don’t have to babysit my grandson, I have time to practice and learn some new music for fun. 🙂
And from Morgan Simmons … Calm in the Midst of Chaos
