Chapter Officers

Dean: Marilyn McClain

Sub-Dean Robert Benson

Treasurer Donald C. Auberger, Jr.

Secretary: Emily Adams

Executive Committee

2009 Connie Golden Michael Dailey Isaiah Hyman

2010 James A. Bronstrup Thomas W. Graler

Kristy Swift

2011 Joanne Brumm Tom McGraw

Barry Gudenkauf

Registrar and Substitute Organists

Ken Blue 859-371-8355

Communications

Mary Bramlage Ken Blue

Placements John Deaver 859-431-1786

Webmaster: Larry Klug

(513)-851-7237

Web Page www.cincinnatiago.org

From the Dean Hello fellow musicians!

I hope you all had a great season of Christmas music, and I am also pretty sure you are as relieved as I that the pressure is off for awhile. I have played in churches since I was in high school and I just cannot imagine a Christmas without planning and playing the services. I do hope that the Chapter will support the February program that Bob Benson has arranged. Many of us are dealing with “blended” services already and I am sure more churches will be incorporating newer music soon. I have had this discussion with my pastor and my choir several times. They say they want to sing “contemporary music.” I have told them, “you ARE singing contemporary music”. What you mean is “contemporary Christian music”. No, I am not

advocating throwing out the proverbial baby with the bathwater, but there is quite a bit of good music from other countries, many fine Gospel arrangements as well as music that we are not even aware of. There are many factors to consider when planning music for the church. Average age of the congregation, skills of the choir/organist, the congregation’s approach to change (enough on that subject for now!), and the support of the pastor- to name a few. Our jobs include teaching in many forms. This teaching includes giving the congregations the opportunity to experience something new and different. In my opinion, if we give the congregation the same thing most weeks of the liturgical year, they become numb and do not know how to become an active part of worship. They need new songs, new anthems, new responses – and I sure wish my congregation would sing a different Doxology! How about you? What would you like to change? You will learn at the February meeting how to change the music without sending the congregation elsewhere, and what is available. We have some fine guest artists who are going to present this program. I am sure it is a night worth giving to your profession. This is one of the purposes of the AGO, and when this Chapter did a survey a couple of years ago, many members wrote that they would like educational programs. Some of you may know that Henry Ford wanted to put his first plant in Cincinnati, but the town said they didn’t think his idea would work! What Cincinnati has managed to save is one of his packaging plants off of I-71. What a shame- too little too late. Of course, we are looking for alternative fuel, but the car is here to stay. It is the same with almost everything we use in our daily lives. Change is the norm. If we are not willing to make changes in how we approach church music, how can we expect our congregations to accept new music? I have experienced many fine ‘alternative’ music styles at church conferences, and other places I have accompanied. I am sure many of you have had the same experience. Wouldn’t it be great if we could all share our information regarding new music for the church? I am not talking about the “7/11” songs……7 words sung 11 times!! Just music from areas other than our mostly Anglican background.” The classics are here to stay and many congregations love to hear the standards. But it might surprise you that age has nothing to do with the enjoyment of more rhythmic music or music in a foreign language. We are reaching out to people of all different walks of life and they deserve more choices. I didn’t mean for this to be a ‘soapbox’, but I do have strong feelings about this topic. Churches are searching for ways to enter the 21st century and it is largely up to us to help them make that move. I am excited about the February meeting! I hope to see many of you there! HAPPY NEW YEAR! Sincerely,

Mari l y n M c Cla i n

News l e t t e r o f t h e Ci nc i nna t i Cha p t e r o f t h e

Amer i can Gui ld o f O r gan i s t s January 2009

Calendar of Local Concerts January 11, 3:00 PM Sunday The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption at Madison Avenue at 12th street, Covington, KY presents An Epiphany Epilogue, featuring the NKY Faculty Brass Quintet, the Cathedral Angelus Singers, LeeAnn Kordenbrock, vocal soloist, Gregory Schaffer, Synthesizer & Organ, Rita & Bob Schaffer, Organ and Nell Schaffer, Piano. Free admission. January 21, 12:15 PM Wednesday Trinity Episcopal Church at 326 Madison Ave., Covington, KY presents MUSIC FOR DOUBLEBASS AND PIANO featuring John C. Toedtman, Doublebassist and John K. Toedtman, Pianist on its Midday Musical Menu luncheon concert series. Free admission. Lunch is available from 11:30 AM for $6.00. January 25, 4:00 PM Sunday Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church presents husband and wife duo Elizabeth and Raymond Chenault in an organ concert with four hands and four feet. Free admission. January 25, 7:30 PM Sunday Mount St. Mary’s Seminary at 6616 Beechmont Ave., Cincinnati presents Vesper for the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul featuring the Athenaeum Chorale, Anthony DiCello, Music Director. February 1, 3:00 PM Sunday Christ Church Cathedral presents Yun Kim (of Christ Church, Dayton) in a recital. Free admission. Evensong by the Cathedral Choir and reception to follow. Free parking in the Queen City Club lot. February 15, 3:00 PM Sunday Saint Peter in Chains Cathedral located at 325 W. 8th Street, Cincinnati presents the Cathedral Choir & Orchestra in works by Handel, Purcell and Haydn. Tickets: $35 in advance/$38 at the door. Call 513-421-2222 or online: www.stpeterinchainscathedral.org. February 15, 3:00 PM Sunday Westwood First Presbyterian Church located at 3011 Harrison Avenue, Cincinnati presents “Stacey Woolley and Friends” in a program featuring works by Amy Beach, Beethoven and Brahms. Westwood native son and CSO violinist Stacey Woolley, CSO principal French hornist Elizabeth Freimuth and renowned pianist Sandra Rivers will present an afternoon of chamber music. Freewill offering. For more information, call music office at 661.6846, x - 107. February 15, 3:00 PM Sunday St. Catharine of Siena Church at 2848 Fischer Place in Westwood, presents the Annual Seiwert Memorial Organ Recital featuring the young Canadian organist Michael Unger in concert. Mr. Unger, currently completing doctoral

studies at the Eastman School of Music is the 2008 first-prize winner (and audience prize winner) of the AGO National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance. Refreshments follow performance. February 15, 4:00 PM Sunday St. Boniface Church at 1750 Chase Avenue, Cincinnati Presents A Sunday afternoon of Song featuring cantors Amy Kelm and Chris Noel in a program of works by Floyd, Puccini, Vaughn-Williams, Strauss, Schubert and others. February 18, 12:15 PM Wednesday Trinity Episcopal Church at 326 Madison Ave., Covington, KY presents MUSIC FOR PIANO featuring Randall N. Wolfe, pianist on its Midday Musical Menu luncheon concert series. Free admission. Lunch is available from 11:30 AM for $6.00. February 22, 3:00 PM Sunday The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption at Madison Avenue at 12th Street, Covington, KY presents the Miami University (OH) Choruses, Chamber Singers and Choraliers. William Bausano, Director of Choruses. Freewill offering. www.Cathedralconcertseries.org. February 22, 7:00 PM Sunday Trinity Episcopal Church at 326 Madison Ave., Covington, KY presents Evensong with Canticles: Friedell in F, Anthem: Transfiguration – Craig Phillips, Orison: A Prayer for the Evening – Michael Sitton featuring the Choir of Trinity Church. Wine and Cheese will follow. February 25, 7:00 PM Wednesday Calvary Episcopal Church at 3766 Clifton Avenue presents an Ash Wednesday Liturgy featuring the Calvary choir, organ, soloists, seasonal readings, hymns prayers. Free admission. www.calvaryclifton.org March 1, 4:00 PM Sunday Knox Presbyterian Church will present Christina Haan in a performance of Judith Bingham’s new organ concerto, “Jacob’s Ladder”. The Work was commissioned for and premiered at the AGO National Convention in Minneapolis this past Summer. Please see program note printed in its entirety on the back page. Stephen Cleobury played the organ in that performance. The Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass and Mozart’s Vespers K.339 will also be performed. Free admission. March 2, 7:30 PM Monday Cincinnati Museum Center presents Jean-Baptiste Robin with Barbara Paver, Soprano. Jean-Baptiste Robin is Professor of Organ at the Conservatoire National de Region de Versailles and Titulaire Organist at Poitiers Cathedral, France. Program includes works by Bach, Liszt, Rachmaninov, Debussy, improvisation by Jean-Baptiste Robin and Four Last Songs, Richard Strauss with Barbara Paver, Soprano. For ticket information call 513-287-7001 or online at: www.cincymuseum.org. (Single Tickets Only).

March 8, 7:30 PM Sunday Mount St. Mary’s Seminary at 6616 Beechmont Ave., Cincinnati presents Lenten Vespers featuring the Athenaeum Chorale, Anthony DiCello, Music Director. March 15, 3:00 PM Sunday The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption at Madison Avenue at 12th Street, Covington, KY presents A Musical Celebration of J.S. Bach’s 324th Birthday with the Bach Association of Cincinnati, Ohio, Thomas Sherwood, Founder & Director, Elmer Thomas, Guest Conductor. March 15, 3:00 PM Sunday Westwood First Presbyterian Church located at 3011 Harrison Avenue, Cincinnati presents “The Blarnacles – A Celtic Band in a program for St. Patrick’s Day (2 days early) featuring ballads, jigs, Celtic, folk and bluegrass music. Freewill admission. March 18, 12:15 PM Wednesday Trinity Episcopal Church at 326 Madison Ave., Covington, KY presents MUSIC FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO featuring Vincent Phelan, Violinist and Stephen Phillips, Pianist on its Midday Musical Menu luncheon concert series. Fee admission. Lunch is available from 11:30 AM for $6.00. March 20, 7:30 PM Friday Saint Peter in Chains Cathedral located at 325 W. 8th Street, Cincinnati presents the Choir of St. Thomas Church in New York City under their new conductor John Scott, former conductor of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London. Tickets: $35 in advance/$38 at the door. Call 513-421-2222 or: www.stpeterinchainscathedral.org. March 22, 4:00 PM Sunday Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church presents a Bach Organ Marathon presented by local organists. Free Admission. April 8, 7:30 PM Wednesday Saint Peter in Chains Cathedral located at 325 W. 8th Street, Cincinnati presents the Ancient Office of Tenebrae Featuring Gregorian Chants and other choral music including the Lamentations of Jeremiah and Allegri’s “Miserere” sung by the Cathedral Choir. No tickets required for this event. Freewill offering. April 9, 7:00 PM Thursday Calvary Episcopal Church at 3766 Clifton Avenue presents a Maundy Thursday Liturgy featuring the Calvary choir, organ, soloists, seasonal readings, hymns, prayers. Free admission. www.calvaryclifton.org April 19, 3:00 PM Sunday Westwood First Presbyterian Church located at 3011 Harrison Avenue Cincinnati presents “The Christ Emmanuel Christian Fellowship Worship Choir - A Gospel Choir”. This

well-traveled choir from Walnut Hills, under the leadership of Worship Director Glenn Hudson will rock the house! Freewill offering. April 19, 3:00 PM Sunday St. Catharine of Siena at 2848 Fischer Place in Westwood, presents the Annual McMackin Memorial Chamber Music Concert featuring the Adagio Trio, consisting of Mike Daniels, cello, Cathy Daniels, Flute and Lin Grieser, harp (concert and Celtic). Refreshments follow. April 19, 4:00 PM Sunday St. Boniface Church at 1750 Chase Avenue, Cincinnati presents New York organist Gail Archer in recital. Program Includes works by Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn, Clara and Robert Schumann, Brahms, Reger and others. Ms. Archer, director of music at Barnard College/Columbia University has played to national and international acclaim. Gail is making her first appearance at St. Boniface in today’s program. Free and open to all. April 19, 7:30 PM Sunday Mount St. Mary’s Seminary at 6616 Beechmont Avenue., Cincinnati presents Eastertide Vespers featuring Festival Music for Brass and the Athenaeum Chorale, Anthony DiCello, Music Director. April 20,7:30 PM Monday Cincinnati Museum Center presents Peter Richard Conte with Randolph Bowman, Principal Flutist of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Peter Richard Conte is no stranger to Cincinnati. He performs many times each week on the legendary Wanamaker Grand Court Organ at Macy’s (formerly the Wanamaker Store) in Philadelphia. His program will include works by Wagner, Strauss, Elgar, Franck and with Randolph Bowman, works by Franck, Albinoni and Blavet. For ticket information call 513-287-7001 or online at: www.cincymuseum.org. (Single Tickets Only). April 26, 4:00 PM Sunday Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church presents the extradinary international concert organist, Lynne Davis, the First Prize winner in the Interpretation Competition at St. Albans International Competition in 1975, and Associate Professor of Organ at Wichita State University. Free admission. May 8, 8:00 PM Friday Mount St. Mary’s Seminary at 6616 Beechmont Avenue., Cincinnati presents a Spring Concert featuring the Atheneaum Chorale and Orchestra., Anthony DiCello, Music Director. (tickets required) May 11, 7:00 PM Monday Calvary Episcopal Church at 3766 Clifton Avenue presents Paul Jacobs, organ. Paul will appear just a few days after performing four concerts with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Jacobs has been Chair of the

organ department at the Julliard School in New York City since 2004. Free admission. www.calvaryclifton.org May 17, 7:00 PM Sunday Trinity Episcopal Church at 326 Madison Ave., Covington, KY presents Evensong. Canticles: Purcell in G Minor, Gloria in D – Antonio Vivaldi featuring the Choir of Trinity Church. Wine and Cheese follow. May 20, 12:15 PM Wednesday Trinity Episcopal Church at 326 Madison Ave., Covington, KY presents MUSIC FOR ORGAN featuring Kirsten Smith, Organist on its Midday Musical Menu luncheon concert series. Free admission. Lunch is available from 11:30 AM for $6.00. Program Note on Jacob’s Ladder by Judith Bingham. (Concert at Knox Presbyterian March 1st) “When I first got the commission to write this piece I took a look at the stop list for the Blackington organ at Bethel University, and was immediately taken with the depiction of Jacob’s Ladder in pipes. It was one of those serendipitous moments because the story of Jacob is very much about brothers, and at that time I was thinking of my own brother John, who was ill in Australia. The progression of the story of Jacob, from his unhappy home leaving to his encounter with the numinous in the desert seemed to parallel my brother’s own parable like life, too long a story to relate here! This sense of a journey was further emphasized by John sadly dying while I was writing the piece and so it is dedicated to him. There was an obvious correlation in my mind between the ladder and a rising figure, but also of the downward movement of falling asleep. The first movement (Leaving Home under a Cloud) starts with a heavy pizzicato downward phrase in the strings, the organ melody an elaborated turn. The cello melody rises and falls like breathing. As this material develops the organ part becomes more elaborate, again with rising and falling figures. The second movement (Anxiety Dream) is a rondo that seems to worry at the little snatches of rising and falling material. In the entr’acte (Falling into a deep sleep) the long falling figures in the strings are accompanied by much slowed down versions of the rondo theme. Finally, at the end, the figures begin to rise, as the dream of the ladder begins. An ethereal landscape opens up in the last movement (Jacob’s Ladder): the rondo theme, much extended, is the melodic base. The organ finally opens up, gradually over-whelming the string sound.

Job Open ing s Organist First Church of Christ, Scientist, located in Wyoming seeks an organist to play a single service at 10:30 AM, Sundays. There is no choir or rehearsal – only a soloist. A new Allen Quantum, Model Q325 3M organ with midi capability will be delivered before Christmas. Salary commensurate with education and experience. For additional information contact Ross Selmeier at 513-478-6282 or Rosemary Smith at 513-385-8577. Organist (and) Music Director College Hill Presbyterian Church, seeks both an organist and a Music Director. These positions may be filled separately or could be combined, depending on the applicants gifts and skills. The organist will play the organ and possibly other keyboards for traditional/blended “Heritage” service. Plays preludes, postludes; accompanies Chancel Choir and other ensembles, etc. Should have appropriate college degree, church music experience. Please send cover note, resume and recordings of their playing if available to: Mitch Teemley, Director of Worship & Arts, at mteemley@chpc.org.

Workshop Symposium on Contemporary Music in Worship: Gospel, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Taizé and Other Alternatives Probably no aspect of Christian worship today is changing faster than the kinds of music being considered and used in church services of all denominations. Most church musicians are confronted with the need to support blended worship, alternative liturgical styles, and other contemporary expressions of praise and devotion. Church musicians must be able to provide a range of music that includes newer forms and sources, even when their congregations and clergy still wish to preserve traditional music as well. The Cincinnati Chapter of AGO will therefore sponsor a workshop symposium on contemporary music in worship on Saturday, February 21, at Christ Church Cathedral (4th and Sycamore, downtown). Featured speaker and presenter for this event will be Dr. Tammy Kernodle, Professor of Musicology at Miami University, an authority on music of the African American tradition and a dynamic jazz pianist and Minister of Music herself. Dr. Kenodle will discuss the depth of expression in the African American tradition and demonstrate how a choral director can create an arrangement of a Gospel or jazz tune that is not published as an arrangement already. She will be joined by musicians from several other area churches. Several area choirs and their directors have agreed to participate and demonstrate their music for the workshop. These include the Gospel Choir from St. Andrew’s Evanston, the Hip-Hop group from Grace Church College Hill, the choir of the First Baptist Church in Oxford, and several other groups. If registration for the workshop is significant, Mannerino Music has agreed to set up a table to exhibit and provide for purchase examples of Gospel, Jazz, and related choral and organ music.

Clearly, this workshop symposium is the first time that the chapter has stepped outside its normal comfort zone to address the musical needs of a large percentage of area church musicians. I hope that every member of the chapter will make an effort to attend this event. It will be free except for a box lunch that will be catered. I look forward to seeing a very big turnout from our chapter membership to support this event and to get a view of musical traditions and resources that have perhaps been unfamiliar or seemingly out of reach. If you have questions, suggestions, or if you wish to participate or have your own church musicians participate in this event, please give me a call or send me an e-mail. I would be delighted to hear from you. Most of all, I urge you to encourage other musicians whom you know to attend this event. We should see this as a wonderful opportunity to increase membership as well as expand our outreach.

Best wishes for the New Year, Bob Benson, Sub-Dean 513-523-4684 bensonra@muohio.edu

Workshop Symposium on Contemporary Music in Worship:

Gospel, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Taize and Other Alternative Music

SATURDAY , FEBRUARY 21, 2009, 9AM – 2PM CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL 4TH AND SYCAMORE, CINCINNATI

SPONSORED BY THE CINCINNATI CHAPTER , AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS

FEE: $10 includes materials and lunch

For more information, please contact Bob Benson at 513-523-4684 or bensonra@muohio.edu.

REGISTRATION FORM • CONTEMPORARY MUSIC IN WORSHIP • FEBRUARY 21, 2009

Please complete this form and return to: Robert Benson, Sub-dean, Cincinnati AGO, 6090 Contreras Road, Oxford, OH 45056 Please enclose a check or money order for $10, payable to Cincinnati Chapter A.G.O.

This non-refundable fee includes the cost for materials and your lunch.

Name _______________________________________________________ Address _____________________________________________________ City __________________________ Zip Code ________________ Phone_________________________ E-mail address______________________________________ Affiliated with which church _________________________________________________________

Calling all organists, choir directors, singers and instrumentalists!

Join us as we explore, play and hear new music for worship

With Dr. Tammy Kernodle, Minister of Music, First Baptist Church, Oxford, Authority on African American Music, Jazz Pianist as Featured presenter

Along with choirs and instrumentalists from several area churches

Available published music will be displayed by Mannerino Music of Mt. Healthy