The Diapason an International Monthly Devoted to the Organ, the Harpsichord and Church Music
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE DIAPASON AN INTERNATIONAL MONTHLY DEVOTED TO THE ORGAN, THE HARPSICHORD AND CHURCH MUSIC Sixt),·E;gllth rt'tlI", .Yo. i - Whole No. Bll I SS~ 0012·23i8 JUNE, 19i7 THE HYMN SOCIETY OF AMERICA Annual Convocation A Report by Arthur Lawrence The H"ntn Society of America held Us Sing to the Lord." \\as de\'otcd to The cnminj! was dC\'oted to a hymn and Hopkins Ps.liter ( 1576 ), Hymns its annnal con\'ocation ~Ja)' 15-17 in Jewi'ih contrihutions to h)·mnody. The restival at Holy Name Cathedral, and Spiritual SOllgS ( Isaac 'Vatts, Chicago, Illinois, with Fourth Prc5by children's choir or Grace Lutheran where the Wheaton College Concert 1741 ), and the fi rst Lutheran hymnal tcrian Church as center of activities Church, Ri\'er Forest, Illinois, sang Choir under the direction of Res D. printed in America. and the location for a majority of motets and anthcms, demonstrating Hicks sang a rine program. This group Tuesday's e\'('lUs began with a sec ('\"cnts, O\'('r 200 ,lCrsons aucnded and the quality dial such a group can at represents the best of the midwest ond address br Dr. SaJicrs, "Hymnody wcre generally enthusiastic, despite the tain. Paul 0011 man was the director, choral tradition, singing a cappella as an Expression or lVorship," which yc,u's first hal weather. and ?-.hrgaret Kemper, the organist. work-Ii with a lovely unrorced tone was followed 11)' a panel discussion 011 Events began Sunday night with a The large Aeolian-Skinner was ably which wa.o; enhanced by the acoustics "The ~rusic of \Vorship and Hymn choral festival and concluded Tues used on this occasion, both for accom of the building-. "'orks hy Gretchanin od),." The moderatol' was \ViJliam J. day 110011 wilh festival wor.;hip. The panillleru and 10 lead the hymns. off, Victoria, Palc.'itrina, Petrich, and Re)'nolds, president-elect of the soci lime between was filled with addresses, Addresses followed: Don E. Saliers Brahms made up the first haIr of the ety; he was joined by Sister Thco lectllres, reports, and several concert"; (Candler School or Theology, Emory program. Following this, three new phane Hytrek (Ah-erno College), Har music exhibits were open for perusal Uni\'ersity) spoke on "The Nature or hymns by John La Montaine were old M. Best (Wheaton College), and " .. eh day. Some of the highlights of " 'orship" and John H. Bo)'le (Lorenc sung by all. These works were COUl Thomas 'Villis (Chicago Tribu1Ie). the com'oc:l.tion, which had all o\'erall Replogle Counseling Center, Chicago) missioned br the con\"ocalion commit Trends were discussed and $uggesled Iht!l11c of "Hymnod)' in the Context spoke on "The Psychology of "'or Ice, which is to be commended for musical qualities or new hymns gi\'enj of "Torship," are mentioned in greater ship." After lunch, Avon Gillespie such acth·it),. Holy S/,iril, Br" thou, 0 some predictions were also made as detail below. (Capital Unh'ersity) gave a com·inc Christ, and This is the day had strong to which new hymns would rind last· TIle H)'mn Society of America is a ing lecture-demonstration on "l\.[usk melodies bUl, to me, were less telling ing usc. The prl'senlations continued than might have been the case, be national \'oluntary organization found il.nd the Black Experience. II Assisted with a report b), the president of the ed in 1922 to promote new hymns and by \Villiam Hamilton and the eight cause of the neutral style in which .society, L. Da\·id l\liller, on the ac tunes; to increase interest in wriling members of the Northwestern Commu they were composed. An anthem fol tivities of the groups and a projection texts and wnes; :md to encourage the nit)' I~nscmble of E\'anston, he showed lowed which was based on the same for ilO; growth, which is optimistic. melodic material as the hymns. The use of h)'llul" hy congregatiolls of all how \'ital the tradition or black hymn The com'oeation concluded with faiths. NumlJering o\'er 2000 mem singing reaU)' is, with its lise of sim choir also sang Heinz 'Verner Zim festi\'al worship which ccntered around mermann's [Jsal lll 148, which makes bcrs, the societ)' puhlishes Tile Hy"UI, ple chord structurc.Ii, repeating words, American hymns - the Shaker hymn usc or dbraphone and string bass to a quarterly, a semi-annual newsletler and infectious dri\'ing rhythm. ~lost 'Tis lI,e gill to be sim/lle sen'ed as The Stanza, reports, papers, and new or all, he showed how group singing give an effect not usually associated with church, three American hymns the focal poim. The Alice Millar hymns. National headquarters arc at can be joyful, ali\'e, and imbucd with Chapel Choir of Northwestern Uni well-arranged by Alice Parker (Sing \Viucnberg Uninrsity, Springfield, the spirit of the dance. \'ersity, under the direction of Grigg Ohio. Grade Grindal (Luther College) to Ihe Lnrd. When I call rcad PIl)' title clear, Hark, I hear the liar/IS cIerI/aI), Fountain, sang expertly, giving an ap lectured next on "The Language or propriate quality to the simple, sturdy and 'Villiam "'alton's Jubilate Dco. Hymnody and 'Vorship," emphasizing style of Billings and settings from the importance of a consistent lOne in The highlight was the usc of the Vaughan "'iIliams setting or I\li/CS Southern Harmony and The Sacrecl hymn texts, and showing how failure Harp. Simplicity, howe\'er, was not The oJlClling chornl festi val was de Lalle (All hail tire }lower ), with all \'oted to J. S. Bach's Calltata 80, "Eill' to achie\'e that tone will call attention the keyword for the brass accompani to the " 'ords themseh'es, rather than present joining choir and organ in a Icste Burg/' and Zoltan Kodal),'s Te mighty musical diadem. ments nur for the choral setting of the D ~ llm. :Morgan Simmons, organist and to thdr meaning. Shaker hymn, and here I found the chuinnaslcr at FOllrth Presh)'lerian, tone mentioned in an earlier lecture directed the choirs of the church and The concluding cvent of the after The concert was followed IJ)' a re to be incOitliistenl. The sen,ice closed orchestra; soloists were Diane Ragains, nooll "as an org.to recital by 'Vilbur ception at the Newberry Library, \\ ith various settings of Clap hauds soprano, Jane Askins, contralto, Eric Held (Ohio State University) devoted '\ here an impressh'e display of hymnic all people, after "hich Mr. Fountain Johnson, tenor, and 'V. Herbert "Titt_ played the Sowerby Toccata. to works of Leo Sowerby (I895-1968 ), treasures rrom the Chicago area had ges, baritone. Elliott Golub was con been asscmbled. Among the early certmaster, and l\bry Simmons was Illa)'ed at St. James Cathedral. Dr. prints and manuscripL'i to he viewed Held played such \'intage pieces as organist. :My chief regret about the were Etlich cristlicJt Lider (Martin I Comes Alltrww Time and the passa left this com'ocation with admira concert was that a train deJay prevented Luther and others, 1524) , Sternhold tion for the drdication the members me from hearing it, hut the indications caglia from Symphony ill G Afajor, as or this society ha\'e and for the on. arc that it was a splendid beginning well as Aleditatifm on "Luise," Prel going work they are doing. The convo for the convocation. ude 011 "The Killg's Alajest)'," Whim cation committee, under the chairman The events or ~{onday morning be sical Variations, Prelude on "Ad per ship of Dr. Simmons, did a fine job gan with a sen'ice or worship that ennis vitae lonlem/, Prelude on nCllar· with the organization and presentation could serve as a model for any festive of the varied eVents. 'Ve wish the occasion. I had wondered how Sunday teritorlSc," and Poslludiutn super "ne11- weary church musicians would respond edictus Es, Domine." It was appropri Hymn Society or ,\mcrica well in its whell the\' round themseh'es once ate to have a former student of the rejuvenation and continuation. again in church first thing the next composer play at the church which morning, but the response was im Sowerhy sen'ed man)' years, and the prcssive and the H)'mn Societ)· proved pla)'ing demonstrated Ihe organ as bcst itself wcll able to sing hymns, yielding it could. One wonders, though, how Or. Roberia Ifttood. pre.fde.. t of that thrill experienced only when a Sowerby was able to tolerate such an the American Guild of Organf.... hal large group sings with enthusiasm and ugly instrument for so longi perhaps recently been re-elected to that oHice conviction. 'Vorship was aided consid· the an.'m·er lies partially in the fact for a second term, according to Infor. erably by the inclusion or all the hymns motion Just recefved. Information Oft that many of his organ works were in the printed program, and they were, other results of the AGO electlo" will written for or inspired by the Skinner not surprisingl)', well-chosen ones. Rab ClUca!{O'J Fourth PresbyleriO\n Church. loa· follow. when deta1ls are made ayall. bi Edgar E. Siskin's sermon, "Come Let at Fourth Presbyterian. lion of Hymn Society meetinp. able. THE DIAPASON £.uabli.fhed in t~ A number of brief editorials in the coming months will endeavor to ex· plain the nature, contcnt, and general stance of THE DIAPASON, from An International Motllhl., Devoted to the Or«4n. the HnrfJJichord and Church Mw" the viewpoint of the prescnt editor. Such a series should logicnlly begin Offici,,' Journ,,1 01 the Amer;nln Itu'i/uU 01 Or,,,nbuildeTl with some background on the foundin~ of this journal nnd irs work through the years to the present.