FEBRUARY, 2008 First Presbyterian Church Lexington, Kentucky Cover
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THE DIAPASON FEBRUARY, 2008 First Presbyterian Church Lexington, Kentucky Cover feature on pages 30–31 Feb 08 Cover - adjusted.indd 1 1/10/08 9:37:50 AM The acclaimed young English organist William Whitehead is Organ Professor at Trinity College of Music and Music director at St. Mary’s Church, Bourne Street, both in London. Previous posi- tions included seven years teaching at the Royal Academy of Music in London, service on the music staff of Westminster Abbey and later of Rochester Cathedral, and assisting John Eliot Gardiner with the famed Monteverdi Choir. “Whitehead’s compelling He won À rst prize at the playing represents Odense International advocacy of a high Organ Competition in Denmark in 2004, order.” and holds many other (BBC Music Magazine) awards and honors. He has performed in South “Whitehead plays Africa, France, Denmark Russia, Scotland, as well with clarity and au- as extensively in Eng- thority...rhythmically land at major venues and incisive playing.” festivals including those (MusicWeb International) in LitchÀ eld, Chelten- ham, and Hampstead and Highgate. “England seems to have a knack of de- He is a graduate of Uni- versity College, Oxford, veloping young or- where he was Organ ganists who become Scholar, and of the Royal quickly proÀ cient in Academy of Music, with a further gradu- the French literature. ate degree from King’s I hope to hear more College London. Organ from this excellent teachers have included Dame Gillian Weir, Naji talent.” Hakim, David Sanger, David Hill, James (American Record Guide) O’Donnell, and David Titterington. His seventh compact disc release, “Dances of Life and Death” on the Chandos label, won Five Stars from the magazine BBC Music, the Diapason Découverte award in France, and was his À rst entirely solo recording. His next solo CD was released by Herald late in 2007 and coincided with a feature article on the organist in the interna- tional journal Choir & Organ. striking innovative rhythms, dance, and The good news is that a comprehen- theatrics. Often during my tenure as sive organ is fi nally in place at Trinity THE DIAPASON editor in chief to the forerunner of The Wall Street, and according to the distin- A Scranton Gillette Publication American Organist (MUSIC/The AGO guished director of music, Dr. Burdick, Ninety-ninth Year: No. 2, Whole No. 1179 FEBRUARY, 2008 Magazine), I would attend concerts and “it’s the only perfect answer for a church services at both the cathedral as well as of our design and execution. It is musi- Established in 1909 ISSN 0012-2378 Trinity Parish, especially aware of the cal, organist-friendly, and of great inter- An International Monthly Devoted to the Organ, organ profi le at Trinity with its obvious est to our growing community.” the Harpsichord, Carillon, and Church Music limitations in design, placement, and less From the caverns of Manhattan’s fi - than satisfactory acoustics. nancial district in lower Manhattan, the Rick Tripodi would have us believe Trinity soundscape rises up in glory with that this organ is a “magnifi cent, historic, its magnifi cent, historic, virtual, double CONTENTS Editor & Publisher JEROME BUTERA jbutera@sgcmail.com one-of-a-kind” formerly in the hands organ, a solid achievement for Marshall FEATURES 847/391-1045 of a “consummate musician” and pres- & Ogletree, in collaboration with the ently “in real jeopardy under the cur- towering brilliance and monumental A conversation with James Kibbie rent musical director, who has a degree leadership of Owen Burdick, Ph.D., by Joyce Johnson Robinson 21 Associate Editor JOYCE ROBINSON in electronic music.” The reality is that Trinity’s energetic, enterprising, and in- jrobinson@sgcmail.com the original instrument—as cited by the genious organist and director of music OHS 52nd Annual National Convention 847/391-1044 administration and consultants—with its for these past seventeen years. July 11–17, 2007, Central Indiana drastic reconfi gurations over the years, Peter J. Basch by Frank Rippl 24 Contributing Editors LARRY PALMER can no longer be considered an Aeolian- Hoboken, New Jersey Skinner organ! NEWS & DEPARTMENTS Harpsichord A published appraisal of the former AIO convention Letters to the Editor 3 JAMES MCCRAY instrument follows: It was with great delight to have read Here & There 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 Choral Music 1) It does not deliver the musical per- the December installment of John Bish- Nunc Dimittis 6 formance of an instrument half its size. op’s “In the wind . ” BRIAN SWAGER Carillon News by Brian Swager 12 2) It lacks variety and tonal color in Having been to several AIO conven- Carillon both solo and accompanimental stops. tions over the years (my fi rst one was Harpsichord News by Larry Palmer 12 3) Diapason and reed choruses are in- in 1980), the one this year in Philadel- In the wind . by John Bishop 14 HERBERT L. HUESTIS OrganNet Forum adequate. phia was truly magical, one of the best On Teaching by Gavin Black 15 Osiris Organ Archive 4) At soft and medium volume levels I ever attended. For those 263 of us (at- www.mdi.ca/hhuestis/osiris the tone is generally bland; at high power tendance count was mentioned at one REVIEWS e-mail: hhuestis@mdi.ca the tone is harsh and unbalanced. point during the convention) we not only Music for Voices and Organ 16 5) It lacks the most basic qualities of came away with a great learning experi- a good Anglican church organ: a warm, ence, but an opportunity to hear some Book Reviews 17 Prepress Operations DAN SOLTIS rich, noble ensemble undergirded by a instruments that one might not get to New Recordings 18 solid, deep bass. hear under the circumstances that we New Organ Music 19 6) The pipework is badly out of regu- had (such as the private concert at the THE DIAPASON (ISSN 0012-2378) is published monthly by Scranton Gillette Communications, Inc., 3030 W. Salt lation. Wanamaker’s store). NEW ORGANS 32 Creek Lane, Suite 201, Arlington Heights, IL 60005-5025. 7) Out of 105 stops, only 21 would be Personally, I always come away from Phone 847/391-1045. Fax 847/390-0408. Telex: 206041 good enough to include in a new organ. the conventions and workshops of the CALENDAR 33 MSG RLY. E-mail: <jbutera@sgcmail.com>. Subscriptions: 1 yr. $35; 2 yr. $55; 3 yr. $70 (Unit- The church and musical services are AIO, as well as those put on by the ISO, now being webcast, with the choir shar- AGO and the OHS, with a renewed ORGAN RECITALS 37 ed States and U.S. Possessions). Foreign subscrip- tions: 1 yr. $45; 2 yr. $65; 3 yr. $85. Single copies $6 ing the chancel with the Marshall & sense of energy and vigor, as if I had (U.S.A.); $8 (foreign). Ogletree chancel organ’s 85 stops and really been on holiday away from organ- CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING 38 Back issues over one year old are available only from The Organ Historical Society, Inc., P.O. Box 26811, 120 voices, an area too small to accom- building all together, and can hardly wait Richmond, VA 23261, which can supply information on modate more than 15 to 20 ranks of to return back to my own shop. Each and Cover: John-Paul Buzard Pipe Organ availabilities and prices. pipes, which would be totally inadequate every one of these events also reaffi rms Periodical postage paid at Rockford, IL and additional Builders, Champaign, Illinois; mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes for Trinity’s musical needs. my decision, made 38 years ago, to go First Presbyterian Church, Lexington, to THE DIAPASON, 3030 W. Salt Creek Lane, Suite 201, Rick, who has worked in “sales, con- into organbuilding. Kentucky 30 Arlington Heights, IL 60005-5025. struction and consulting,” including his Truly one of the highlights of the con- Routine items for publication must be received six long-time cozy relationship with Rodg- vention was the stunning and brilliant lec- weeks in advance of the month of issue. For advertising copy, the closing date is the 1st. Prospective contribu- ers instruments, then indicates there is a ture given by our esteemed colleague, John tors of articles should request a style sheet. Unsolicited time and place for digital organs, making Bishop himself! The lecture on rigging and www.TheDiapason.com reviews cannot be accepted. one “shout” before the door closes, sug- moving organs, especially focusing on the This journal is indexed in the The Music Index, an- notated in Music Article Guide, and abstracted in RILM gesting that the Schlicker was unsatisfac- removal and moving of the large Möller Abstracts. tory at St. Paul’s Chapel, Trinity Parish, organ formerly located in the Philadelphia Send subscriptions, inquiries, and ad- Copyright ©2008. Printed in the U.S.A. and suggests a new mechanical-action Civic Auditorium, was stimulating, edu- dress changes to THE DIAPASON, pipe organ with “some digital voices”! cating, entertaining, and humorous all at 3030 W. Salt Creek Lane, Suite 201, THE DIAPASON accepts no responsibility or liability Lastly, as Dr. Burdick indicates, “for the same time. I sat literally on the edge of Arlington Heights, IL 60005. for the validity of information supplied by contributors, the fi rst time in history, we truly have a my chair for the entire event, and was left vendors, advertisers or advertising agencies. double organ that solves all the physi- after 90 minutes wanting more! This was cal problems confronting an instrument not diffi cult even after being in lectures No portion of the contents of this issue may be reproduced in any form without the specifi c written permission at Trinity Church, which no pipe organ for four days, and his lecture being late in of the Editor, except that libraries are authorized to make photocopies of the material contained herein for the purpose of course reserve reading at the rate of one copy for every fi fteen students.