NEWSLETTER of the Cincinnati Chapter /American Guild of Organists ESTABLISHED in 1913 SPRING 2010
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NEWSLETTER of the Cincinnati Chapter /American Guild of Organists ESTABLISHED IN 1913 SPRING 2010 LETTER FROM THE DEAN Dear Chapter Members! The year has gone by quickly and, although we still have the Members’ Recital (3PM, June 13, Church of the Redeemer in Hyde Park) left to enjoy, we are already looking towards next year with excitement. A full list of next year’s activities will appear in August. Among the programs we have planned or are considering are a banquet for musicians and clergy, a program on service playing and improvisation, a demonstration of Midi technology, a choral workshop with Paul Tucker (Head of Choral Studies at the University of Kansas), and a program on new organ music in varying levels of difficulty. Of course, we will hold another scholarship competition and a Pedals Pipes and Pizza event. In addition, we will begin grant-writing activities to underwrite some of our events, including the possibility of an organ concert series. I hope that you noted the article in the June issue of The American Organist (p.52) that reported on the chapter’s “Symposium on the Organ and Choral Music of Adolphus Hailstork” in February at Christ Church Cathedral. If you didn’t attend the event, you missed an utterly extraordinary program. Some of the works performed are unpublished and I don’t expect ever to hear them again. Some of the works were so well performed that I doubt I will ever hear them done better again. This program certainly set the bar for outstanding performance. All the choirs and organists who produced this program were a great demonstration of the exceptional musical power of the greater Cincinnati area and a fine feather in our chapter’s cap. This coming year, we look forward to an excellent roster of events. However, it is imperative that all chapter members understand that we need far better attendance at these events than we have had for several years. The executive committee will embark on a new effort to increase attendance at our programs this year. This will include outreach to individual members as well as good advertising of our events. We should all be painfully aware that the organ as a liturgical and concert instrument has an uncertain future. While it may be difficult for you and me to imagine that the organ could disappear, we are SPRING 2010 LETTER FROM THE DEAN ! PAGE2 confronted with the reality that numerous important commitment that the executive committee embodies schools of music and conservatories (e.g. and feel certain that it will produce an exciting Northwestern University) have eliminated programs 2010-11 season. I look forward to seeing you and in organ studies and church music. This is a reality interacting with you at our events. Please show your that we as members of the American Guild of commitment to the organ and to AGO by attending Organists must take quite seriously. as many chapter events as you can! Frankly, if as a chapter we do not support the events Yours truly, that the executive committee plans—whether they Bob Benson - Dean, are concerts, symposia, potlucks, demonstrations, Cincinnati Chapter AGO educational programs, or anything else—we are contributing directly to the demise of the organ. If as In Memory of chapter members we are not helping the people in our various churches and community organizations Tom McGraw understand how important the organ is, if we are not November 7, 1943 inviting young people, clergy, other musicians, and to music lovers in general to attend and/or participate in March 9, 2010 chapter events with us, we are actually promoting the disappearance of the king of instruments. Tom served as organist at Salem In June, you will be receiving a ballot to elect new United Church of members to the chapter executive committee along Christ in downtown with a notice for membership renewal. When you Cincinnati. He also fill out your membership renewal form, please served on the consider asking someone you know who is a church Executive musician, a clergy person, or simply a lover of good Committee of our chapter. He allowed us to have organ and choral music to join the chapter. If you concerts and executive meetings at his church. He are shy about approaching others, send names of will be greatly missed by all. Tom is survived by his potential members to our Registrar, Don Auberger. wife, Carol (Nee: Surritt). He and I will invite these people to join AGO and become part of the movement to save the organ from WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! extinction. This year the executive committee will be Kevin A. Rose (Dean-Dayton Chapter) working diligently at increasing our membership. 2840 Whittier Ave. (Did you know that the Columbus and Cleveland Dayton, OH 45420 chapters at 147 and 190, respectively, are (937) 259-0734 home (937) 361-4788 cell significantly larger than the Cincinnati chapter at [email protected] 120?) Kevin is outgoing Dean of the Dayton Chapter. He I am pleased to say that we have a number of new and his wife will be moving to the Cincinnati area. faces from among the membership who have agreed Zoltan Marczi to serve on the executive committee. It is always 7061 Mulberry Street gratifying when members step up and are willing to Cincinnati, OH 45239 serve the chapter and the national organization in this (513) 931-1454 home (513) 741-5303 work way. I am very excited about the energy and [email protected] SPRING 2010 NEW MEMBERS HISTORICALLY SPEAKING! PAGE3 (Continued from Page 2) magazine collection in the Music Library of the Zoltan is an incredible organist and pianist. He is University of California, Berkeley. Here is our from Budapest, Hungary and came to Cincinnati in chapter’s (Southern Ohio Chapter) final report that connection with CCM studies. He studied in appeared in the first volume of The American Hungary with a student of Bela Bartok. Organist 92 years ago. Dale R. Harris, BM SOUTHERN OHIO 3900 Rose Hill Ave. Apt. 705A Dean: Sidney C. Durst, F.A.G.O., 137 West 4th Cincinnati, OH 45229-1462 Street, Cincinnati, Ohio. Phone 903-271-7216 Sub-Dean: John Yoakley, A.A.G.O., 222 West 4th [email protected] Street, Cincinnati, Ohio. Dale is a "dual" member, with his primary Secretary: C. Hugo Grimm, 2232 Fulton Avenue, membership being the Dallas Chapter. Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, Ohio. Treasurer: J. Alfred Schehl, A.A.G.O., 1137 Richard Lewis Seton Avenue, Price Hill, Cincinnati, Ohio. 7756 Anchor Way Registrar: Wm. H. Grubbs, 322 West 4th Street, Florence, KY 41042 Cincinnati, Ohio. (302)463-9843 cell Executive Committee: Alois Bartschmid, F.A.G.O.; [email protected] H. D. LeBaron, A.A. G. O.; J. Warren Ritchey. Gordon Graham, Leo S. Thuis, Carl W. Grimm, Mrs. James (Rick) Marquardt Nell Rowlett Kemper, Mrs. Lillian Arkell Rixford, 3092 Arbor Dr. Adolph H. Stadermann. Edgewood, KY 41017 We are pleased to present our esteemed Treasurer, J. (859)426-8256 home (513) 684-7602 work Alfred Schehl. A. A. G. O. He was born July 12, [email protected] 1882, in Cincinnati, and received his early training from his fa- J. Alfred Schehl, A. A. G. O. their, and at the College of Music of Cincinnati. His masters were \V. S. Sterling (organ), Romeo Gorno, Ebert- Buchheim, Clarence Adler (piano), Leandro Campanari, Jose Marien (violin). X. J. Elsenheimer. Louis V. Saar (composition), Frank Van der Stucken (orchestration and conducting). JUNE 1918 He became an intimate personal friend of the latter, Volume 1, Number 6, Page 338 and for eight years assisted him as accompanist and sub-conductor of the famous May Music Festivals. HISTORICALLY SPEAKING For ten years he was a violinist in the Cincinnati Cincinnati Chapter - Back in Time - Part 4 Symphony Orchestra and for eight years director of the Mozart Club, an excellent mixed chorus. Mr. Our own Emily Adams found a book on Google Schehl has been in continuous service as a Roman Books web site. It is the first volume of The Catholic organist and choirmaster since he was American Organist magazine that was published in sixteen years of age. and is now serving at St. 1918. The bounded volume was part of a huge Lawrence where he has an excellent choir of boys SPRING 2010 HISTORICALLY SPEAKING! PAGE4 and men and where the congregational singing of MOLLER ORGAN NEEDS A HOME eight hundred school children cannot be surpassed. He himself has contributed six children to that A very nice Moller Artiste pipe organ currently chorus, each one of whom is as intensely musical as located in Ashland, KY, in a private residence, needs the father. His compositions include works in all a new home. The organ is in excellent condition. forms except symphony and opera; one of his Specifications anthems received honorable mention in the Clemson PEDAL: contest of 1916. His most extensive work is the 16 Bourdon; 8 Bourdon; 4 Principal; incidental music to the Passion Play for full chorus 4 Stopped Flute; 2 Gemshorn and orchestra. Mr. Schehl is a member of the SWELL: Cincinnati Archdiocesan Commission of Church 8 Stopped Flute; 8 Gemshorn; 4 Nason Flute; Music, the St. Gregory Society, and Musicians' Club. 2 2/3 Nasard; 2 Block Flute; 1 1/3 Larigot; 1 Fife He received his Associate Degree in 1916. and lias GREAT: been treasurer since the foundation of the Chapter. 8 Principal; 8 Stopped Flute; 4 Spitz Flute; 2 2/3 Twelfth; 2 Fifteenth; 2 Piccolo Charles Heinroth, of Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh, gave a recital to the Chapter at the Church of the Buyer responsible for move; Asking price $8,500; Covenant.