Annual Picnic at Ron Bingaman's Home PAUL-WESLEY BOWEN
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************************************************************************************************************** ************************************************************************************************************** Newsletter of the NORCAL THEATRE ORGAN SOCIETY www.theatreorgans.com/norcal PO Box 625, Berkeley, CA 94701-0625 510/644-2707 June 2009 PAUL-WESLEY BOWEN Annual Picnic at San Jose Grace Baptist Church Ron Bingaman’s Home Sunday, June 14, 2009 – 1 PM NorCal’s annual picnic (with Sierra Followed by Open Console Chapter members our guests) will be held Sunday, August 23rd at Ron and orCal’s own P. W. Bowen will be at the Gay Bingaman’s beautiful home in Grass Nconsole of Grace Baptist Church’s Valley. Situated on 10 acres, the house has 3/13 Robert Morton. Originally installed a water powered Allen GW-4 with speakers in San Jose’s Liberty Theater this organ that are way above in an angled ceiling so retains its original theatre organ features. the sound comes down from above. Although a native Californian, ‘PW’ spent The festivities will start around 11 AM 30 years in Minnesota with the Dutch organ and we will eat around noon or thereafter. manufacturer, Eminent Organ Co. Known A grill will be provided for those who wish for his active hand registrations ‘PW’ is at to ‘cook out’ and coffee, tea and soft drinks home with both Theatre and Church organs. will be provided on-site. Please bring your Following the concert, members will have own dishes, silverware and food, and if 10 to 15 minute turns at open console, with desired, beer or wine. repeat turns as time permits. In addition to the organ and the on-site Grace Baptist Church is in downtown hydro-electric power house, Ron and Gay ‘P.W.’ Bowen San Jose at 484 E. San Fernando St. have 4 llamas and 3 pet chickens which you (continued on Page Three) Lew Williams at BCT Lew then used throughout the first half of blew his stack backstage, but I wouldn’t May 3, 2009 the concert. No batteries required! But as it blame him if he did.) (review by Don Ravey) was placed on the console platform between Lew’s performance was notable for his orCal’s final public concert of the uses, it gave the appearance that CalTrans transcriptions from classical, big band, N2008-2009 season got off to a shaky was repairing pot holes on the stage! and Latin orchestral scores. I heard all the start when the theater sound system And once, unfortunately during a beautiful interplay of voices that I was familiar with refused to cooperate, depriving us of rendition of the Scherzo from Vierne’s in the original versions. And all played by our customary vocal welcome by Bill Second Symphony, the sound system’s one musician! His rhythms and tempos Schlotter and requiring our visiting artist speakers above the stage unexpectedly came were also true to the original, a quality I from Phoenix, Lew Williams, to just start to life and began hissing at the audience until much admire. playing and bring up the console lift with someone backstage was able to mute it. Alright, so much for the excitement. no introduction. I’m sure the confusion was During the intermission, the stage crew As we have come to expect from Lew somewhat distracting to Lew. was able to set up a portable amplifier Williams, we enjoyed a wide range of When Lew’s wireless microphone also system on the stage. And it worked! Lew music; as Lew said, a drawer of unmatched failed to operate, our ever-resourceful Kevin is to be complimented for maintaining his socks. King came onstage and delivered an older composure and being a good sport about . (Playlist is on Page Two) technology megaphone-like device that the technical problems. (I don’t know if he NorCal Theatre Organ Society (NorCal TOS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Federal Employer Identification Number 23-741594-7 � State Charitable Trust No. CT 45966 � State Organization Number D-072 6636 NT20S M12 CHAIRMAN VICE CHAIRMAN SECRETARY TREASURER EDITOR Pro Tem PROGRAM MEMBERSHIP Neal R. Wood Judson H. Owens Arthur Woodworth Frank La Fetra Janice La Fetra Gordon A. Pratt Neal R. Wood 523 Corbett Avenue 1730 Virginia St. 600 Coventry Road 3167 Falls Creek Dr. 3167 Flls Creek Dr. 15942 Via Cordoba 523 Corbett Avenue San Francisco, CA 94114 Berkeley, CA 94703 Kensington, CA 94707 San Jose, CA 95135 San Jose, CA 95135 San Lorenzo, CA 94580 San Francisco, CA 94114 415/861-7082 510/848-8714 510/524-7452 408/532-1044 408/532-1044 510/276-8102 415/861-7082 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] When emailing, include ATOS in the subject line. Otherwise, if you are unknown to the recipient’s computer, its SPAM filter may divert your mail. (Lew Williams cont. from Page One) 2 songs from Dancing Lady (Joan St. Louis Blues March – W. C. Handy PLAYLIST Crawford): Hallelujah Chorus from The Messiah Up console: Heigh Ho and Everything I Have Is – G. F. Handel Begin the Beguine – Cole Porter Yours – Burton Lane Medley from The Sound of Music - First half: In The Mood – Richard Rodgers Does Your Heart Beat For Me – Joe Garland, Andy Razaf, Glenn Miller (including The Sound of Music, My Russ Morgan Intermission – Second half: Favorite Things, Do Re Mi, Edelweiss, Medley from Mary Poppins – Little Mermaid from the Disney film Climb Ev’ry Mountain) Richard & Robert Sherman – Alan Menken Encores: Harbor Lights – Jimmy Kennedy Country Road – (John Denver) Toccata from Symphony No. 5 – All That Jazz from Chicago – String of Pearls – Charles-Marie Widor John Kander Jerry Gray (Glenn Miller) As Time Goes By – Herman Hupfeld Scherzo from 2nd Symphony – Bossa Nova Medley – Louis Vierne Antonio Carlos Jobim: —Review by Don Ravey Lullaby – George Gershwin Girl From Ipanema, Lady of Spain – Tolchard Evans Wave, and Summer Samba Berkeley High School Music Department features NorCal’s Mighty Wurlitzer Karen Wells, Berkeley HS Music Instructor Berkeley High School Symphony Orchestra Alexander Johnson, Music Student --Neal Wood Photo t was around the middle of March Alex was a quick study. Wurlitzer and the Berkeley High School Iwhen BHS music instructor Karen The week of the concert was quickly upon Symphony. The piece was beautifully Wells Visited the NorCal work party. Ms. the music department. Alex needed more orchestrated. The final chord by the organ Wells was aware of the Wurlitzer in the practice time on the Wurlitzer, and Chris brought the house down. The audience community theatre and hoped that some was available mornings to provide support immediately stood and cheered, yelling day she could use the mighty instrument in for the organ. This was to be the first time “Encore, Encore”. one of the Berkeley High School concerts. that the high school symphony and the It was over. Chris and I were grinning ear The date for their spring concert was April organ played together. to ear. The audience and members of the 16th. The timing was right. The organ was On April 16th the audience entered the symphony crowded around the console to available, but who was going to play it? theater; most were seeing the Wurlitzer have another look. One of the students sat At the next organ work party, in walks console for the first time. I could overhear down and played a good rendition of Alfred student Alexander Johnson, a member of people mentioning that they had heard there Hitchcock’s theme song. It was a good half the Berkeley High School Symphony. His was an organ in the auditorium, but they hour of answering questions about the organ training included keyboards, piano, and had never seen it. A group gathered around until the audience was ushered out of the percussion instruments, however he had the edge of the stage, formulating the usual theatre. never played an organ. questions such as where are the speakers, The next morning, Chris and I met with Under tutelage of Chris Nichols, Alex where did the organ come from, etc. Ms. Wells’ music class. We conducted tours sat down at the BCT Wurlitzer for the The organ was to be used in the last of the organ, visiting the chambers, piano first time with the confidence of a pro. piece; Symphony No. 3 in C minor, the shelf and of course, the 32’ Diaphones (they Chris instructed him on proper seating fourth movement, Maestoso, by Camille were a big hit). The students took interest in at the organ, registration, technique, etc. Saint-Saens. Alex seated himself at the all of the aspects of the organ. Here’s hoping While the crew was working in the scene console, and waited for instruction from the that NorCal has sparked some enthusiasm shop, we could hear Alex’s attempt at conductor, Ms. Wells. As the baton came in the Mighty Wurlitzer and the music we playing the organ. As the day progressed, down, Alex played that magnificent major love to hear. some interesting sounds were beginning to chord that heralds the Maestoso. It was just —Neal Wood emanate from the auditorium. Obviously, what we were waiting to hear; the Mighty Page Two Windsheet June 2009 So what more can I say, except to thank Bob It’s De-Loverley—Cole Porter Hartzell at Harmony Wynelands, for his hos- Intermission pitality, and Ironstone Winery for the wonder- Vanessa—Wayne (Picnic continued from Page One) ful buffet dinner and their hospitality as well. I’m in the Mood for Love— Thanks go to Carol, Craig, Tom, Dave(s), and Jimmy McHugh & Dorothy Fields the members of the Sierra Chapter for putting Medley of Julie Styne music this whole event together.