The Organizer American Guild of Organists Atlanta Chapter Let's Celebrate! 90th Anniversary The Atlanta Chapter has a rich Celebration Oct. 12 heritage of continuous and colorful All Saints Episcopal Church activity. As we celebrate our upcoming 634 W. Peachtree Street, NW ninetieth birthday in October, I hope (404) 351-2997 that we can begin preparation for our centennial year. Many of our current Reservation Deadline members have been around for many Thursday, October 7 years and have much to share. As I have researched material and bugged $12 people for information for this <[email protected]> anniversary, I have enjoyed reading Telephone Coordinator (770) 496-0719 and hearing about the early years. As a native Atlantan, I have many 6:00 PM View Special Displays memories of the past forty years as a 6:30 PM Dinner, Meeting member of the Atlanta Chapter. 8:00 PM David Briggs, organ Hopefully, we can get a group of members together and produce a Map is on the back cover. Menu is on page 2. “blockbuster” film about the Atlanta Chapter. Did you know . 1. What organ in Atlanta was once referred to as the “Greatest Organ in America”? Sadly, it is During the first year, the Georgia Chapter had a total no longer in existence. membership of thirty-three, including one fellow and one 2. How many national conventions have been associate. Annual AGO dues were $3.00 and a church dinner held in Atlanta? cost 50 cents. 3. Who served as chapter treasurer for 30 In the early years, prominent Atlanta churches provided details years? of their service music for the Saturday evening church pages 4. What was the name of the first chapter of the Atlanta Journal. newsletter? 5. What recital had a SRO attendance of In 1919, a motion was made and carried that “a fine of twenty- 7,000? five cents be made for members not attending meetings.” Has 6. What father and daughter, both holding this motion been rescinded? Finally A Good Organist certification, held the office of dean? Marcel Dupré gave a recital at Presser Hall on the Agnes 7. What organ played in early Georgia Chapter Scott campus in 1948. recitals remains in its original location? Now for a little quiz. If you cannot answer the following (continued on page 3) questions, then you need to come to the October meeting. October 2004 1 The Organizer Do you know musicians moving to Athens? Betty Williford, Editor UGA Students? Youth? Children? Adults? Phone (770) 934-0238 FAX (770) 934-0238; CALL FIRST! Contact <[email protected]> Tom Granum, Director of Music & Organist Liane Hunter, Graphics [email protected] (706) 543-4338 Deadline for November issue: www.athensfirstpres.com October 15 Advertising space available: $60 per half page per issue First Presbyterian Church $30 per quarter page per issue 185 E. Hancock Avenue $15 per business card per issue Athens, GA 30601 Weekly Worship Services Menu Major Works with Orchestra including Whole Poached Atlantic Salmon Garnished with "Cucumber Scales" Mozart: Requiem Fresh dill, cherry tomatoes & lemon Duruflé: Requiem Dijon Mustard Dill Sauce with Capers & Onion Rutter: Mass for the Chidlren Chicken/Artichoke/Mushrooms/Red Pepper & Celery in Velouté sauce with sherry and parmesan cheese over Brown & Wild Rice Blend Spinach Florentine Stuffed Tomatoes Homemade Yeast Rolls Iced Tea & Coffee St. Brigid Catholic Church, Alpharetta 90th Anniversary Celebration Cake Sunday, October 10 2:30 PM Inaugural Concert 37-rank Casavant Northside Drive Baptist Church Peter Marshall, organ 2004 2005 Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Norman MacKenzie conducting Sunday, October 3 4:00 PM For complimentary ticket: <[email protected]> Gregg Bunn, organ (678)393-0060 Fugue as an Art Works of Bach, Liszt & Duruflé Important Information * * * Dinner Reservations Coming Events E-mail: [email protected] Telephone (770) 496-0719 Sunday, November 7 4:00 PM Chapter Web site <www.agoatlanta.org> Sunday, December 12 4:00 PM National Web site <www.AGOHQ.org> Friday, December 24 10:30 PM Sunday, February 20 4:00 PM Executive Board Meeting Sunday, March 20 4:00 PM Saturday, October 9 Sunday, March 27 11:00 AM 9:30 AM Sunday, April 24 4:00 PM Central Presbyterian Church 201 Washington St., SW Watch this space for details! October 2004 2 David Briggs (continued from page 1) Acclaimed as one of the foremost concert 8. Who was the first internationally known artist to organists of his generation, David Briggs give an organ recital in Atlanta? It should be noted that enjoys a busy touring schedule. He has built a considerable reputation as an he was invited back the next year for another recital. exciting performer and communicator, with 9. At the 1975 regional convention, the Atlanta chapter particular emphases on orchestral organized a society to honor the 200th birthday of what transcriptions and the art of improvisation. British organist and composer? He studied improvisation with Jean Langlais You will hear more fascinating facts in October, plus in Paris; transcribed many of the recorded some hilarious stories. One story from a charter improvisations of Pierre Cochereau, won the Paisley International Improvisation member, a dear lady whom many of us remember: Competition; became the first British winner One church organist says to another, “Do you like of the coveted Tournemire Prize at the St Buxtehude?” The second replies, “I don’t know Buck’s Albans International Improvisation Te Hude, but his Te Deum is one of my favorites.” Competition, and now teaches improvisation at the Royal Northern College of Music, the Clean out your trunks and locate the following two Royal Academy of Music and Oxford publications. University. th He is Organist Emeritus of Gloucester § The AGO in Atlanta on the 65 Anniversary of the Cathedral. He held similar positions at Chapter, The American Organist, February, 1980, H. Truro and Hereford Cathedrals and at Douglas Johnson, N. Lee Orr, J. Melvin Potts King's College, Cambridge, where he was Organ Scholar. He was Principal Viola in § Atlanta Chapter 75th Anniversary brochure the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, playing under conductors such as See you in October and bring your memories and Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Charles Groves, stories to share with us. Charles Dutoit, and Kiril Kondrashin, and was awarded their Bulgin Medal for Musical Excellence. He obtained his FRCO at the Dan age of seventeen, winning all the prizes and Dan Pruitt Dean 1978-1980 the Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians. While at Gloucester, he oversaw the complete rebuilding of the Cathedral organ by Nicholson, and directed the Three Choirs Festivals on three occasions, conducting some of the UK's finest professional orchestras, notably the Philharmonia. David Briggs is increasingly in demand as a composer. Recent works include his a setting of the Solemn Requiem Mass for All Saint's Episcopal Church, Atlanta, Georgia. His schedule for 2003 included some fifty concerts - in the USA (four trips), UK, France, Belgium and South Africa - and in July he was a member of the jury for the St Albans International Organ Competition. When not pursuing musical activities, David Important! Briggs continues work towards receiving his private airplane pilot's license. The chapter's voice mail, (404) 233-7206, has been discontinued. October 2004 3 The Cathedral of St. Philip The Cathedral of St. Philip 2744 Peachtree Rd. NW 2744 Peachtree Rd. NW Atlanta, Georgia 30315-2920 Atlanta, GA 30305-2920 SUNDAY, 3 OCTOBER (FESTIVAL OF ST. FRANCIS) proudly presents in concert 3:30 P.M. RECITAL / Donald Meineke, organ THE CHOIR OF MEN AND BOYS OF 4:00 P.M. EVENSONG / Schola HEREFORD CATHEDRAL Music by Holst and Sumsion GERAINT BOWEN, DIRECTOR SUNDAY, 10 OCTOBER (FEAST OF ST. PHILIP) 3:30 P.M. RECITAL / Michael Kawinski, organ MONDAY, 25 OCTOBER 2004 7:30 P.M. 4:00 P.M. EVENSONG / Schola Reception following in the Cathedral's new Atrium Music by Vaughan Williams and Rose Tickets at the door: SUNDAY, 17 OCTOBER $10 / general admission 3:30 PM RECITAL/ Christopher Dawes, organ $8 / seniors and students 4:00 P.M. EVENSONG / Schola $25 / maximum for a family of four or more Music by Stanford and Barnard For more information: TUESDAY, 19 OCTOBER call 404-365-1050 or 404-365-1052 7:30 PM CONCERT in the Gould Room Harmonie Universelle and Friends Trios for Four and More Players Tickets: $10 General Admission/$8 Seniors and Students I hope that you will avail yourselves of the opportunity $25 maximum for a family of four or more to hear the centuries-old choir of men and boys from Hereford Cathedral in England. We are particularly pleased to be able to welcome this choir, as our own THURSDAY, 21 OCTOBER choir of trebles and adults sang at Hereford Cathedral 5:45 PM EVENSONG last summer on a two-week trip that also found us at Choirs of Girls, Boys and Adults St. Albans' Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. Music by Mendelssohn, Barnard and Kelly The director of Hereford Cathedral Choir, Geraint Bowen, is no stranger to Atlanta, having directed two SUNDAY, 24 OCTOBER summer camps for girl and adult choristers sponsored There is no recital today. by the Royal School of Church Music and based at 5:00 PM EVENSONG at Agnes Scott College. Before moving to Hereford, he St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Chattanooga served for several years at the Anglican Cathedral in St. David's, Wales. As the director of the Hereford Music by Stanford, Vaughan Williams, Harris, choir, Mr. Bowen is responsible for the music at the Howells and Leigton cathedral, ranging from the weekly round of daily services to the concerts and services associated with MONDAY, 25 OCTOBER the very popular and annual Three Choirs' Festival.