sforzando Dean s Message -- by Vernon Williams Southwest Jersey Chapter American Guild of Organists 2 Program Notes

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1 UPCOMING EVENTS SUNDAY,MARCH 4 4PM SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE & CELEBRATION ST. MATTHEW LUTHERAN, MOORESTOWN sforzando V O L U M E 7, I S S U E 7 M A R C H Southwest Jersey Chapter American Guild of Organists INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Sub-Dean s Report 2 March 4 2 Program Notes Gallery: February Events 3 Matters of Note 4 Programs At a Glance 5 Convention Corner 5 POE News 9 Photo by Joe Routon of the organ at Matthaus Kirche in Lucerne, Switzerland. Built in by J. Neidhadt and G. Lhôte, the organ has 3 manuals and 53 ranks. Dean s Message -- by Vernon Williams Many of you are in the midst of the busy Lenten season, preparing for Easter and other special events. In the midst of our busy-ness, it is helpful to remember that this period can be especially meaningful to our listeners and congregations, and that our work can make a difference in people s lives. Our February 24 event at First Presbyterian Church in Pitman, featuring Chuck Gibson s presentation on organ maintenance, was well-attended and most interesting. Marilyn Rabbai joined Chuck to review the process leading up to the purchase and installation of the church s new Wicks organ in Then Chuck 2018 by SW Jersey AGO.continued on page 12

2 P A G E 2 Sub-Dean s Report -- by David Rhody Our next meeting on Sunday March 4 at 4 pm, to be held at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Moorestown, will be a service of remembrance and celebration of Chapter members gone from us, particularly thinking of Rev. J. Bert Carlson and Helen Taylor. Helen Taylor s personal copy of Sacred Songs by Bert and Nance Carlson Greetings everyone, About two dozen attended a fascinating workshop at Pitman Presbyterian Church on February 24 to hear Chuck Gibson narrate the installation of the church s Wicks Organ and discuss common problems of organ maintenance and how to make emergency repairs. Many questions were raised and answered in one of our most useful and practical programs of the year. Thanks to Chuck, our host Marilyn Rabbai, and Cathy O Neill who organized a fine luncheon after the meeting. Our next meeting on Sunday March 4 at 4 pm, to be held at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Moorestown, will be a service of remembrance and celebration of Chapter members gone from us, particularly thinking of Rev. J. Bert Carlson and Helen Taylor. Here is the description from Larry DePasquale who has developed the service: This event is a musical tribute set within the basic context of monasticstyle Evening Prayer, traditionally sung at 4 PM. The Episcopal and Lutheran churches in the US retained this prayer office along with Morning Prayer, and Prayer at the Close of the Day, which respectively have become known as Vespers, Matins, and Compline. Compline would be sung just prior to retiring. This is a Vesper-type experience, beginning with a brief explanation and welcome, then a musical prelude from a Bach flute sonata (from the pen of Helen s favorite composer), followed by a procession and hymn of light from the Greek tradition, the Phos hilaron, a chant of thanksgiving, and then Psalm 141, also known as the Incense Psalm, Let my prayer rise before you as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. We then insert one of Bert s canticles which was published in the 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, Listen, You Nations, which is an invitation for the entire planet to stop to hear words of Holy Scripture AND share the words to distant islands, suggesting that all God s creatures, especially those isolated in remote places, need his words, and that, like a garden, refreshed by the rain, they will never be in want again. The text states that God s promises will make young women dance for joy, and men young and old will make merry, and that all the universe should Break into shouts of great joy, teach all nations to sing this song: The Lord has saved his people. The canticles have an effervescent rhythm with a 5/4 measure appearing at the end, so everyone: count that final stanza. Bert s wife, Nancé, often wrote the prose which he set to music. Lift up your voice and The Willow will be sung by chapter member Marianne Hughes, from the collection Sacred Songs of Bert and Nancé Carlson. The combined parish choirs of St. Stephen and St. Matthew will share Bert s settings of The Question and his setting of the John Dykes tune Nearer to Thee. Bert s incredible gift for freshness of melody and harmonic progressions serve the texts incredibly accurately for both these compositions. The Dykes setting will include oboist Kenneth Carson, senior at Rowan University. The choir then turns its attention to the Sanctus from Hector Berlioz s Requiem, scored for tenor soloist, SSA chorus, and a 3-voice fugue with stretto for SATB chorus. No Hosanna in the highest could be more infused with the French qualities equal to a meal consisting of a stick of butter, baguette, beef bourguignon, a bottle of cabernet sauvignon and a bottle of beaujolais wine, a bowl of fresh fruit and baked brie, and French apple pie to conclude. The tribute will conclude with a final blessing and Richard Dirkson s hymn Innisfree Farm using the text Christ, mighty Savior, light of all the nations, and Bach s Orgelbuchlein setting of Jesu, meine Freude. Fellowship in the narthex concludes the event with a wine and cheese reception. Our Annual Members Recital will take place on April 15, 4 pm, at Deerfield Presbyterian Church, hosted by Evelyn Larter. Mary Johnson, Carol Louise Knisell, Evelyn, Glenn Rodgers, Vernon Williams, Vicki Nichols and Joanne Owen will perform. A social event for members of the Southwest, South Jersey and Philadelphia Chapters has been planned for March 11, a bowling party in Hammonton. For more information please visit the Philadelphia Chapter website. (Editor s note: see programs, p. 5) I hope to see many of you at these exciting events in the life of our Chapter. S F O R Z A N D O

3 V O L U M E 7, I S S U E 7 PAGE Gallery: February Events Top center: Glenn Rodgers noontime recital at Boardwalk Hall, and, top right, at Trinity Episcopal s Lenten recital series. Clockwise from above: Chuck Gibson leads our Organ Design and Maintenance workshop at Pitman Presbyterian Church on 2/24. Photos by Dean Metzler, Vernon Williams and Marilyn Rabbai (...continued next page) 3

4 P A G E 4 Gallery, continued from page 3 On February 4, the choir of historic St. Peter's Church, Philadelphia performed Vernon Williams' Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis as part of a service of Choral Evensong at Christ Church Christiana Hundred in Wilmington. Pictured with Vernon are Bruce Barber, Director of Music at Christ Church, and Darryl Roland, Director of Music at St. Peter's. Matters of Note Hospitality: Thanks to all who brought something for the lunch at Pitman Presbyterian. After our next program in March, there will be a wine and cheese reception that Larry has cleared with the church. The chapter will be providing the wine as well as cheese and crackers, so just come and enjoy. - Cathy Substitute Organist Needed Easter Sunday, 4/1 9:30 Mass (Call 8:45 am) St. Ignatius of Antioch RC Church, 999 Reading Avenue, Yardley, PATraditional Easter hymns with professional brass and vocal quartets. St. Ignatius is a large suburban Parish with traditional music. This Mass will have attendance in the range of 1,100 parishioners. The organ is a Rogers 3-manual in excellent condition (stops extend from 32 reed to substantial Glory Horn, with everything in between )Fee negotiable and very competitive. Please contact Lee Milhous ASAP: H: M: E: leefmilhous@verizon.net Sunday, March 11, 4pm: Pre-Holy Week Bowling Breather, The Alley 1151 South White Horse Pike Hammonton, NJ, A joint social event co-sponsored Philadelphia AGO/Southeast Jersey AGO. $20 per person (includes food), featuring a short program about why organists make better bowlers and as well as the inside scoop on the upcoming regional AGO convention. Every Wednesday at 10 am, Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ. The curator s tour will be conducted with a concert following. Check Boardwalkorgans.org for details. These events are free. Every Wednesday at 12 noon, Lenten Organ Recital and Soup Luncheon Series: Organ recitals on Trinity's recently renovated pipe organ last 30 minutes and are followed by a delicious homemade soup luncheon in the Parish Hall. Both the recital and the luncheon are free and open to the public. A free-will offering is gratefully accepted. Trinity Episcopal Church, 207 West Main Street, Moorestown, NJ March 7 - Clara Gerdes; March 14 - Max Esmus; March 21 - Marilyn Rabbai S F O R Z A N D O

5 V O L U M E 7, I S S U E 7 Convention Corner -- by Evelyn Larter, CAGO and Marilyn Rabbai, CAGO P A G E 5 Programs at a Glance (See Sub-Dean s Report on page 2 for details) Sunday, March 4 at 4PM: Evening Prayer and Memorial Concert at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Moorestown, honoring Helen K. Taylor and J. Bert Carlson Sunday, March 11 at 4PM: Pre-Holy Week Bowling Breather with Philadelphia and Southeast Jersey Chapters (See Matters of Note for details) The Steering Committee met recently and there was much progress to report in many areas of the 2019 Mid-Atlantic Regional AGO Convention planning. We have now received completed contracts from about half of our artists and workshop presenters. We should be able to announce program details very soon! Imagine all the exciting possibilities for South Jersey: the infusion of inspiration, the boost to local businesses and the enduring cultural reverberations we can't begin to measure. We are looking forward to sharing the instruments we know and love; the neighborhoods and facilities of which we are justly proud. We are confident that the programs we present will have a lasting impact on our lives, the communities we serve and many beyond our local borders. Help us bring about this breathtaking, ground-breaking opportunity for our chapters and our region with your financial support! All gifts to the AGO are 100% tax deductible to the fullest extent provided by law. Your gift, in whatever amount is financially appropriate for you, will be appreciated and will be put to work immediately, propelling us forward at the crucial planning stage. Your gift encourages other guild members to make a donation. The power of our combined financial support makes us more attractive to foundations and major donors. We are now in the process of applying for grants and gifts from major donors. Do you know of a foundation or a major donor to whom we should apply for assistance? Please send your suggestions to me at: mwrabbai@verizon.net. There will be future opportunities for sponsorships and advertising. Several members are planning to make gift installments for 2017, 2018 and Whatever you can offer in an initial gift will create the momentum we need to generate the funding we need in the months ahead. Thank you! Checks can be made payable to AGO 2019 Mid-Atlantic Regional. Please send them to: Gail Gassaway 241 Night Hawk Circle West Deptford, NJ Sunday, April 15 at 4PM: Annual Members Recital at Deerfield Presbyterian Church. Evelyn Larter, host Saturday, May 19, AM: Old City Philadelphia Organ Crawl Annual Meeting and Picnic: July 2018 (date & time TBA) at the home of Bill Mitchell

6 P A G E 6 LIFT UP YOUR VOICE a memorial tribute and sharing representing the musical contributions of Pr. J. Bert Carlson, honoring Helen K. Taylor for her years of service to the Guild, and for past members of the Guild around the throne of the Most High. ST. MATTHEW LUTHERAN CHURCH 318 Chester Ave., Moorestown, NJ Sunday 4 March 2018 at 3 PM inclement weather date Sunday 11 March 2018 at 3 PM S F O R Z A N D O

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9 V O L U M E 7, I S S U E 7 P A G E 9 News from AGO Headquarters: POE AGO Pipe Organ Encounters Provide Youth and Adults with Opportunities for Intensive Study of the King of Instruments Six Summer Programs for Teenagers and Adults Celebrate the Thirtieth Anniversary of the POE Program Supported by Organ Builders and the National Endowment for the Arts NEW YORK CITY The American Guild of Organists (AGO) is proud to announce five PIPE ORGAN ENCOUNTERS (POEs) for students aged 13 18, and one POE+ for adults in Complete contact information for each weeklong Pipe Organ Encounter can be found in The American Organist Magazine and online at The summer schedule follows: POE (for ages 13 18) June Phoenix, Ariz. June Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn. July 8 13 Philadelphia, Penn. July Los Angeles, Calif. July Deland, Fla. POE+ (for adults) June Rockford, Ill. The PIPE ORGAN ENCOUNTER (POE) is an introduction to the pipe organ through instruction in organ playing, repertoire, history, design, and construction. These regional summer music camps for teenage students provide private and group instruction in service playing and solo repertoire, opportunities to learn about the musical heritage of various religious denominations, and a chance for young musicians to meet others with similar interests. Piano or organ proficiency ranging from intermediate to advanced is required. Scholarship assistance is available. The POE+ is a summer program filled with practical information and instruction for adult keyboard musicians interested in improving their service-playing skills. Participants will be introduced to basic organ skills through private instruction and classes. The weeklong experience will lead to greater confidence and competence at the organ. Generous funding from the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America (APOBA), the American Institute of Organbuilders (AIO), the Jordan Organ Endowment, and the National Endowment for the Arts will support these summer educational programs from coast to coast. The AGO and APOBA have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship since 1975, declared AGO Executive Director James Thomashower. Likewise, the AIO has been active in supporting the Guild s educational programs, beginning with their partnership in Pulling Out All the Stops, a video produced jointly in 1996 by the AGO, AIO, APOBA, the Organ Historical Society, and the American Theater Organ Society and aired on PBS. In addition, we are delighted to have received support from the Jordan Organ Endowment at Columbus State University for our POE program, as well as a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts supporting our educational activities this year. In addition to the POE and POE+ programs, but not offered in 2018, is a POE (Advanced) that provides intermediate to advanced classes in areas such as organ literature, history, pipe organ construction and design, music theory, improvisation, conducting, and service playing for students who have achieved a high level of success in organ study. Also, there is a POE (Technical) designed for students who are interested in learning the art and craft of organ building. The event is hosted in the workshop of an organ builder working in cooperation with a local AGO chapter. POE site locations are selected by the AGO Committee on Pipe Organ Encounters and approved by the AGO National Council. Applications for 2019 are available from AGO National Headquarters and online at Editor s Note: Download the Philadelphia POE brochure here: brochure

10 P A G E 10 Positions Available/Substitute List -- by Peter Homon Editor s Note: We are updating and hoping to expand our Substitute List. If you are available to substitute, please contact Peter Homon, our Referral/Position Coordinator. Please forward or refer any items concerning positions available or substitute needs to Peter at lapajar@yahoo.com or call These musicians are available on Sundays and also for weddings and funerals other days: Patricia Brady-Danzig (South Orange) pbradydan@erols.com - organ/piano, cantor, choir director Carolyn Thomas Cuperwich (Tabernacle) cthomas.musician@gmail.com - piano, organ, cantor, choir director John Dow (Millville) jedowfam@aol.com Mary Johnson (Pine Hill) mebayj47@yahoo.com George Mitchell (Cherry Hill) babayaga430@verizon.com Irina Nenartovich, CAGO, SPC (Cherry Hill) knenartovich@hotmail.com Joanne Owen (Woodstown) lbjkowen1982@comcast.net These substitutes are available for weddings and funerals or Saturday work only: Patricia M. Fronczek, (Blackwood) theloveofsong@comcast.net Evelyn Larter, CAGO (Elmer) ERLarter@juno.com Lee F. Milhous, (Doylestown PA) leefmilhous@verizon.net Cathy O Neill, (Sewell, NJ) cmo125@aol.com Marilyn Rabbai, CAGO (Pitman) mwrabbai@verizon.net S F O R Z A N D O

11 V O L U M E 7, I S S U E 7 P A G E 11 AGO CERTIFIED MEMBERS Contributors Rae Ann Anderson, CAGO Miriam Bisbing, SPC Helen C. Carrell, CAGO, SPC Mark A. Cole, SPC Lawrence DePasquale, CAGO Ruth O. Fink, AAGO, ChM Ethel H. Geist, CAGO Carol Louise Knisell, CAGO Evelyn Larter, CAGO, SPC Irina Nenartovich, CAGO, SPC Marilyn Rabbai, CAGO, SPC David L. Rhody, SPC Glenn L. Rodgers, AAGO Joyce Ann Routon, CAGO, SPC For more information on Professional Certification requirements, procedures, materials and deadlines, visit the website of AGO National Headquarters: Thank you, Andre Vermeulen Peter Homon Guy Kirk Nancy Stoking-Perry Miriam Bisbing Mark Dishong Patrons Richard Sakowski David Rhody Ethel Geist Stephen Obarski Joanne Owen Gail Gassaway Rae Ann Anderson Helen Carrell William Fenimore Robert Gladden Reneé Hatzold John Dow Evelyn Larter Marilyn Rabbai Ruth Fink Victor Pettyjohn Robert Scara George Mitchell Patricia Patelski Patrons, Contributors and Advertisers Our next issue will be April, Deadline for articles, announcements, pictures and reports will be Monday, March 26.

12 Sforzando is the official publication of the SouthWest Jersey Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. The AGO is a multi-denominational, non-profit organization chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York in EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Marilyn Rabbai, mwrabbai@verizon.net OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER: Joe Routon REFERRAL & POSITIONS AVAILABLE COORDINATOR: Peter Homon, lapajar@yahoo.com, PROFESSIONAL CONCERNS COORDINATOR: David Rhody, drhody1@comcast.net; (856) CHAPTER OFFICERS DEAN: Vernon Williams, vwilliams@trinitymoorestown.org SUB-DEAN: David Rhody, drhody1@comcast.net; (856) TREASURER/REGISTRAR: Gail Gassaway, cloaked17@verizon.net SECRETARY: Cathy O Neill, cmo125@aol.com WEBSITE: Dean s Message...continued from page 1 discussed common organ maintenance issues and their causes and solutions which were nicely explained in a two-page handout. After a lively question and answer session, attendees enjoyed warm fellowship and a delicious luncheon put together by Cathy O Neill. Many thanks to all who made the event a wonderful success. In just a few days, on March 4, a special service led by Larry DePasquale in memory of Helen Taylor and Bert Carlson will be held at St. Matthew Lutheran in Moorestown. Please see David Rhody s article on page 2 for more information. Looking ahead, please mark your calendars for the morning of May 19, when we visit historic Christ Church in Philadelphia to hear and play their brand new Fisk organ, which was featured on the cover of the March issue of The American Organist. We are working on additional plans for the day, to be announced later, but the main attraction is the gorgeous new instrument at Christ Church. This is an opportunity not to be missed! May all of you have a blessed Lent and a joyous Easter! Below, the new 3-manual, 44-rank organ built by C. B. Fisk, Inc. in Christ Church, Philadelphia. We will visit this magnificent instrument on May 19.