2010 Summer Organist Workshops
Once again I’m making my annual “plug” for the summer Organist Workshops at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN. I can’t recommend these enough to parish organists of all skill levels. For three of the last four summers I’ve had the joy of studying improvisation with Kantor Hildebrand, organ playing with Kantor Resch, and handbells with Kantor Muth, in addition to studying theology, meeting fellow musicians, and being fed with the daily rhythm of prayer services.
Walter Buszin on the Lutheran Masters
In 1948 CPH published an “Anthology of Sacred Music – Chorale Preludes by Masters of the XVII and XVIII Centuries” selected and edited by Buszin. It is the Foreword of this volume that I’d like to share with you. First, it provides insight into what CPH was publishing at that time. Second, it gives some guidance for parish musicians today. Third, it will provide a segue into another piece I’ll be posting in a few days.
The Other Essential Lutheran Library – Musician Edition
As I was browsing at the music store in Portland on Saturday, a quote from Luther came to mind:
Many books does not make one learned, nor much reading either; rather to read a good thing and to read it often, regardless of how little it is, that makes one learned in the Scriptures.
I think something similar could be said for church musicians in relation to their musical repertoire and libraries. Publishing companies continue to entice us with their latest offerings; yet we still have existing music waiting to be learned or looked at. To buy or not to buy? The related and potentially better question is: What is the Lutheran musician’s core repertoire (besides the hymnal)?
Church Music Workshops
Don’t forget to take a look at the Church Music Workshops being offered at Concordia Theological Seminary this summer. They are well worth your consideration.
Church Music Workshops @ CTSFW
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! As the music of Holy Week and Easter Sunday continues to ring in our ears, I’d like you to think about summer.
What’s happening this summer? The Church Music Workshops at Concordia Theological Seminary – Ft. Wayne, IN. This year there are opportunities for organists, AND choir directors, AND handbell directors/ringers. In other words, bring the whole crew.
Paul Manz at 90
Paul Manz is turning 90 in May and MorningStar Music is having a 20% off sale during April and May 2009 on ALL Paul Manz items – choral & organ music, CDs, and the recent biography “The Journey Was Chosen”. This is a great opportunity to fill in the gaps in your sheet music collection. You can read more by downloading their April newsletter.
Light of Christ – Organ Music Review
For the organists out there, I know the Epiphany season is quickly coming to a close and soon we’ll be pulling out the Lenten music. Before the Epiphany music goes into the filing cabinet, I thought I would pass along a recommendation for some organ sheet music that I’ve had the joy of playing this Epiphany season.
Ben Culli has composed a series of preludes on six Epiphany hymns entitled Light of Christ (audio and PDF samples available on the CPH website). I usually find Culli’s compositions challenging, but accessible — meaning I have to spend some quality practice time to reap the musical rewards.
Nurturing Future Church Musicians
A few months back in the Lutheran Witness (official periodical of the LCMS), the issue was centered around the need for pastors and how we can encourage men to consider this vocation. The August 2008 edition of the Lutheran Witness has an article that explores the need for church musicians and encouraging children to consider the vocation of church musician. A portion of this article can be found here – “Music to the Ears: Inspiring Children to Enrich Worship“.
The article spread begins with this “teaser” to draw us in:
“I am constantly getting calls from pastors, especially pastors in our smaller parishes, who have no organist,” says Rev. Jon Vieker, assistant director of the LCMS Commission on Worship. “They tell me their organist is 85 and can’t play for services anymore, and there’s no one to take her place. Now what are they going to do?”
Hymn Boards and Their Use in Early Lutheranism
“Hymn Boards and Their Use in Early Lutheranism.” That sounds like the title of a dissertation on an obscure facet of Lutheran history. While I have no idea if anyone has actually researched the history of the hymn board, I did find a passing reference to it in my latest lunch time reading – a book based on a PhD dissertation – “Worship Wars in Early Lutheranism” by Joseph Herl.
Hymn Playing for Organists
As I was preparing and practicing the hymns for today, I came across the following quote from Luther Reed in a book of Creative Hymn Accompaniments by Gerhard Krapf:
A poor organist will make of hymn playing a commonplace thing. A good organist will challenge the intelligent interest of the congregation and charge its hymn singing with thought and feeling.
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