I won’t go into all the details, since they are amply noted in other blog posts.

1. 2007 – Kantor School (aka Organist Workshop)
2. 2008 - Organist Workshops
3. 2009 – Church Music Workshops @ CTSFW

However, in a past post I referenced something that Kantor Resch wrote that bears repeating once again.

Thanks for reading 2010 Summer Organist Workshops.

Thanks for reading Church Music Workshops.

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.

These workshops are an excellent opportunity for fellowship, refreshment, and growth.  I’ve attended twice over the last few summers and they were great experiences.  See my previous reviews here and here.

• If you’re a musician, consider attending.
• If you’re a pastor, ask your musician(s) if they would like to attend.
• If you’re a lay person, offer to send your musician.

The following information is provided by Kantor Kevin Hildebrand:

Our two workshop weeks include our annual Primer Level organist workshop (June 15-19, 2009), designed specifically with the novice organist in mind.

This year we are also offering a new Church Music Week workshop (June 22-26).

Church Music Week is a Level One organist workshop, with the addition of sectionals for choir directors and handbell directors.  The purpose of this new workshop is to provide a practical and resourceful place for all church musicians to study and grow together.  All participants will begin the day with a group class in theology.  The “hands on” part of the day will provide sectionals for organ, choir, and handbells, each with their own instructor.  Regular practice time for organists will be included as usual.

We are hopeful that many organists, choir directors, and handbell directors from the same congregation will attend Church Music Week together in order to foster their musical skills and theological sensitivity.

If you have any questions about you or others participating in this year’s workshops, please feel free to contact me directly.  Please also forward this information to other church musicians both in your congregation and neighboring congregations. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Kevin Hildebrand
Concordia Theological Seminary

Kevin.Hildebrand@ctsfw.edu

Thanks for reading Church Music Workshops @ CTSFW.

If you’re wondering what it’s like, read my review here. If you’re a pastor or leader in your church, why not suggest that your organist attend? Why not offer to pay their way?

Kantor Resch put it this way in a paper he wrote for the 2001 Good Shepherd Institute’s conference on Christ’s Gifts in Liturgy: The Theology and Music of the Divine Service.

Thanks for reading 2008 Organist Workshops.

Over the last two weeks I have been reading “Music for the Church: The Life and Work of Walter E. Buszin” by Kirby L. Koriath with 10 essays by Walter E. Buszin. As a brief summary, Buszin (1899-1973) was a Lutheran theologian, church musician, music editor, hymnologist, teacher, and liturgical scholar whose scholarly output is quite amazing. In some respects his work was more widely known outside of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) despite being a professor at Concordia Seminary, music editor at Concordia Publishing House, and being on the Synod’s Commission on Worship, Liturgics, and Hymnology for 26 years.

This book presents today’s generation of pastors and church musicians with wise counsel on church music and liturgy. Buszin’s life shows a “mission of restoration and renewal in Lutheran church music and worship” (pg 27). He was deeply concerned that his church, the Lutheran church, had abandoned its fine heritage and replaced it with an unworthy and substandard successor. His life and words are still timely because he dealt with many of the same issues we encounter today – quality of hymnody, liturgy, choral and instrumental music.

As I read the book, I realized how I, as a church musician, have been shaped by Buszin without really knowing it. Buszin promoted the use of the chorale in hymnody, choral music, and organ music and seemed to be instrumental in bringing the sacred works of the “Golden Age of Lutheran Music” (16th – 18th centuries) to light. Besides relying extensively on this era of music for my weekly service playing, I have been shaped by my favorite modern Lutheran composers who write music on the chorales — Benjamin Culli, Kevin Hildebrand, Jeffrey Blersch, Kenneth Kosche, John Behnke, Michael Burkhardt, and Paul Manz. And finally, the Organist Workshops and Good Shepherd Institute at Concordia Theological Seminary introduced me to the thoughts of Buszin and helped me better understand and live my vocation as a church musician.

I hope that I might reflect, if only a glimmer, the passion that Buszin had for Lutheran church music and worship.

Thanks for reading Walter E. Buszin – Wise Counsel for Today.

Not surprisingly, many of Luther’s hymns are not the easiest to sing. However, one of the hymns that should be moderately difficult to sing because of its rhythmic pattern turns out to be one that many congregations can sing quite well — Luther’s communion hymn “O Lord, We Praise Thee”. Because of it’s familiarity, some might even say that it is one of Luther’s easy hymns.

Why does it seem so easy? One clear reason is that it is sung frequently and is hence reinforced throughout the years and generations. The young and new people to the Lutheran faith learn from the leading of those around them.

Difficult hymns don’t have to remain difficult. By a careful and deliberate plan, difficult hymns can become beloved and familiar.

Are there any “difficult” hymns that your congregation does not find difficult? How do you introduce new hymns?

Thanks for reading Difficult Hymns That Are Not Difficult.

Jan Bender, in his book “Organ Improvisation for Beginners” offers the following on the benefits of learning how to improvise:

What is improvisation good for? There are many answers, and I will try to name some of them. The first one is very practical: One does not need to handle so many books. . . . Second: Improvisation is an outstanding discipline to develop and train memory as well as intelligence. . . Third, again a very practical reason: It is fun and very satisfying. Last but not least: When it is done well, improvisation contributes to the dignity of the worship service and to the praise of God.

Bender’s book, while good, requires a working understanding of music theory and harmony.

A resource I received as a Christmas present is “Off the Page: Tips & Techniques for Creating Hymn-Based Organ Settings” ($38.00) by Donald Rotermund and published by MorningStar Music Publishers. If you can play a hymn from the hymnal, you can improvise. Rotermund shows you step by step a number of different techniques (e.g., Echo Phrases) that you can practice and use together to create things like a hymn introduction, prelude, or partita. There is even a CD that gives an audio demonstration of each technique. This is an extremely accessible and useful resource for the church organist.

What I find particularly satisfying about this book is how the musician is just using the music in front of them in the hymnal. The book assumes the reader has a limited background in music theory and keyboard harmony and little improvisational background, BUT the willingness and desire to spend some time practicing and becoming comfortable with the techniques. Rotermund also shows you how to mark your hymnal so you can recall your plan of action while at the organ console.

If you are really interested in learning to improvise, another resource is the Improvisation Organist Workshop at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, by Kantor Kevin Hildebrand. His workshop covers many of the same techniques as in “Off the Page” — some of the material from “Off the Page” was field tested in Hildebrand’s workshops. If you have the opportunity to attend the Improvisation or another workshop, take advantage of it. You will learn a lot and meet some great people. Each summer has a different selection of workshops – you will need to check with the Seminary to see what workshops will be offered in 2008. You can read my “testimonial” here.

Best wishes as you serve God’s people through your service playing.

Thanks for reading Improvisation for Organists.

This year’s workshops are coming to a close, but I heartily recommend that churches send their organist(s) to future workshops. If you are a church council member or an elder, DO NOT wait for your organist to ask — ask if he/she would like to go. Your organist will come back changed and motivated. It also shows that you appreciate your organist and what he/she does. If you are an organist, do not be intimidated about going — the instructors are great and you will have the camaraderie of other “real life” peers and organists. Besides, how often do you have the opportunity to be with a dozen other Lutheran organists? It’s not that scary — we’re not perfect organists either.

For one week the organist becomes part of the seminary community and builds relationships with other parish musicians from across the country. Highlights include worshiping with the seminary for Matins, Morning Prayer, and Vespers, learning about the theology of Lutheran worship, and learning how to provide better musical leadership in the parish. A side benefit is that the food in the dining hall is pretty good.

For more information, visit the Organist Workshop page at the seminary website or wait with eager anticipation for the brochure that is usually sent out to LCMS congregations at the beginning of the year.

Thanks for reading Kantor School (aka Organist Workshop).