On Friday evening, 17 February, a large ecumenical crowd gathered at First United Methodist Church, Olympia, to celebrate recent work completed on the church’s 1960, 17-rank Wicks organ, with a recital performed by organists Daryl Yager (FUMC), Dan Colgan (Gloria Dei Lutheran), and Curt Sather (St. John’s Episcopal Church). The evening was a tribute to the late Andy Crow, who served FUMC as organist for 35 years. Donations were received for continued work on the instrument, as well as for music scholarships to promote church music.
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Spring Programs
We have full line-up of interesting programs for the spring that will take us to Olympia and Roy, as well as Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma. We invite you to take these opportunities to learn more about the organ and its music, hear great performances on wonderful organs, and to enjoy the company of your AGO friends.
We start on Saturday, February 11 with an all-day field trip to Olympia organized by board member Curt Sather, director of music at St John’s Episcopal Church in Olympia. The morning begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd for a lecture/demonstration/recital by organ builder Paul Fritts and organist Mark Brombaugh, followed by an open console. Lunch can be reserved at St John’s Episcopal for $10 with Curt Sather, curt@stjohnsoly.org, or you may bring your own. The afternoon session at 1:30 features a demonstration of the installation at St John’s of the 1967 Schlicker organ, originally built for Plymouth Church, Seattle.
Monday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m. features a lecture-demonstration on the Fritts organ at Pacific Lutheran University by Paul Thornock, director of music at St James’ Cathedral, Seattle. He will discuss the origins of the French cyclical organ symphony with the Symphonie Op. 5 of Augustin Barié and trace its influence on later works by Vierne and others. You will also be treated to a full performance of the Barié Symphonie.
April events include an open house at the Roy organ shop of Pasi Organ Builders on Saturday, April 1 from 2-5 p.m., when Martin Pasi will showcase his latest organ, Pasi Op. 26, a two-manual 19-stop organ built for Grace Episcopal Church in Holland, Michigan. Also in April, Curt Sather’s recital at Pacific Lutheran University on Sunday, April 9 will be followed by a reception for AGO members hosted by PLU Professor Emeritus David Dahl at his home near the university, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Our final event for the year is the annual Student Recital at Pacific Lutheran University on Monday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. Come to enjoy and support Tacoma’s talented young organists!
Tacoma AGO Chapter Spring 2017 Meetings:
Tacoma visits Olympia, Saturday, February 11, 10:30-3:30 p.m., The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd and St John’s Episcopal Church, Olympia
Augustin Barié and the Origins of the French Cyclical Organ Symphonie with Paul Thornock, Monday, March 13, 7:30 p.m., Lagerquist Hall, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma
Open House featuring Pasi Op. 26, Saturday, April 1, 2:00-5:00 p.m., Pasi Organ Builders, Roy
Reception for Curt Sather Recital at PLU, Sunday, April 9, 4:30-6:30 p.m., home of David Dahl, Tacoma
Student Recital at PLU, Monday, May 22, 7:30-9:00 p.m.
Curt Sather plays program at St. Mark’s Chapel
On Sunday, January 8, Tacoma AGO member Curt Sather collaborated with vocalist Jacob Herbert in an Organ Plus recital in the chapel of St. Mark’s Cathedral in Seattle. The organ portion of the program was varied, beginning with Hindemith, and including works of CPE Bach and Ned Rorem. Vocal works included Schütz and a selection from a Requiem by Howard Goodall. The last work was a treat for the audience, both because Bach’s Cantata “Der Friede sei mit dir”, BWV 158, is rarely performed, and because the audience became the choir for the final chorale.
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Curt Sather to Play 24-hour Bach Birthday Recital
It has been my tradition to play a recital on the birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach for many years. This year, on Tuesday 21 March, 2017, I will perform all of the extant organ works of Bach on a 24-hour marathon, midnight to midnight, with brief breaks every couple hours.
There are nearly 300 pieces, some of which are rarely performed in recitals. The diversity of pieces, in style, length, and purpose, span the composer’s long life. The earliest pieces probably date from when he was 15, the final pieces from his final 65th year. There are a number of pieces which have not been authenticated as being by Bach, but, unless another composer has been determined, I will include these pieces as well.
People have asked how I can play for 24 hours. This is such great music that I’m never tired of it. Just like reading a great Russian novel or traveling to a special destination, I see this project as a pilgrimage. The music is intensely spiritual and it continues to feed me in so many ways.
Please join me on Tuesday 21 March, 2017, 12 midnight – 12 midnight, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 114 20th Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501.
Christmas Party 2016
On December 12, we gathered at the home of Paul Fritts for our annual Christmas celebration. In the intimate setting of Paul’s home, several members performed seasonal music.
Paul Tegels, organist at PLU and the featured performer, chose two Christmas settings, including D. Buxtehude, Nun komm (BWV 211) and J. Sweelinck, Ons is gheboren een kindekijn (Puer nobis nascitur) and asked the audience to sing as part of the performance. It should not go unreported that Paul emphasized his Dutch heritage when pronouncing the second piece.
Additional performers included:
Curt Sather:
Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern (BWV 739), J. S. Bach
Karen Bredberg:
“Still, Still, Still,” arr. Paul Manz
Naomi Shiga:
Pastorale, Anonymous (17th c. Padania, Italy)
Jonathan Wohlers:
Noël Étranger, Louis-Claude Daquin
Curt Sather and Tom Clark, piano:
Waltz of the Flowers, P. Tchaikowsky
Following the performances, the group enjoyed a generous spread of Christmas refreshments. Especially seasonal was Sandy Tietjen’s green cheese ball in the shape of a Christmas tree.
Sandy maintains that the green was parsley, but other possibilities were discussed.
Many thanks to Paul Fritts for his generosity in hosting this event.