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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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.

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.

Immediate past Dean Mark Brombaugh played a harpsichord recital in Portland last month as part of The Western Early Keyboard Music Association.

The WEKMA newsletter article is here.

Our November program featured Shari Shull and Cooper Sherry introducing Tacoma AGO members to new hymns.  Using a handout prepared from several hymnal resources, including Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Gather, Singing Our Prayer, and Rooted and Grounded in Love (a hymnal produced by Cooper Sherry and his wife Sarah), Shari and Cooper presented 16 hymns.

Shari focused on traditional hymns, including new texts and tunes, and new combinations of texts and tunes.  Shari presented a little background on each hymn before asking the audience to sing, accompanied by interesting registrations that often singled out the melody.

Cooper’s presentation included Taizé and other international selections, along with folk settings and two of his own compositions.  Several of the hymns had a Spanish flavor and were accompanied by flute and a percussion ensemble.

Thanks to First Lutheran Church and Una Hwang, organist, for hosting this event.