One of the things I love about being part of a community of organists is the wide historical range in solo repertoire. A recital can include works from the 16th through 21st centuries, a much greater span than represented in the average symphony concert. I’ve gained a greater perspective on the 21st-century end of things by serving on the New Music Committee for the 2022 AGO National Convention (in Seattle July 3-7!). It has been fascinating to see the work of established organists who are also fine composers–and the work of established composers whose musical lives have been organ-adjacent. Part of the committee work included individual tutorials with the latter, on registration, etc., and I hope that work will bear fruit in a stream of future organ music. In the near future, please plan to attend the convention and enjoy the many fine performances and workshops! As a chapter member, you will receive 15% off the current registration fee by using the Discount Code SEATAC22. The registration page is at https://agoseattle2022.com/register/

If you are hankering to savor some new organ music before July, there are two opportunities this month. On Monday, January 10th at 4 PM, there will be a webinar presented by AGO National on women composers. Information is available at https://www.agohq.org/webinars-and-supporting-documents/ And on Friday, January 15th at 7:30 PM, Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral is presenting the annual Flentrop organ recital. The program will feature Cathedral organists John Stuntebeck and Michael Kleinschmidt, and includes a commissioned work by Rebecca Groom Te Velde. Please see the accompanying article for information on attending as part of our January chapter meeting. Hope to see you there!

Last weekend I was in the balcony of one of the parishes I serve, warming up before mass. I looked at the front of the church and took an inventory of the decor: harvest display in front of the altar; Advent wreath beside the ambo; AND the usual bevy of bouquets surrounding the high altar. The flowers were toned down in scale for Advent, but Christmas-inspired in color. It reminded me of my musical life right now: a bit crowded and off-kilter, but alive!

I hope that in the long and sometimes wearying process of reopening you are finding your own joy and color. And whatever holidays you celebrate, please do join the chapter for our musical Christmas party at PLU’s Lagerquist concert hall. I look forward to seeing and hearing you on Dec 20th!

Kudos to Tom Clark, David Dahl, Paul Fritts, and Susan Fritts McConnell for a successful chapter event last month at Wesley Homes. It’s really inspiring to see and hear a new organ, plus learn how it came to be in its new home. We have a chance for similar inspiration at this month’s chapter meeting at St. John’s Episcopal, Gig Harbor. I hope to see you for “An Organ Odyssey” on November 15th!

Dear chapter members,

This month it is wonderful to finally be able to celebrate the (cautious) return of live music! I am finding myself both exhausted and renewed by playing actual rehearsals and planning service music for actual people. I hope you are finding your own balance in these changing times, and encourage you to avail yourself of the calendar on the website to find ways to safely experience live organ music. Here’s a quick list of what’s on for October:

Oct 10: Organ Dedication Concert (Agnus Dei Lutheran Church, Gig Harbor)

Oct 18: Chapter Meeting (Wesley Homes, Des Moines)

Oct 22: Vierne Project (Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Olympia)

Oct 31: Organ Vespers (Epiphany Parish, Seattle)

I recently started serving as interim music director at a church where I’m an associate organist. The music director had left abruptly, and the music staff has been on edge because of that and some preceding months of frayed communications due to the pandemic. So, I organized a music staff meeting, and invited the pastor to address them and answer questions.

The pastor began by affirming that everyone is still employed, the music program is valued, and that “a beautiful space should have beautiful music”. He also hinted that in the future, the range of musical style in the program might be broadened. In some situations that might strike terror in the heart of an organist, but for this particular early music-focused program, it’s more of a question of life after Mozart. One of the staff asked, “So we could sing something written last week?” And he replied, “If it’s beautiful”.  

That answer can be seen as simplistic, but I love that it was free from dogma; free from treating music as a commodity to attract market segments; and free from lading music with the burden of addressing society’s ills. It’s very hard right now to advocate for beauty, and yet as musicians it’s our goal and our fuel.

Many folks are emerging from the pandemic’s enforced sabbatical with greater clarity on what is beautiful in their lives, and what beauty they would like to create. I hope this is true for you, and that we can all carry this newfound awareness into the times ahead.