Where do Organists go in the Summer?
Choir rehearsals finished: √
Summer schedule done: √
Plans for fall on the way: √
Now what?
Summertime is a time to regroup, recoup, and reconnect with those dear to us. For Ilona and me, that included attending the national convention of the American Guild of Organists in Seattle last week. The convention is biennial (this time triennial because of Covid.). Almost 1000 organists gathered for concerts, recitals, worship, workshops, and some time for socializing with our colleagues, peers, students, and friends. It was a stimulating and rewarding time for both of us. In fact, we were both so busy seeing those we can rarely see, we barely saw each other!
We were both involved in parts of the presentations given there as well. I presented a workshop on César Franck, whose 200th birth the convention was celebrating. I showed how some of his easier works can be used as teaching pieces, or in worship, using the principles of French organ performance that Franck used in his larger works.[1]
Ilona is a writer and editor for a large-scope project, The Online Encyclopedia of the Organ. Organized by Dr. Kimberly Marshall, organ professor at Arizona State University, Ilona is writing the entries for Polish and Russian organs. This open source encyclopedia will bring together useful historical research all in one place. [2]
It is a treat for organists to hear one another in live performance. Since we all perform at roughly the same time on Sunday mornings, it is seldom that we hear one another play for worship. We were treated to a wide variety of services: a choral evensong, a Lutheran service of Midday Prayer, an Advent service of Lessons and Carols, and a hymn festival based on the Psalms.
Why am I telling you this? You just might find some elements from these services coming into Pinnacle’s worship in the coming year. Organists and other church musicians learn from each other, mining the best of our own traditions and sharing it with each other. What a blessing it was to be able to gather live, in-person, (always masked at venues) and enjoy sharing our work and friendships together.
[1] For more detail about this workshop, connect here: https://agoseattle2022.com/schedule/category/workshop/day/2022-07-06/
[2] This workshop description, Global Research Perspective and the Organ, is here: https://agoseattle2022.com/schedule/category/workshop/day/2022-07-07/