As you know, 2008–2009 has been designated by the American Guild of Organists as the International Year of the Organ. This year-long celebration will feature activities designed to celebrate our favored instrument and attract new audiences to the organ. The Southern Arizona Chapter’s 2008–2009 season encompasses worship services, concerts, and educational events. Please note these dates on your calendars and make a point of spreading the word to friends and colleagues! These are opportunities not to be missed! 

November 16, 2008 Annual Showcase Recital
2:30 p.m., St. Philip’s In The Hills Episcopal Church, 4440 North Campbell Avenue (at River Road)

The Southern Arizona Chapter of the American Guild of Organists
presents the annual Showcase Recital on Sunday, November 16, at 2:30 p.m. at St. Philip’s In The Hills Episcopal Church. This will be an
opportunity not only to hear performances by talented local organists
but also to experience interesting and unusual combinations of
instruments with organ.

Contemporary composer Emma Lou Diemer’s “Four Psalms for Percussion and Organ” will be performed by David Gay, Director of Music at St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church, along with Homero Cerón and Barbara Freischlad on percussion. Diemer has written more than 128 pieces based on Psalm texts, and notes that these selections are essentially “program music,” or music written to evoke effects. Texts used are excerpts from Psalms 3, 4, 46, and 67 and span emotions of determination and resolve, praise, tribulation versus calm, and gladness and joy.

Kenneth Kelley and Patricia Kaltenberger will team up to offer Samuel Wesley’s “Duet for Organ” (the only nineteenth-century composition on the program). Kelley was Director of Music and organist at Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton, New Jersey, and Kaltenberger served as organist at Christ United Methodist Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, and at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church here in Tucson. The duet will be bookended by solo performances by Kelley and Kaltenberger of works by twentieth-century composer Myron Roberts, long-term faculty member at the University of Nebraska and Kaltenberger’s teacher, entitled “Pastorale and Aviary” and “Nova.” The witty “Aviary” quotes bird sounds that are also musical jokes, fortunately explained in a pun filled Appendix. “Nova” reflects Roberts’ lifelong fascination with astronomy and attempts to contemplate the awful forces that lie within atomic particles.

Janet Tolman, organist at Catalina United Methodist Church, with
Patrick Lawrence on trombone, will present “Esquisses” by James
Eversole. Also featured will be Ken Yukl, president of Allen Organs
Arizona, presenting “Little Preludes and Intermezzi” by Hermann
Schroeder.

Admission is by donation. A reception follows.

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January 5, 2009           Christmas/Epiphany Party
6:00 p.m. Home of Charlotte Cordes

Catch your breath, finally, and celebrate the season with colleagues and friends. As a courtesy to the hostess, please RSVP to Charlotte at ccquailmail@comcast.net, 722-4060, or Mary Lou Barker at marloucb@q.com, 299-5882 (members only).

February 22, 2009       Festival of Hymns

4:00 p.m., Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, 1200 North Campbell Avenue

Conducted by Dr. Paul Westermeyer, Professor of Church Music, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota. We will use the new worship resource Evangelical Lutheran Worship. The hymn festival will be based on a new hymn text by Susan Palo Cherwien entitled “Rise, O Church, Like Christ Arisen.” Check our Web site and the Cypher regularly for updates about this event. Reception to follow.

March 11, 2009           Organ Demonstration and Presentation for Children of TUSD’s OMA Program (public welcome)

9:30 a.m., Grace–St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 2331 E Adams Street
22-year-old German organ virtuoso Felix Hell puts the organ through
its paces in a program designed to appeal to children and adults
alike. TUSD’s Opening Minds through the Arts (OMA) is a proven
program in the Tucson Public Schools that uses the arts, primarily
visual, dance, instrumental, and vocal, to stimulate the curriculum.

April 26, 2009            Richard Proulx’s Paschal Mass: Teaching and Learning
3:00 p.m., St. Margaret Mary’s Catholic Church, 801 North Grande Avenue
James Weingarten, Director of Music, conducts and instructs American composer Richard Proulx’s Paschal Mass. Having been at the forefront of Roman Catholic church music for many years, Proulx has composed a vast corpus of music in many varied styles that call for a wide range of choral and instrumental forces, much of which has entered the mainstream of Protestant church music. We share this Mass not only with the worshipping community of St. Margaret Mary’s but also with the wider musical community.

May 17, 2009              End-of-Year Potluck/Entertainment
Home of Dusty Johnson
Relax, feast, laugh, and celebrate another successful program year. Relax, feast, laugh, and celebrate another successful program year.
As a courtesy to the hostess please RSVP to Dusty  at dustyskj@cs.com, 323-7856 or to Mary Lou Barker at marloucb@q.com, 299-5882 (members only).

All events are admission by donation unless otherwise noted.