The Old Colony Organist Southeastern Massachusetts Chapter

Last updated: March 10, 2010

Message from the Dean

Our next event is at Horace Mann Auditorium on School Street at Bridgewater State College on Saturday afternoon, March 13 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. A choral reading workshop will be held from 2:00 to 3:00 and a concert at 3:00 conducted by our dean and Bridgewater Professor of Music, Steve Young. At 3:00 there is a formal concert being performed by the BSC Chamber Singers and Dennis Ferguson's group. I have 39 packets of music to give away at the reading session. If more than that attend, we will need to share.

Thanks,

Steve

Please join us.

Local Events

Saturday, March 6, 2010 3:00 PM
First Lutheran Church 900 Main Street Brockton
Haitian Relief Organ Concert on the 1968 Schantz Organ
Today's Haitian Relief Recital was a fine time for all. A healthy audience of Haitians, Swedish and loyal organ recital followers filled the nave
Hope Mehaffey, First Lutheran, Brockton to hear the recently restored 41 stop three manual 1968 Schantz. Hope Mehaffy, now in her 49th years as organist here accompanied the hymn "Let the Streams of Living Justice" to THAXTED before playing Bach's Prelude and Fugue in c minor and Lynwood Farnum's Toccata on "O Filii et Filiae." The former showed the fine principal chorus and the latter, the bold reeds.

Philip Jones, organist of Christ Congregational Church, Brockton followed with the "Canzonetta" of William Mathias and Boellmann's Toccata from Suite Gothique. The Mathias shared with us the previously unheard Romantic sounds.

Natsumi Malloy, organist of Church of Our Saviour, Brookline performed Messiaen's "Le Banquet Celeste" with a moving, expressive tempo and a rich registration in which we could hear the "drops of blood" descending from the cross. She followed with an improvised suite on the Swedish hymn, "Children of the Heavenly Father" which moved several of the seniors in the audience to speak reverently about it following the program.

Richard Hill played Albert Ketelby's "In a Persian Market" and followed with Natsumi playing a four hand duet arranged by Otto Singer of Suppe's "The Light Cavalry" which was enthusiastically received. The traditional Swedish refreshments were a fitting encore.

Richard Hill, Unity Church, N. Easton
Natsumi Malloy, Church of Our Saviour, Brookline
William Harris, Holy trinity Lutheran, N. Easton
Philip Jones, Christ Congregational, Brockton

Saturday, March 13 2:00-4:00 PM Horace Mann Auditorium, School Street, Bridgewater
A Choral Festival
2:00 Choral Readings
3:00 Performance Directed by Steven Young
Invite Your Choir and Join in.

Sunday, March 14, 2010 3:00 PM
Unity Church 13 Main Street, North Easton
“Strings and Songs”
Laura Balboni, Viola; Susan Maffa, Soprano
Richard Hill, piano, harpsichord, organ

Sunday, March 21, 2010 3:00 PM St. Anthony's Church 1359 Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford: Steven Young, Organist on the 1912 Casavant Donations to Organ Restoration Fund

Wednesday, March 24, 2010 12:15 PM Unity Church 13 Main Street, North Easton Richard Hill, Organist in Bach Birthday Bash
Donations to Haitian Relief Fund

Saturday, April 24, 2010 Annual Spring Organ Crawl
Old South Union Congregational, Weymouth
Congregational, East Weymouth
Unitarian North Weymouth
Second Unitarian Hingham
St. John's Episcopal, Hingham
Details to follow

Friday, May 21 6:00 PM Annual Meeting and Election of Officers at Christ Congregational Church, Brockton with Member Recital and Dinner at Noceras

Organ Concerts at Holy Cross College Chapel, Worcester MA 2009/10

James David Christie - Sun. March 21 3pm (25th Anniversary of the Organ & of Christie's time at Holy Cross College, Worcester)

Jacob Street - Sun. April 11 3pm (Senior Organ Scholar at HC-winner of AGO
Region I Young Organ Competition 2009)

Philippe Lefebvre - Sun. April 25 3pm ( Notre Dame, Paris)
All concerts are free.

King's Chapel Tuesday Series

Corner of School and Tremont Streets in Boston. 64 Beacon St. Boston, MA 02108
These recitals last 30 to 40 minutes and take place every Tuesday at 12:15 p.m. at King's Chapel. They feature a wide variety of performers and repertoire, ranging from local students to touring professional artists and presenting jazz and folk music of many ethnicities as well as classical music from medieval times to the present. A suggested donation of $3 is requested at the door. These programs are supported by individual donations.

You may receive notification of Tuesday Recitals by surface mail or by email. Please send your name, street address, city, state and ZIP code to King's Chapel House, 64 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108, or email your request.

If you are interested in performing for the Tuesday Recitals series, contact Heinrich Christensen.

Fridays at Trinity Church, Copley Square, Boston

From September through June, come enjoy this weekly series of midday organ concerts featuring innovative programs by recitalists from throughout the United States and from abroad. There is no charge for admission, but we invite a donation of $5. Wheelchair accessible. For more information, contact Music Coordinator Katie Vogele, 617-536-0944.
Fridays at 12:15 pm in the Church, September through June

2009–2010 recitals schedule:

March 5: Steve Patchel, Boston, MA
March 12: Ray Nagem, New Haven, CT
March 19: Amanda Mole, Holden, MA
March 26: Luca Massaglia, Torina, Italy

April 2: No Recital (Good Friday)
April 9: Christian Lane, Cambridge, MA
April 16: Kristian Schneider, Linz, Austria
April 23: Andrew Sheranian, Rye, NY
April 30: Bryan Ashley, Boston, MA

May 7: Rosalind Mohnsen, Malden, MA
May 14: Heinrich Christensen, Boston MA
May 21: Ray Cornils, Portland, ME
May 28: Brian Jones, Boston, MA

Renea Waligora at St. Anthony's February 28

Renea performed another sparkling recital on the old recalcitrant Casavant. The program was well varied and impeccably registered. Bach's g minor fugue was the opener followed by Ramon Noble's "El Flautista Alegre in which Renea soloed on a choir flute stop situated 296 feet away from the console and accompanied by a positiv flute in the gallery. For contrast, she swapped hands. The effect was charming. And when was the last time you heard Ramon Noble at a recital? Guilmant's d minor sonata was the main course and Renea used the crescendo pedal to effect the orchestra chords in the introduction. Her pedal work mastered those tricky skips in the first and third movements. Even without the solo organ working, ample decibels were achieved in the final.

Norman Dello Joio's Five Lyric Pieces followed a short intermssion. Here is another delightful dessert after a Guilmant main course. Renea's husband, Robin Dinda composed the Three Spirituals for Organ which followed. This was a suite with "Jacob's Ladder," "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," and "Roll Jordan, Roll" which came over not totally unlike the waves crashing in at Horseneck Beach the day before. The dessert was Ramon Noble's "La Bamba" from Triptyco Mexicano, sweet with some spice.

This is the kind of program that will bring back the audience. And this audience must have anticipated Renea because it was a healthy turnout in the 1800 seat church. Contributions to the St. Anthony's Organ Restoration Fund are still being received. We hope to hear the solo division on its eleven inch wind back in place in the not too distant future.

Ayla, the charming daughter of Renea and Robin was present in the organ loft, the only person to run up those 55 stairs.

Richard Hill

Duet Night Huge Success

Philip Jones and Christ Congregational Church in Brockton were the perfect hosts as we performed a series of duets for piano and organ, two pianos, four hand piano, and four hand organ. Jim Moore and Sylvia Thornton began the program with the first movement of Mozart's d minor sonata.

Philip Jones and Anna McReynolds played a four hand arrangement of Diabelli's d minor sonata in two movements.

Jim Moore was piano soloist in Mozart's Concerto in A with Richard Hill doing the orchestra part on the 1992 Austin. The second and third movements were played. In playing a second piano part on the organ, I decided to play it as if it were organ music. I used two combinations, one soft while accompanying the piano and the other loud when the orchestra played by itself. My recording showed a good balance.

Natsumi Malloy and I played the Largo from "Xerxes" of Handel and Debussy's "Reverie" in piano/organ arrangements by Worcester organist Roy Spaulding Stoughton (1884-1953).

Philip Jones and Eleanor Calvin played Joe Utterback's organ/piano duet, "A Quiet Meditation" followed by Philip Jones on organ and Eileen Crooker on a drum playing Ssuan Clearman's "Temple Slip Jig and Reel" which had a devilish pedal part nicely done by Philip.

Natsumi and Richard concluded the program with a piano organ duet, Ravel's "Pavane Pour Une Infant Defunte," and the finale, a duo piano arrangement of Suppe's "Light Cavalry Overture played by both on the 1992 Austin organ. This was enthusiastically received. The program in total was excellent in its form and its length. There was variety in the selections and in the composers. We must do it again next year. Get those old duets out of the closet. They're not dead yet.

134th anniversary of Hook #801 in Holy Cross Cathedral Dedicated to Richard Lahaise, Organ Curator at Holy Cross

On Sunday, February 14, eight organists performed on the venerable 70 stop E & G G Hook & Hastings organ built in 1875 and installed in 1876 at Holy Cross Cathedral in Boston. After singing Robert Schuneman's hymn "Lahaise" Rosalind Mohnson began with a stirring performance Jongen's Toccata. Barbara Owen played Vierne's Reverie from the 24 pieces and Bach's Cathedral prelude and fugue. Richard Hill Played ManDowell's "Sea Song," Gerald Near's Sarabande (Land of Rest) and George Whiting's "Toccatina." Leo Abbot completed the first half of the program with the Langlais "Mors et Resurrectio"

After an intermission, Lois Regestein played four Brahms chorale preludes using contrasting registrations. Richard Bunbury followed with the Barber Adagio for Strings and a Dupre arrangement of Faure's "In Paradisum." Franck ended the program with Glenn Goda playing the "relude, Fugue, and Variation," and Peter Krasinski the Choral I in E in which the Vox Humana was heard in all its glory.

A huge birthday cake was served afterwards. Leo noted that the baker was quite interested in who might be having a 134th birthday. When Leo replied that it was for an organ, the baker decided not to ask any more questions.

Harvard’s series to celebrate the historic Fisk Organ, Op. 46,
co-sponsored by the BAGO, continues this spring. An important
component of these events are afternoon master classes with the
artists.

I welcome your participation in these master classes and am grateful
to the Boston AGO for its support of our series. And, even if you
don’t wish to play, I invite you to attend these free events!

Please do let me know if you would like to play in any of the upcoming classes:

Christa Rakich: Mar 2
Nancy Granert: Apr 6
Christian Lane: May 3

Master Classes are at 12:15 pm; the evening recitals are at 7:30 pm.

I encourage you take advantage of these opportunities and hope to see
you at Harvard this spring!

Please contact me with any questions.
Chris Lane

Meet Our New Member, Paula King

I am a woman who is always up to something. After a semi-hiatus from the music world (I've always kept my foot in the door) I have returned to pursue Master level studies in Pastoral Ministry at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, with a concentration in liturgical music. In the past I graduated from Wheaton College with a BA in Music and Studio Art, then attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. I received a Master Teacher's Certification from the Archdiocese of Boston in Liturgy and Music.
My major instrument was piano. I began playing organ at my local church and decided to study under Rev. David Gallagher. Later I became music director at St. Anne RC church in Readville and later St. James the Great Church in Wellesley. I became a mom to my lovely daughter and also adopted a son from Guatemala. That's when I became part-time in the music field, occasionally subbing for other churches and leading music for a Children's Liturgy of the Word program.

I am also interested in Celtic music, playing tin whistle and harp and writing Irish tunes. My husband and I play together and with others at Irish Sessiuns.
I am interested in becoming more actively involved in researching the organ again and furthering my skills.
I can't wait to meet the other music lovers of the AGO.

Paula

Program for 2009-2010

Sunday, September 20, 2009 3:00 PM Annual Member Recital
First Congregational Church (Route 105) 6 Plympton Street Middleboro on the recently restored two manual 12 rank 1887 S. S. Hamill organ. A benefit concert for the Organ Fund of Central Congregational in Middleboro which burned on Memorial Day. The concert was a huge success with over a thousand dollars collected.

Donations may be made to
Central Congregational Church of Middleboro Fire Fund
30 South Main Street Middleboro, MA 02346

Saturday, October 24 A Van Trip to Methuen Organs

Sunday, November 8, 2009 3:00 Peter Krasinski, Organist at St. Anthony's Church 1359 Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford

Friday, February 12, 2010 7:00 PM Christ Congregational Church 1350 Pleasant Street, Brockton SE Mass AGO Duet Night

Saturday, March 13, 2010 2:00-4:00 PM Bridgewater State College SE Mass AGO Choral Choral Reading and Concert

Saturday, April 24, 2010 9:30AM-3:00PM Annual SE Mass AGO Organ Crawl in Weymouth and Hingham

Friday, May 21, 2010 Member Recital and Annual Meeting 6:00 PM Christ Congregational Church, Supper at Noceras

Some March Birthdays
4 Antonio Vivaldi 1678, Samuel Adler 1928
5 Arthur Foote 1853
7 Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach 1714
8 Alan Hovhaness 1911
9 Samuel Barber 1910
10 Dudley Buck 1839
11 Norman Coke-Jephcott 1893
12 Alexandre Guilmant 1837
14 Georg Philipp Telemann 1681
17 Joseph Rheinberger 1839
21 Johann Sebastian Bach 1685
23 Julius Reubke 1834
26 H. Alexander Matthews 1879, Hermann Schroeder 1904
28 Edouard Batisie 1820
29 E. Power Biggs 1906
31 Franz Joseph Haydn 1732

Membership

e mail Richard Hill: smhill42ne@earthlink.net for membership form.

Our chapter covers the 53 towns and cities south of Boston, north of Cape Cod and east of Rhode Island. It includes the cities of Brockton, Taunton, Attleboro, Fall River and New Bedford along wth several small towns, many with historic pipe organs. The oldest continually active E & GG Hook pipe organ in the United States, an 1834 installation is in the Berkley Congregational Church. Our programs are held throughout the region and celebrate organs and organ music throughout the year.

Placement

2010 Salary Guide

AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS
SALARY GUIDE FOR MUSICIANS
EMPLOYED BY RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS

OTHER FEES

* The range of fees are for musicians with degrees in organ or church music or AGO certification.
* Fees vary regionally. The lowest figures reflect smaller, rural areas of the country.
* Fees will also vary based on training, experience, availability, responsibility, and dates required.

SUBSTITUTE MUSICIANS

* Single service (organist only or director only, no separate rehearsal), $100-$225
* Additional services (organist or director only) not requiring additional preparation, $50-$125
* Single service (organist-director combination, no separate rehearsal), $150-$275
* Additional services (organist-director combination) not requiring additional preparation, $75-$175
* Rehearsal fees range from $25-$100/hour, depending on whether the substitute is organist only, director only, or organist-director combination and the preparation required
* Mileage of 32.5 cents/mile is charged if visits to church for practice, rehearsal, and service exceed 20 miles per round trip.
* The charge for contracting singers/instrumentalists is $15-$35/person hired.

WEDDINGS

* Service fees are $100-$350 (service only)
* Wedding rehearsal with bridal party is $50-$100/hour.
* Additional rehearsals are $30-$50/hour.
* Mileage of 32.5 cents/mile is charged if visits to church for practice, rehearsal, and service exceed 20 miles per round trip.
* The charge for contracting singers/instrumentalists is $15-$35/person hired.

FUNERALS

* Service fees are $100-$225 (service only)
* Rehearsals $25-$100/hour, depending on the difficulty of the music and the participation of choirs, soloists, or instrumentalists.
* Mileage of 32.5 cents/mile is charged if visits to church for practice, rehearsal, and service exceed 20 miles per round trip.
* The charge for contracting singers/instrumentalists is $15-$35/person hired.

NOTE: Occasionally churches or synagogues will hire musicians as independent contractors instead of employees. According to the IRS, workers are generally considered employees if they:

* Must comply with the employer's instructions about the work.
* Receive training from or at the direction of the employer.
* Provide services that are integrated into the business.
* Provide services that must be rendered personally.
* Are aided by assistants who are hired, supervised, and paid by the employer.
* Have a continuing working relationship with the employer.
* Must follow set hours of work.
* Work full-time for an employer.
* Do their work on the employer's premises.
* Must do their work in a sequence set by the employer.
* Must submit regular reports to the employer.
* Receive payments of regular amounts at set intervals.
* Receive payments for business travel expenses.
* Rely on the employer to furnish tools and materials.
* Lack a major investment in the facilities or equipment used to perform the services.
* Cannot make a profit or suffer a loss from their services.
* Work for one employer at a time.
* Do not offer their services to the general public.
* Can be fired by the employer.
* May quit work at any time without incurring liability.

According to these guidelines, the majority of church and synagogue musicians are employees.

Nancy Johnson Writes:

Years ago my mother acquired a small pump organ that is housed in a very ornate wooden casing, very 19th century Maybe 4 feet off the ground, and 4 ft long. I don't know how many octives.

The bellows are gone so it no longer makes a sound. We are currently trying to sell the house and need to dispose of the belongings

We were wondering if you know someone or an organization that might like to bring it back to life. The organ is located in Belmont.

I am happy to send you a photo if there is an interest.

Sincerely,

Nancy Johnson ncjcj08@gmail.com

A gentleman in New Bedford is giving away a two manual Hammond Organ. AKA FREE. Home model, not draw bars.
Contact Information:
Harold Morrell
219 Church Street
New Bedford, MA
508-996-8943

Positions Available

Minister of Music Position

Organist/pianist/choir director for Lutheran church. 2 Sunday services: one traditional, one blended. One adult choir, Sunday School music with quarterly children's performance in worship. Coordination of various volunteer musicians. Some administrative duties.

Please send cover letter, resume, and references to The Rev. Edward Saling, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 24 Berwick Street, Norwood, MA 02062 or to HYPERLINK "mailto:pastah@norwoodlight.com" pastah@norwoodlight.com.

Additional information is available at www.Emmanuel-Norwood.org.

Position Title: Director of Music Ministry (Organist/Choir Director)

Description: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of North Easton, MA is seeking a qualified candidate to serve as organist and choir director at a mid-size ELCA church that offers diverse musical styles. The director would report to the Pastor.

Salary: Minimum Starting Salary $18,000.00 (Based on Experience)

Responsibilities: The director of music ministry would play organ and/or piano as appropriate for all worship services. The director will select appropriate hymns, prelude, postlude and choral music. He/she will encourage involvement of volunteer vocalists and instrumentalists, and direct and rehearse the adult choir. The director will attend monthly Worship Committee meetings. He/she will work and direct our Praise team, youth choir and bell choir. The director will maintain and expand the church’s music library and oversee Regular maintenance of the church’s organ and pianos.

Qualifications: Proficiency in playing the organ, piano and keyboard instruments and in choral conducting.
Strong personal and leadership skills.

Organ Descrpition: 1859 E&G Hook. 3 Manual (op.254)
Restored in 1982 by the Andover Organ Company

Applications: Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume, a recording (if available)
and three references to:

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
143 Lincoln Street
North Easton, MA 02356
Attn: Don Dregalla (Worship Committee Chairperson)

Or Email to HTLCEaston@verizon.com

Substitute List

Bruce Gardzina
E mail Brugar244@aol.com
Telephone 508-951-0899
Also available for interim or full time organist

David Baker
Email dgb137@mac.com or call 617-367-4260.

Fred Brewer 508 586 9527

Ron Brown 508 226 1565 (All) $125. minimum
bachfanbrown@comcast.net

Claire DeCusati
decusati@verizon.net
781-582-8722

Ann Davis 508 543 5245

Jim Moore also available some Sundays
61 Oak Street
Norton, MA 02766-1103
jimm88@comcast.net

Joan Nahigian No Sundays September-June
81 King Philips Pathe
Marshfield, MA 02050
pinkltink@verizon.net
(781) 834-4105

Sarah Hostetter 781-740-1283
sarahhostetter@verizon.net
303 Linden Ponds Way, Apt. T-20
Hingham, MA 02043

Robert Johnson 508 226 8991 maxinejohnson@comcast.net

Pat Potter 508-226-2277 weekdays and Saturdays
prpotter@aol.com

Maria Rivera 774 222-3352 mdlarw@aol.com
BM Eastman MM Juilliard

Jim Russell jimrussell52_@yahoo.com

Ronald P. Shepard: organsub@gmail.com 413 783 4280
860 243 7424

Mary Whelan mwhelan@wheatonma.edu 508 222 5762
weekdays and Saturdays

Employers and job seekers are invited to post and search listings of available positions on the Guild's National Website.

Certification

The AGO PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM dates from 1896, when the Guild received its charter from the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York to administer a comprehensive series of examinations for professional certification. The following certificates are offered under the auspices of the AGO Committee on Professional Certification: Service Playing Certificate (SPC), Colleague (CAGO), Choir Master (ChM), Associateship (AAGO), and Fellowship (FAGO). While the lower-level Guild examinations (CAGO and SPC) test competence in a number of skills that an organist uses regularly, such as hymn playing, accompanying, and sight-reading, the more advanced examinations also test the candidate's literacy and musicianship at a higher level. For example, tests in writing counterpoint, accompanying from a figured bass, and essay questions in music history are included in the upper-level exams.
"An AGO certificate benefits the member, contributing to professional advancement and to an increase in confidence in performance, and it strengthens the Guild in its mission to maintain standards in organ playing, choral conducting, and worship music," notes Philip Gehring, PhD, FAGO, immediate past director of the AGO Committee on Professional Certification. "A Guild with a large number of certified members sends a message to the public that we are serious about quality in the practice of our profession." Approximately 10% of the AGO membership is certificated. Of those, 39% hold the Service Playing Certificate; 29% hold the Colleague; 7% hold the Choir Master; 18% hold the Associateship, and 7% hold the Fellowship.

Contact Us

Officers for 2009-2010

Dean - Dr Steven Young, AAGO 508 823 0504
68 Briarwood Drive Taunton, MA 02780-3754 s1young@bridgew.edu
Old South Union Congregational, Weymouth

Sub-Dean - Philip Jones FRCO 508 583 3022 pjones345@comcast.net
127 Tilton Avenue, Brockton, MA
02301-3029 Christ Congregational Church UCC Brockton

Treasurer/Registrar/Membership - Jim Moore 508 223 9646
61 Oak Street, Norton MA 02766-1103 jimm88@comcast.net
Pilgrim Congregational Church, Taunton

Secretary/Newsletter/Webmaster - Richard Hill 508 238-6081
18 Main Street North Easton, MA 02356 1430
Unity Church of North Easton (Unitarian Universalist)

Education Coordinator - Fred Brewer 508 586 9527
40 Ellen Road Brockton, MA 02302=2527

Professional Development Coordinator - Philip Jones

Director - Dennis Ferguson 508 528 6292
41 Prospect Street Franklin MA 02038-3401
Murray Unitarian Universalist, Attleboro

Visit the AGO National website