During the Summer, each postlude has typically been a variation or chorale prelude on the tune of the recessional hymn. I tried my hand at five of these, with the goal of making the tune of the hymn readily apparent. We have also had several preludes that were chorale preludes, notably by Brahms with his rich harmonies. Much of sacred organ music is based on hymn tunes, with added pleasure to the listener when the tune is recognizable due to familiarity and when the tune is identifiable within the composer's treatment. Some of the older works are based on hymns now less familiar, while many are based on hymns that are centuries old and still well known to us today.
For the week of July 23rd, Saint Philip's donated use of its pipe organ and parish hall piano to the Springfield Chapter of the American Guild of Organists summer program called Pipe Organ Encounter. This program presents the pipe organ and its literature to teenage musicians who have at least an inkling of interest and some musical training. There were 42 students in the program, with two coming to Saint Philip's during the mornings for lessons and practice.
As Summer draws to a close, we look forward to the return of our adult chancel choir and the children's choir. The first rehearsal for the adult choir in on Thursday, September 6th, 7:15-8:45PM. The choir will next sing at the 10:00AM service on September 9th. The complete schedule of all rehearsals and services through June is on our website. I am planning a more eclectic selection of anthems for the coming year. New choir members are very welcome. Feel free to come sing at a rehearsal to see whether you might enjoy it. Have even more fun by bringing along a friend.
Our new organ stop, called a Twelfth, has been installed, awaiting only a final round of voicing on site. Bill Czelusniak and his team of experts also removed the Mixture stop (178 pipes) to his shop for needed work, and subsequently reinstalled the cleaned, rounded, repaired pipes. Some of these pipes had been stuffed with cotton (to prevent them from speaking at all) for years because they did not speak properly or because they could not be tuned stably. Now all the pipes speak brilliantly and on pitch. The organ has been re-tuned as well. It is such a joy to play our beautiful pipe organ. All of this work was made possible through a generous gift by Ed Abbe. On September 23rd, the service will include a dedication of our new stop, and a special piece that illustrates this new sound.
On September 30th, we will have a special prelude and postlude, the Saint Anne prelude and fugue in E-flat major by J.S. Bach. This nickname is due to the name of the hymn tune, whose first line is O God Our Help in Ages Past. This theme is prominent in the prelude and the three fugues that follow it. Of course this hymn will be our recessional hymn that day, making it easier to appreciate and follow Bach's inspired treatment of this hymn tune. The prelude will start at 9:50AM.
Paul Utgoff
Music Director