The 25th International Organ and Church Music Institute, June 20-22, officially began Monday morning with a welcome by Dr. Marilyn Mason, chair of the organ department at the University of Michigan. The fifteen participants enjoyed a brief laugh remembering past institutes before beginning the day. The theme of this year’s institute was the music of French organists Charles Tournemire, Marcel Dupré and Maurice Duruflé.
Timothy Tikker presented two lecture/demonstrations on Charles Tournemire. Mr. Tikker’s first presentation included a survey of Tournemire’s organ output with him playing the Suite for the Feast of the Presentation from L’Orgue Mystique. The second presentation discussed performance practice of Tournemire. Tikker brought in many CDs, including a recording of Tournemire playing his improvisations, to demonstrate his ideas.
Dr. Michele Johns, Adjunct Professor of Church Music, led two workshops on hymn playing. Discussion included ideas for renewing congregational singing, as well as how to incorporate world music into church services while maintaining the integrity of the music. As a bonus, Dr. Tapani Yrjola, distinguished Finnish violinist and guest, joined Dr. Johns in two Baroque works (Bach and Veracini) for violin and organ.
Discussion on the lives and music of Dupré and Duruflé was led by Dr. Ralph Kneeream, noted scholar on both men. His presentations included wonderful multimedia slides (assisted by Dr. James Wilkes) and numerous--and entertaining--anecdotes. Both presentations traced the lives of the composers and their compositional output.
The sessions on Anglican chant were led by Dr. Gordon Atkinson, a University of Michigan alumnus. The sessions involved full participation from all participants. Plainchant, responsorial and Anglican double chants were taught to everyone. Participants volunteered to cantor for the various Psalm settings during the time.
The evenings featured graduate students of the organ department playing on the Marilyn Mason organ (C. B. Fisk) in the Blanche Anderson Moore Hall. Abigail Woods played a program of Baroque music including chorales from each of J. S. Bach’s major collection. Miss Woods was assisted by Mrs. Ginger Thorne Herrmann, cantor. David Troiano played a program of early music focusing on the early practice of alternatim. Mr. Troiano, a doctoral student in church music, is an accomplished singer, so he delighted the audience by being his own cantor.
The Sunday afternoon recitals included Mr. Tikker and his wife, Dr. Deborah Friauff, playing music spanning the centuries on the Fisk organ. That evening, Steven Strite played his Master of Music recital. Mr. Strite was joined by a string ensemble from his church to perform one of the Handel concertos.
