New York CIty AGO Chapter to host POE Advance July 18-23

A native of Centralia, Illinois, Charles Huddleston Heaton was educated at DePauw University and Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Following service in the U.S. Army, he was organist/director of the Second Presbyterian Church and Temple Israel in St. Louis, and from 1972–1993 held a similar position at East Liberty Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh. Following retirement he has been organist in residence at Trinity Cathedral and served as interim for a year each at Calvary Episcopal and Oakmont Presbyterian Churches. Dr. Heaton is a Fellow of the AGO, has written two books and published several anthems, and was editor of the Hymnbook for Christian Worship. He is a staff reviewer of new recordings for The Diapason magazine, and is listed in current editions of “Who’s Who in America.”

Somehow during my grade school years, I got into the habit of writing in a diary each night, and have kept it up for over seventy years. Recently I was looking up a name in the 1954 book, the year I was released from the army and my wife (Jane) and I drove to New York so I could begin doctoral studies at the School of Sacred Music of the Union Theological Seminary.
Hundreds of people were at the school during those years; perhaps these items will recall pleasant days. The writing is presented as is, with no attempt to revise or change comments I perhaps would not agree with fifty-plus years later. To identify characters a bit: Dr. Porter was the director of the school, Searle Wright was director of the Chapel Music at Columbia University, Harold Friedell was organist-choirmaster of St. Bartholomew’s Church, Virgil Fox was organist of the Riverside Church, Julius Herford taught musicology and baroque interpretation at UTS, Vernon deTar was organist-choirmaster at the Church of the Ascension.
The title of my dissertation was “The Disciples of Christ and Sacred Music.”
Trips to Plainfield, New Jersey nearly always were to Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church, where the legendary Charlotte Lockwood Garden played and directed (student of Clarence Dickinson, then of Louis Vierne). Choir and organ playing were superb. Mrs. Tangeman was Clementine Miller Tangeman, a member of the prominent Disciple family in Columbus, Indiana. Dr. Skinner of Second Presbyterian Church in St. Louis was W. Sherman Skinner. Dr. Thompson is Van Denman Thompson; both Morgan Simmons and I studied at DePauw with him—a magnificent teacher and performer.

1954
Sept. 14. Spent quite a little time going to New Brunswick and auditioning for the job of Chapel Organist for Rutgers University. They wouldn’t say for sure, but I believe I got the job. Will play there Sunday at any rate.
Sept. 19. Played the service at Rutgers this morning, and got the job permanently!
Sept. 21. Finally got registered to the tune of $390. Ouch. They charge by the point for us doctoral candidates.
Sept. 26. Did the Rutgers service today and it went quite smoothly. The organ has no general pistons, but can be well managed. [Rutgers Chapel had a lovely 3-manual E. M. Skinner organ with gorgeous sounds. I did not direct the choir.]
Oct. 3. We drove back and went to St. Bartholomew’s Church for “Elijah.”
Oct. 4. Had the Herford analysis class all afternoon and he piled work on. Ugh.
Oct. 7. This evening we went to a buffet supper for the Disciples’ Club in Dr. and Mrs. Bates’ apartment. Most pleasant.
Oct. 11. We went to the broadcast of the Bell Telephone Hour concert tonight with Robert Casadesus. Splendid.
Oct. 13. We went to the Amsterdam Concertgebouw orchestra at Carnegie tonight. Beautiful playing.
Oct. 17. Heard a recital by E. Power Biggs this evening.
Oct. 25. This evening I heard deTar do “The Creation” down at the Church of the Ascension. Not too good.
Oct. 30. This afternoon we went down to St. George’s Church and I played the huge old Austin there. Had great fun. [Organist-choirmaster of this historic church was George W. Kemmer. His choir did elegant work.]
Nov. 8. Attended a longish and dullish lecture by Archibald Davison tonight.
Nov. 14. Went to Riverside this evening for Vaughan Williams’ “Dona Nobis Pacem.”
Nov. 17. Went to a recital by Jack Ossewaarde at St. Bart’s which was quite fine on the modern stuff, but not too good on the Bach.
Nov. 20. This afternoon we heard a tenor recital by the great Roland Hayes. His voice isn’t too fine any longer, but the magnificent spirit is there!
Nov. 29. The Seminary had a beautiful memorial service this afternoon for the great Henry Sloane Coffin, who died the other day. We heard Ernest White play a fine recital tonight.
Nov. 30. Morgan (Simmons) and I went to the Cathedral of St. John, and Alec Wyton played the big organ there quite a while.
Dec. 4. We heard a beautiful piano recital by Guiomar Novaes this afternoon. Really superb.
Dec. 13. Finally had the big carol service for the first time tonight. Everything went off quite well. I played the organ for most of it. We had a party here afterwards.
Dec. 14. Did the carol services twice more today, and got the thing concluded nicely. Kind of tiring.

1955
Jan. 5. Ben and Dan and I went down to the 8th Street Wanamaker store to see the old organ today. It is to be sold, etc. A great old monster—110 ranks. We couldn’t play it, though, the thing was disconnected.
Jan. 9. Went to Riverside and heard Bach’s “Magnificat.”
Jan. 12. Talked with Dr. Porter and he said I could be chapel organist at Union the next summer.
Jan. 14. Friedell gave me four tickets to a Bach concert tonight honoring Albert Schweitzer’s eightieth birthday.
Jan. 16. Went to St. Bart’s this afternoon and heard the Evensong. Friedell asked me to play an organ recital there in July!
Jan. 17. I practiced nearly five hours today, for a change.
Jan. 26. Lots of music today—the complete dress rehearsal of Mozart’s “Idomeneo” at Juilliard, and a Palestrina program by the Dessoff Choir. Very good.
Jan. 29. Today I registered for the second semester at Union. Tuition: $360.00. Wow.
Feb. 5. Went over into Brooklyn and visited Dr. Dickinson in the hospital today.
Feb. 7. Good news: I passed the German reading exam. Bad news: Had to pay a $5 fine on a parking ticket. Also heard a fair organ recital by Jeanne Demessieux, a French organist.
Feb. 12. We drove down to St. George’s Church and picked up a set of flute pipes Mr. Kemmer gave to Ben Smith today. He is going to build an organ with our help! I also played a wedding at Riverside this afternoon. [Ben Smith is J. Benjamin Smith, later director of chapel music at Duke University.]
Feb. 18. Had an organ lesson today. Cost $24 for the car, but they put in new plugs, points, etc., and the thing runs much better so far.
Feb. 21. Tonight I took a rehearsal of “Elijah” at Columbia for Searle Wright.
Feb 28. Herford had a dullish class in Bach analysis today.
Mar. 5. Went on the Music School retreat to the Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church at Plainfield today.
Mar. 10. Heard Corliss Arnold play a recital over at Columbia this noon. It was quite good.
Mar. 12. Dr. Volkel gave me his old copies of “The Diapason” for 1926 to 1930!! They are in splendid shape. [I later had all the years of “The Diapason” bound and ultimately donated to the library of DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, where I fervently hope they still reside!]
Mar. 14. The music school had a fine party tonight—Searle Wright played jazz until 12:30, to Jane’s delight.
Mar. 19. Got the remaining “Diapasons” from 1930 to 1946 from Dr. Volkel today.
Mar. 20. Went to St. George’s Church and heard Kemmer and his group do a splendid “St. Matthew Passion.”
Mar. 24. I am going to play at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church this summer.
Mar. 25. Tonight we heard Virgil Fox give the opening concert on the huge new Riverside Church organ. It was showy and flamboyant.
Mar. 26. Practiced at St. Paul’s all morning. Then had a “Crucifixion” rehearsal in a little church I am playing it for. Jane had her first false labor pain last night!
Mar. 29. Played my recital over at Columbia this noon. It went off quite well, although I forgot and took a second ending in the Dupré, shortening the piece slightly!
Apr. 3. In the afternoon we went to St. Patrick’s to see Courboin, but he wasn’t playing. [Charles M. Courboin was the legendary organist of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and one of the very finest performers I ever heard by any standard.]
Apr. 6. Jane didn’t feel very good this afternoon and labor pains got more and more frequent.
Apr. 7. Jane had a little girl this morning about 4:30. We named her Rebecca Lynn.
Apr. 11. (Much about Mother and Baby . . . ) Tonight I took a rehearsal for Searle Wright again.
Apr. 23. Went to a superb concert of baroque music over at Juilliard. Harpsichord, portative organ and all.
Apr. 24. Jane went with me to Rutgers today, then we drove to Bound Brook, New Jersey and talked to some people about a possible job there.
Apr. 26. We heard an organ recital by Lady Susi Jeans tonight at the
Cathedral.
May 1. The people from Bound Brook I saw last Sunday were at Rutgers to hear the service. Heard the annual service of Negro spirituals at St. George’s Church this afternoon.
May 10. Took the third of my organ exams this afternoon. Judges were Searle Wright, Friedell, and Porter. I played the 6th trio sonata of Bach, the “Elegie” by Flor Peeters, and the 1st movement of Vierne’s first symphony. Went off OK.
May 16. Went to Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church this afternoon and Mr. Lee showed me all around the facilities, as I am playing there this summer.
May 21. Spent the morning up at The Reformed Church in Bronxville practicing for tomorrow and the afternoon for a wedding over in James Chapel.
May 22. Raced to Bronxville after Rutgers and played the big choir service up there.
June 9. Did the first section of the written work for the AAGO exam this afternoon.
June 10. Completed the second section of the Guild exam all this afternoon. Think I did OK on it.
June 12. Got up quite early and went to Freehold, New Jersey, where I have the choir and organ for the next three Sundays. Quite a pleasant situation in the Methodist church there.
June 14. Have started reading in Disciple history for my dissertation.
June 22. I made a tentative outline of my dissertation today and Dr. Tangeman and I discussed it.
June 28. I worked quite a while over at Madison Avenue this afternoon.
June 30. Had a funeral at Madison Ave. this morning. Morgan Simmons is here now for summer school. [My colleague from both DePauw and Union, Morgan F. Simmons, was for some 28 years organist-choirmaster of the Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago. We remain great friends.]
July 5. Dick Peek is up for the summer. We had him over tonight. I played the first chapel service this morning. Also have a couple of organ students lined up.
July 6. My article on Alexander Campbell’s hymnody came out in the June 29 issue of “The Christian-Evangelist.”
July 7. The church at Bound Brook said I could have the job for next year if I wanted it.
July 9. Had two weddings this afternoon, so it was profitable. Morgan cooked a big dinner for six of us tonight. Was very good.
July 14. Went down to Bound Brook tonight and ended up by getting the job there. $50 per week plus the fine apartment next door. So a move is in store. Will have four choirs and a fine organ.
July 20. We had a choral service in chapel this morning which I directed and all. Played a wedding this afternoon. The Tangemans asked us up tonight. Very pleasant visit.
July 21. Heard a typically bad organ recital by Claire Coci at Riverside
tonight.
July 25. Worked on bibliography quite a bit today. Also attended a choir rehearsal tonight to watch Ifor Jones conduct.
July 26. Accompanied Doric Abriani on a voice exam this afternoon. Gave a couple of lessons.
July 28. Heard John Huston play a fine recital in Riverside tonight.
Aug. 9. Got the welcome news today that I passed the Associate exam in the Guild! Took it in June, and now the trip back wasn’t wasted.
Aug. 11. Had our last bibliography class this afternoon and ended up with a B+ in the course. Morgan is leaving tomorrow and the school closes up for a month.
Sept. 2. We got up, loaded the car up and raced to Bound Brook. Then I picked up a big truck and drove back to New York and Jim Francis and I hauled all our furniture out here. A real job!
Sept. 4. Had to get up early and commute into New York for a change—the last day at Madison Avenue.
Sept. 7. Worked on the choir rehearsal deals today a lot. Had our first rehearsal tonight and it was pretty successful.
Sept. 11. First Sunday in Bound Brook was quite a success, musically speaking. I went to Westminster fellowship tonight trying to recruit members for the youth choir.
Sept. 17. Had my two little choirs this morning—about forty kids altogether.
Sept. 20. Sent out the first hundred questionnaires pertaining to my dissertation today.
Sept. 27. Went in to Union and registered today—$150 tuition. Am taking private theory lessons with Mr. Friedell now.
Sept. 29. In to Union and had a preliminary lesson with Friedell today. Am taking theory and all preparatory to taking the F.A.G.O. exam next year.
Oct. 12. Had the two choirs tonight and worked quite a little on modulating and all today.
Oct. 18. Worked on theory and did the initial bit of actual writing on my thesis today.
Oct. 23. Was too sleepy during the services today! Went to Plainfield and heard an organ recital by Dr. Michael Schneider, a German organist. Was very fine.
Nov. 3. Had a long trip into NYC today. Started giving a girl organ lessons at Union. Practiced at St. Bartholomew’s Church, too.
Nov. 7. Worked on early hymnals a lot today, trying to get stuff down on paper! Worked on theory a bit—reading alto clef and transposing.
Nov. 20. Went to Westfield and heard Dr. Volkel play a good organ recital this afternoon.
Nov. 22. Went into NYC today and practiced, also heard a program of liturgical music at St. Mary the Virgin.
Dec. 5. Went in and practiced at St. Bartholomew’s Church all afternoon, and the recital seems to be going well.
Dec. 7. Played the recital at St. Bart’s tonight, and it went off quite well.
Dec. 11. Drove to Princeton this afternoon and heard a Christmas Vesper in their beautiful chapel. Carl Weinrich played and it was very fine.
Dec. 25. We had fine Christmas services at the church today, despite a few absent choir members on vacations. We had to take our tree out this evening, it was shedding so badly.
Dec. 26. Started preparing a bunch of historical organ recital programs that I have to do sooner or later.
Dec. 29. This evening Margie and Paul Koch came out to stay and eat with us.

1956
Jan. 5. Tried to find out if I will graduate this spring or not, but no success!
Jan. 13. Spent some time typing up my historical organ recitals in their final copy.
Jan. 15. Tonight we drove in and took the Boggesses with us to Carnegie to an all-Wagner program the Tangemans got us tickets for.
Jan. 17. Went into Union today to play some baroque music for the committee, and learned of a couple more piddling things I have to do for this elusive degree.
Jan. 21. Completed the first draft of the “anti-organ” dispute for my dissertation.
Jan. 23. Fired off a couple of letters to Butler University at Indianapolis to see about the possibility of teaching there next year.
Jan. 26. Had a long talk with Dr. Tangeman today and it seems that Dr. Porter has nearly ruined my chances of getting the doctorate this year.
Jan. 30. Began the long job of calculating the results from the questionnaires on Christian Church music this afternoon.
Feb. 2. It is pretty final that Porter isn’t going to put through my degree this year, although both Tangeman and Friedell were for it. He is griped off that I quit studying with him.
Feb. 14. Tonight was a fine Mozart program at the Crescent Ave. church which we attended. Was busy on my thesis and practicing.
Feb. 16. Had a pretty good day in New York. Stopped by and talked with Dr. Adams at Park Ave. Christian Church about Disciple music a while. [The Reverend Doctor Hampton Adams was one of the distinguished clergy in the Disciples of Christ denomination.]
Feb. 26. Beautiful day, so all the fair-weather Christians turned out for church this morning.
Feb. 27. This evening we heard the Philadelphia symphony and the Rutgers choir in a wonderful performance of Mahler’s “Resurrection” Symphony. Certainly was a splendid job.
Mar. 1. Am going to NYC tomorrow instead of today, so I worked more on my dissertation and Friedell stuff. Also practiced.
Mar. 9. Today I finished copying out my six responses and sent them off to Canyon Press to see if they would publish them.
Mar. 11. Dan Byrens and Fred Stroop played a fine organ recital over in Plainfield this afternoon and they came for dinner afterwards.
Mar. 13. Made a New York trip to interview a man from Boston University about a job today, but I am sure they want an older person for the job.
Mar. 21. Completed the first draft of my dissertation today, hallelujah. There is a lot of checking and all that to do, but it is good to have it this far done.
Mar. 22. Tonight we went to Rutgers, heard the Boston Symphony. Got stuck in the ice and had to be pushed out.
Apr. 1. We sang our Cantata “The Green Blade Riseth” by Searle Wright at both services this morning, and it went very well.
Apr. 7. All manner of feverish activity today. It is Rebecca’s first birthday, and George and Dona Lee were out to proofread my dissertation.
Apr. 21. Page 100 completed on the final four copies of my dissertation!
Apr. 26. Went in to Union for all the day, and up to Bronxville tonight to rehearse for a choral program Sunday.
Apr. 29. Spent the afternoon to and from Bronxville, where I played the choir festival at The Reformed Church like I did last year.
May 4. Typed on the dissertation—now to page 170. Ought to be nearing the end before too long, I hope.
May 6. Dr. and Mrs. Tangeman came out for the service and had dinner with us. She took back some of my dissertation to read.
May 8. Finally finished typing the main text of my dissertation—200 pages. Now have all the odd stuff to get out like appendices and bibliography.
May 12. This afternoon I completed the typing of my dissertation!
May 17. Went to New York today and interviewed Dr. Heerens from the Southern Baptist Seminary with an idea to teach organ there.
May 27. The choir sang Noble’s “Souls of the Righteous” today and ripped it off perfectly splendidly!
May 29. They wired from Louisville today and said it was decided not to change organists this year, but did I want it for 1957! Now the problem is “what to do.”
June 4. Had to go to New York just to practice an hour on the Guild examining instrument. A wondrously out-of-tune organ.
June 7. Took half of the written work and the playing part of the FAGO exam today. The playing was beastly difficult, and really kept me sweating.
June 20. Morgan and Mary Simmons and their baby came out here to stay all night. He is getting this job for next year.
June 24. The convention of the American Guild of Organists begins tomorrow.
June 26. Lots of people at the convention. Dr. Thompson came out from DePauw.
July 2. Trip to Allentown Pa. today to conduct a rehearsal and look into a possible job. They have old facilities now, but the possibility of a new church, organ, etc.
July 7. Yesterday I wrote a special delivery letter to the pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church in St. Louis about a job there. Tonight he called me and arranged an appointment with himself and the chairman of his music committee on Tuesday!
July 10. I went to Union to interview a Dr. Skinner and Mrs. Fischer of the Second Presbyterian Church in St. Louis. They have a complex combination job there which I think we landed! There is a TV telecast program once per week, as well as the church and a possible temple. [W. Sherman Skinner was a brilliant preacher. It was an honor (and my great good fortune) to work with him in St. Louis.]
July 13. Picked up my dissertation from Dr. Tangeman. Have to make corrections on the final copies—then it is finished!
July 15. They had a nice reception for us at the church today. Heard from St. Louis that we definitely are going there!
July 29. Rode to Princeton this afternoon and heard and watched Arthur Bigelow, the bell-master, play a carillon recital—quite exciting.
July 31. Went to Union today and took my dissertation. Learned that last week they were looking for a Minister of Music at the National City Christian Church!! Too late.
Aug. 5. Played the last service at Bound Brook today. The choirs and music committee gave us a purse of $47.00!
Aug. 6. Went to NYC to take a last coaching lesson from Friedell on my organ exam Wednesday.
Aug. 8. Played a last exam today in New York, which officially concludes my doctoral work, as nearly as I can determine.
Thursday August 9, 1956. We loaded up and left Bound Brook.

•

Over the years, I have noticed that most people seem to feel that the time they spent at whatever college or university marked the zenith of excellence for that institution. Most of us who were privileged to attend the School of Sacred Music of Union Theological Seminary during the 1950s probably feel somewhat the same way. I hope these personal entries from my diaries will bring fond memories back for many, and indicate to younger readers what the church music scene was like then in New York City.

STEPHEN THARP

Concert Organist and Recording Artist

Pipe Organ Encounter (POE), an educational outreach program of the American Guild of Organists. is an exciting week- long summer event for teens to discover the wonders of the pipe organ, the King of Instruments.

Alfred E. Lunsford
died on July 22 at his home in Knoxville, Tennessee, after a long illness. He
was 85. Born on July 13, 1918, he spent most of his adult life as a church
musician and pipe organ builder. He served as organist in various churches in
Knoxville, most recently St. Michael's and All Angels Episcopal Church.
In addition to his long membership in the American Institute of Organbuilders
and the Organ Historical Society, he was also the last surviving charter member
of the Knoxville AGO chapter, serving four times as its dean, more than any
other individual. In 1946 Mr. Lunsford was offered the position of regional
sales manager of the greater southeast for the Schantz Organ Company, a
position he held for over 50 years. During this tenure, he literally sold
hundreds of new Schantz pipe organs as well as hundreds of related projects
such as additions, restorations, or renovations of existing instruments. In his
home state of Tennessee alone, he sold 82 new Schantz instruments. In addition,
he built several new pipe organs which were installed in the greater Knoxville
area, one being a two-manual tracker in Grace Lutheran Church. A memorial
service was held at St. John's Episcopal Church, Knoxville, on July 25. A
memorial scholarship fund is being established to promote the pipe organ among
young people who may wish to attend the AGO "Pipe Organ Encounter"
program. This scholarship is part of the New Organist Fund administered by the
AGO. Donations to this fund in memory of Mr. Lunsford may be made to the AGO
with designation of the Alfred E. Lunsford Scholarship Fund: American Guild of
Organists, 475 Riverside Dr., Suite 1260, New York, NY 10115.