Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra hymn festival and workshop

Ann Arbor AGO Chapter

W. Michael Brittenback is currently minister of music at St. John's Episcopal Church in Plymouth, Michigan. He serves as chair of Region V of the Association of Anglican Musicians, and as a member of the Executive Board of the Ann Arbor AGO Chapter, and was chair of the 2004 New Music Festival.

The Ann Arbor Chapter of the American Guild of Organists presented its annual New Music Festival April 24 and 25, entitled "Music for the Queen of Instruments--a celebration of women composers for the organ." On Saturday evening Janette Fishell (chair of the organ and church music department, East Carolina University) gave a recital on the fine Schoenstein organ at First Presbyterian Church in Ann Arbor. The program: Five Sacred Dances for Solo Organ by Margaret Sandresky, Prelude on Hyfrydol by Ann Arbor's own Carol Muehlig, Te Deum by Jeanne Demessieux, On a Day of Bells by Libby Larsen, Rio abajo rio by Pamela Decker, and Alba by Marie-Bernadette Dufourcet-Hakim. Her playing was flawless, musical and engaging, and her comments helped the audience to understand and enjoy this very new music. The only well known work on the program was the Demessieux Te Deum.

On Sunday afternoon the festival moved to First United Methodist Church and featured great women organists and professors from southeastern Michigan, as well as showcasing Ann Arbor women composers. Naki Sung Kripfgans, organist at First Church, opened the program with a brilliant performance of Suite for Organ, No. 1 by Florence Price. Marilyn Mason, professor of organ and university organist at the University of Michigan, performed Prelude in f minor by Nadia Boulanger. Dr. Mason's brief talk about her studies with Madame Boulanger was a highlight of the weekend. Michele Johns, adjunct professor at the University of Michigan, joined Dr. Mason to perform Two Pieces for Organ Duet on Hymn Tunes by Alice Jordan, a work commissioned by Dr. Mason. Dr. Johns was then joined by Angela Mercurio on flute to perform Aria and Scherzo by Emma Lou Diemer. Our first Ann Arbor composer on the program, Gail Jennings, performed an exciting two-movement work of her own entitled The Promise of the Spirit. Elaine Grover, associate professor and chair of the church music and organ department at Marygrove College, chose two Canadian composers; Martha Sobaje's exciting Trumpet Tune should become a regular for weddings. This was followed by two works by Ruth Watson Henderson, Meditation on "Westminster Abbey" and Trumpet Voluntary. Carolyn Bybee on trumpet joined Dr. Grover for Trumpet Voluntary. The second Ann Arbor composer, Karen Phipps, performed two of her own works: Beautiful Savior, which featured Jean MacKenzie, and Fugue and Chorale "When in the Hour of Utmost Need." The program closed with Janice Beck's performance of Kairos by the former Ann Arbor, now Arizona resident and composer Pamela Decker. This work was commissioned by Dr. Beck, and her informative comments were appreciated.

The chapter is grateful to the performers and to the committee--Marilyn Mason, Carol Muehlig, and Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra--for their hard work in making this weekend such a success. It highlighted the wonderful contributions women are making to new music for the organ. We look forward to this movement continuing to grow.

David Spicer is Minister of Music and the Arts at the First Church of Christ in Wethersfield, Connecticut and is chair and co-founder of the Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival/USA. He is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and the Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has been a member of the music faculty at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Connecticut and is House Organist at Hartford's Bushnell Memorial Arts Center.

The organ, IV/62 Austin, Opus 2403, is capable of playing a wide range of literature.

Tapes were sent in by June 1, and from these were selected two high school and four college finalists. Judges for the 2001 Festival were John Walker,  Cherry Rhodes, and Frederick Hohman.

Friday morning featured a tour of the Austin Organ Company in nearby Hartford. Special thanks to Kimberlee Austin, president, and her wonderful staff. Friday evening, the three judges joined with David Spicer, Minister of Music and the Arts at First Church of Christ and co-founder of the ASOF/ USA, in a celebration concert. Rev. T. Michael McDowell, Associate Minister, welcomed all to this fourth ASOF/USA. Opening the concert was the hymn tune Rock Harbor: "Let Heaven Rejoice." A new anthem, Psalm 150, by Connecticut composer Thomas Schmutzler, was presented by the Festival Choir. Words of welcome from Donald Croteau, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Albert Schweitzer Institute were followed by the anthem Neighbors, a melody from Ghana arranged by Austin C. Lovelace, with African drumming.

That anthem was in marked contrast to the new composition by another Connecticut composer, Elizabeth R. Austin, whose work for brass quintet and organ entitled A Triadic Tribute is based on several hymns that begin with do-mi-sol relationships. At one point, the brass players are called to leave their positions and roam around the hall while playing bits and pieces of the various hymn tunes. They then come together again and after a full organ hint of Wachet auf! the piece subsides to the quietest tones of the ensemble. The Thread City Brass Quintet joined David Spicer for this new work.

Following the Austin selection (no relation to the organ company!) the three judges were introduced. Then Cherry Rhodes played Four piezas para la Misa by José Lidón (1748-1827): Cantabile para organo al alzar en la Misa - Ofertorio - Elevación - Allegro.

The introduction of the six finalists and ASOF/USA sponsors followed, as did an introduction of guest dignitaries Roberta Bitgood, past national president of the American Guild of Organists, along with her daughter Grace and son-in-law Stuart; John Anthony, former district convener for Connecticut, Rhodes Island and Argentina for the New England Region AGO; Curt Hawkes, factory representative from Austin Organs, Inc.; Renée Louprette, Dean of the Hartford AGO Chapter; and David Harper, AGO treasurer and producer of the local organ radio program "The King of Instruments."

After these introductions, Judge Frederick Hohman played his own composition The Homecoming. Then an offertory anthem He Comes to Us by Jane Marshall and text by Albert Schweitzer was sung by the Festival Choir. For the postlude (all remained seated) John Walker played the Chorale with Variations on Nun danket alle Gott by Ronald Arnatt (written for John Walker). After this rousing finale, all were treated to a reception sponsored by the Albert Schweitzer Committee and the First Church Choir. On display were pictures of Albert Schweitzer in his Lamberane, Africa hospital, and also on display was the harmonium that he played there. These were on loan from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, which houses the Albert Schweitzer Institute. In addition, Austin Organs, Inc. had a display of recent installations and pipe organ mechanisms.

Saturday morning is the time traditionally reserved for the high school division competition. However, be-cause one finalist observed Sabbath beginning at sundown on Friday, the judges were able to adjudicate this finalist late Friday afternoon and the other finalist on Saturday. In the high school division first place went to Christopher Johnson of Dickinson, Texas (a student of Marjorie Rasche). He received an award of $1000 sponsored by Fleet Bank of Hartford; second place, Tamara Logan of Fresno, California (a student of Aran Vartanian), received an award of $500 sponsored by Anne and Walter Kelly of Glastonbury, CT.

The college division competition on Saturday was held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. First place went to Thomas Schuster of Leonard, Michigan (a student of Ray Ferguson, Wayne State University), the Austin Grand Prize of $2000 sponsored by Austin Organs, Inc. of Hartford. Second place, Hyo Kun Kang of Palisades Park, New Jersey (a student of John Weaver, the Juilliard School), $1000 sponsored by Dutch Point Credit Union, Wethersfield; third place, Stephen Scarlato of Ellington, Connecticut (a student of Larry Allen, the Hartt School at the University of Harford), $500 by the Hartford AGO Chapter; honorable mention, Joshua Hearn of Denver, Iowa (a student of Marilou Kratzenstein, University of Northern Iowa), $300 sponsored in part by the Wethersfield Committee on Culture and the Arts.

After this very long day, the judges and finalists and members of the ASOF/USA Committee were treated to a marvelous dinner by Dana Spicer at Wethersfield's "Mainly Tea." Mrs. Spicer is co-owner of this establishment.

Sunday morning, preludes and postludes were presented by the finalists at the services of worship at the First Church of Christ. At the 8:00 a.m. service, Hyo Kun Kang played Prelude in a minor by J.S. Bach for the prelude and the Fugue (BWV 543) for the postlude. Tamara Logan played "The Peace May Be Exchanged" from Rubrics by Dan Locklair for the offertory.

At the 9:15 a.m. service, Tamara Logan played Prelude in G Major by J.S. Bach for the prelude and the Fugue in G Major (BWV 541) for the postlude. At the 11:00 a.m. service Stephen Scarlato played Dan Locklair's Jubilo: A Prelude for Organ for the prelude and Joshua Hearn played J. S. Bach's Fugue in G minor (BWV 542) for the postlude. Associate organist Bruce Henley played the service music at 8:00 a.m. and David Spicer the service music at 9:15 and 11:00 a.m.

The winner's recital was held on Sunday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. During this time awards were presented to the finalists by the sponsors and to the host families. The first place winners in both divisions were featured in recital. Christopher Johnson opened the program with the hymn tune St. Thomas (a theme of this festival) and then played Concerto in a minor, Vivaldi/Bach (BWV 593); Pange Lingua, Verbum Caro and Tantum Ergo (from Pange Lingua), Hakim; and Andante Sostenuto (from Gothic Symphony), Widor. Thomas Schuster played Choral No. 1, Franck, then all in attendance joined as he led in the singing of the hymn tune Coronation. He ended the recital with a brilliant rendition of Anton Heiller's Tanz-Toccata.

We wish to thank Nancy Andersen, the festival coordinator, for her many areas of expertise and hard work. Also, we give a special "thank you" to Bon Smith of Austin Organ Service Company of Avon, Connecticut for the gift of tuning and maintenance of the Austin organ used in this festival. We wish to thank the following for the use of their instruments for additional practice: St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Wethersfield, Rev. Hugh Haffenneffer, pastor and Melissa Cheney, organist; and Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Wethersfield, Father Thomas Campion, pastor, Deacon Seth English and Thaddeus Terzo, organist. Curt Hawkes and Gordon Auchincloss of the Austin Organ Company deserve a note of appreciation for their assistance with this festival.

Our emotions, so high from this time of music making, plummeted to the depths two days later on September 11, with the terrorists' attacks on New York City, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania. We praise God that all finalists, their families and our judges arrived home safely. Albert Schweitzer's philosophy of "Reverence for Life" never seemed so germane.

Next year's ASOF/USA dates are September 6-8, 2002. Entry deadline is June 1.

William Carey University, Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Donald E. (Gene) Winters is in his 29th year of teaching at William Carey University, Hattiesburg, MS. He holds the B.M., B.A., and M.M. in church music and music education from William Carey (College) and the Ph.D. in music education from Florida State University. He serves as professor of church music and voice at the university, and his particular association with the Clarence Dickinson Collection stems from the fact that his father and mother, Donald and Frances Winters (founders of the Winters School of Music at WCU), were responsible for the collection being housed at William Carey. Their inquiry to Dr. Dickinson’s second wife, Lois Stice Dickinson, after Clarence’s death (concerning the possibility of WCU purchasing some of Dickinson’s books) met with favorable response from Lois and long-time family friend, George Litch Knight, a former student of Dickinson. Dr. Knight and Mrs. Dickinson had hoped that the entire collection could be kept intact and serve as a memorial to the Dickinsons’ life and work. After Dr. and Mrs. Winters visited Mrs. Dickinson and Dr. Knight in New York, the determination was made that William Carey (College) should house the entire collection. Dr. Gene Winters has worked behind the scenes to raise monies for the preservation and electronic cataloging of the collection (work recently completed by Dr. Paul Powell, library archivist and preservationist) and for the showcasing of the collection. In addition, he coordinated the fund-raising campaign to purchase an Allen organ for Smith Auditorium, Thomas Fine Arts Center, on the Carey campus.
All of the photos (except that of Dr. McLelland) were taken by Gene Winters.

In the early 1970s, William Carey College became the new home of the books, manuscript papers, artwork, antique piano, and hymn memorabilia of renowned organist Clarence Dickinson after the death of his second wife, Lois Stice Dickinson. A recent renovation of the room that houses the historic items in the Clarence Dickinson Special Collection has created renewed interest in the collection, in the life of Clarence Dickinson, which it illustrates, and in the art of organ performance. The first Clarence Dickinson Memorial Organ Festival, which was held in January 2007, featured a lecture about the life and work of Clarence Dickinson and his first wife, Helen Adell Dickinson. Stephen Garner, an alumnus of William Carey College and assistant professor of music at Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas, was the featured scholar. Dr. Garner is writing a biography of Dr. Dickinson, and he is utilizing materials from the collection and numerous recordings of personal interviews taken with former students, colleagues, and friends of Dickinson in New York City and elsewhere. In conjunction with that first event, the Dumas L. Smith/I. E. Rouse Library on the William Cary University campus (which houses the collection) hosted an open house to showcase the collection.
The second annual Clarence Dickinson Memorial Organ Festival was held on January 17–19, 2008, at the Winters School of Music on the Hattiesburg campus. The event featured an organ recital and masterclass by Dr. Jeff R. McLelland, organist/choirmaster at Independent Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama, as well as the event’s first organ competition, with divisions for beginners and for advanced players. The beginners were required to play a Bach prelude and fugue or a contrasting piece and a hymn; the advanced players were required to play a Bach prelude and fugue, a contrasting piece, and a hymn/hymn arrangement. Representatives from both divisions participated in the masterclass. Judges for the competition were Jane Butler, organist of Trinity Episcopal Church, Hattiesburg, and Lorenz Maycher, organist/choirmaster at First Trinity Presbyterian Church, Laurel, Mississippi.
Six entrants participated in this initial competition. Playing in the beginner division were Pearl Choi, sophomore music therapy major at WCU from South Korea; David Harrison, high school junior from Ocean Springs, MS; Marissa Hipp, high school junior from Grenada, MS; and Carlena Speed, senior piano performance major at WCU from Seminary, MS. David Harrison was the winner of the beginner’s division and received the cash prize and a certificate, and will be presented a Clarence Dickinson medallion for his performance in May.
Playing in the advanced division were Christopher Ray, a freshman music major at Mississippi College, Clinton, MS, and Patrick Scott, a senior organ major at Birmingham Southern College, Birmingham, AL. Scott and Ray, both judged as outstanding entrants, tied for first place in the advanced division, and each received an equal share of the cash prize and a certificate. They, too, will each receive a Clarence Dickinson medallion.
The medallions, which feature Dr. Dickinson’s image on one side and the seal of the university on the other, will be presented to the winning competitors in May by one of Dickinson’s students and current AGO president, Frederick Swann. Swann will present a lecture/recital on May 2 at 7:30 pm. (Full details are listed in the “Here & There” column of this issue.) All of the winners have been invited to play next season in a joint organ recital as part of the Laurel, MS First Trinity Presbyterian Church’s Concert Series.
Coordinating the festival and this event are Kathy Vail, assistant professor of Music, WCU; Patricia Furr, director of libraries, WCU; and Gene Winters, professor of church music and voice, WCU. For further information about future festivals, competitions, and events please contact the Winters School of Music, William Carey University, 498 Tuscan Avenue, Campus Box 14, Hattiesburg, MS 39401. Those interested in next year’s competition should write or call (601/318-6175) the Winters School of Music and ask to be added to the competition’s mailing list; or e-mail: <[email protected]> or <[email protected]>. For information about visiting the newly reopened Clarence Dickinson Special Collection at Carey University Libraries, contact director of libraries, Patricia Furr at <[email protected]>.