For Worcester AGO Members,

The music librarian for the First Congregational Church in Shrewsbury
is housecleaning!  This summer, we’re cleaning and inventorying our
library — first time it’s been touched in years.  As such, we have a
ton of music that we’re looking to give to another choir (church,
community, school, whatever).  There’s actually enough there such that
several organizations could benefit.  Secular and sacred — unison,
SATB, SAB, SSA, some books & cantantas.  Right now, I’m looking for
choral directors who want to come and pick through it and take what
they’ll use — take as much or as little as you want, but please don’t
just declare that you’ll take it all.

If you’re interested in coming and having a look, please email
Christina White for times when she’ll be there next week and other
specifics.  When you email her, please also let me know what choir you
represent just so we can get a clear picture of where our music is
going.  Please do not contact the church office — the church
secretary cannot help you as she is not part of the process.
Christina can be reached at: KatatonicState@gmail.com.
– Submitted by WorcAGO member Malcolm Halliday

(Eastern Organ Pipes, Inc.) Hagerstown, MD

A stubborn fire started in a lower level of an addition on the historic M.P. Moller Pipe Organ factory in Hagerstown Thursday afternoon, spreading into the upper levels of the structure as firefighters started to bring it under control, making it increasingly difficult to extinguish, fire officials said. The fire began as workers cleaned tools in the paint spray booth at the end of the day.

http://www.herald-mail.com/breakingnews/hm-fire-reported-at-former-moller-01062011,0,6649061.story

The Hanover Theatre’s 2400-pipe Wurlitzer organ is nearly completed and the theater hosted a special evening in celebration. Boston favorites Kathy St. George and Brian DeLorenzo, as well as organist Jonathan Ortloff, winner of the American Theatre Organ Society’s 2008 Young Theatre Organist Competition, were a part of the program. A Majestic Concert

Review by Kevin Mathieu

Friday’s concert was AMAZING! A near sell out crowed LOVED the organ, and we all had a good chuckle at the cipher that developed a minute into the first selection after the “Hanover March”, “You’ve Got A Lot To See” from Fox TV’s Family Guy. Jonathan stopped playing when it became apparent that the cipher would not go away and addressed the audience referring to the organ as “a toddler in its terrible twos”, and “would soon grow out of its moody ways and become the grand mature instrument its meant to be”. Technicians were on hand and fixed the cipher in his brief address and he resumed playing (from the top). We were given a video tour of the chambers “via satellite link” with the theatre’s production manager Jon Rosbrook, and were thrilled with the multimedia presentations, starting with a trip back in time to the days of silent movies, to camera views of Jonathan’s skillful playing. A taste of Broadway was included with a half dozen vocal numbers by three talented singers, Maureen Brennan, Brian De Lorenzo and Kathy St. George and Jonathan accompanying. The first vocal selection was “I Love a Piano” with Jonathan on the organ, stopping to banter with the singer about this night being about the organ not the piano, she gave a great reply of “well it wouldn’t sound right if I said ‘I love your organ!’” a moment later they ‘had an idea’ and the upright player piano was wheeled on stage with the singer on top of it and Jonathan (midi-)controlling it from the Wurlitzer!  The feature presentation of Laurel and Hardy’s “Liberty” was a thrill for all and masterfully accompanied by Jonathan.

The organ crew was honored with individual plaques and one to hang in the lobby of the theatre, Don Phipps in return honored the theatre’s Executive Director for his support in the installation with a plaque made from wood taken from a Wurlitzer pedal rank, and the renaming of the Tuba Marabillis to “Troy’s Tuba”

July 28, 2010 HANOVER WURLITZER

(Hanover Press Release) The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts is proud to announce that starting Thursday, July 29, the 35-rank Wurlitzer Pipe Organ will greet each audience during the three-performance run of Always, Patsy Cline.

Starting  this Thursday, Len Beyersdorfer will play at the organ’s console to greet the theatre audience before the start of Always, Patsy Cline. The organ can also pre-record music pieces that can be stored and used for future performances. Plans are set to continue to showcase the organ before select performances at the theatre, bringing a unique theatre experience for all who attend!

The organ, comprised of 2,500 pipes, was generously donated by Donald Phipps of the Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society. Phipps’ Wurlitzer is made up of parts from other organs that originated in theatres throughout the state. He reached out in 2007 to the Executive Director of The Hanover Theatre, Troy Siebels, about relocating the grand organ to the theatre. Happy to accept the generous donation, Troy said, “This is a multimillion dollar organ. We couldn’t let the opportunity pass!”

Since its first introduction to theatergoers during the 2009 performances of A Christmas Carol, Phipps has been working endlessly to install and fully restore this important treasure in the theatre. Everyone at the theatre and within the organ community is enthusiastic about both the installation and the final effect. According to Don Phipps, “Now there will be a pipe for every seat in the theatre…just imagine, when the whole thing is running, you will hear it from the other side of Federal Square!”

NATIONAL AGO CONVENTION IN WASHINGTON, DC (JULY, 2010)

FULL REVIEWS AND PICTURE GALLERY MOVED TO HERE (by popular demand)

INTRODUCTION
It’s enough to leave town when 2100+ organists invade our nation’s capitol for a week, just as the tuners and technicians have put the final touches on record-breaking heat- and humidity-scorched chambers.
Over 200 solo performers and workshop clinicians presented a plethora of sound and information to educate and refresh these musicians-now-turned-audience. A 230+ page full-color spiral bound program book (a design which suspiciously mimics Worcester’s 1999 Regional booklet!) along with a tote bag and badge pouch containing over a dozen tickets to various sold-out events.   One hundred or so advertiser booths filled the exhibition hall which seems like a city unto itself, full of color, handouts, gimmicks, and marketing splendor. The DC convention committee is to be commended for arranging such a great variety and QUALITY of programs, venues, and information organization so that all can enjoy the week to its fullest and share in the celebration of the DC Chapter’s 100th Anniversary as well as this the 50th national convention.
33 Boston Chapter members attended, and from Worcester were: Sean Redrow*, Jim Christie*, Bill Czelusniak, Brett Maguire, Peter Krasinksi, Jim Moore, Lois Toeppner*, and Will Sherwood.   (* Participating in some official way)
All 50 states were represented, including 259 chapters (out of some 320 chapters of 20,000 total members) represented. Students attending on the STOPlist scholarship program: 147, and 16 foreign countries represented (91 registrants).
Ronald Stolk (chair of the convention, choirmaster of St Patrick’s Cathedral, exquisite improviser, and commander-in-chief of their magnificent Lively-Fulcher instrument) has led their chapter to produce an event that will be remembered for years!

We offer our best wishes at the 2010 National Convention by pulling out all the stops, including the ones on the above right!
Thanks to Frank Corbin for permission to use (and edit!) images from Assumption.
GREAT ORGANS OF WORCESTER 2-CD SET

FULL CONVENTION REVIEWS AND PICTURE GALLERY MOVED TO HERE

The BBC Concert Orchestra is delighted to announce the signing of Keith Lockhart as Principal Conductor, signaling the beginning of a new era for the BBC’s most versatile performing group, renowned for their dynamism in classical, jazz and light music.

T&G Article

NEWEST ARRIVAL IN TOWN DEMONSTRATED PRIOR TO COMPLETION – THE HANOVER WURLITZER (The largest Theater Pipe Organ in New England)

Entering by the guarded stage door (no entrance password was needed–it was free!) from a hot and humid Sunday afternoon in downtown Worcester, one immediately saw the prep/technical area behind the extended stage area of the exquisitely renovated Hanover Theater – a view not many get to see. The monthly event of the Eastern Mass Chapter of the American Theater Organ Society (EMCATOS) was about to begin and the star performer of the day, Jonathan Ortloff, was greeting the audience sporting a dapper coat and tie informal concert attire. We wind our way through the catacombs of the backstage and are led to the theater seating, joining an eager 150 organ enthusiasts already seated with anticipation. The lights dim and as the trems power up with the sound of a rainstorm and the shutters fling open with clatter, the fanfares of The Hanover Theater March (composed by Leonard Beyersdorfer, an EMCATOS member and fine organist in his own right) heralded the rising of the four-manual Wurlitzer console from below, with audience goose-bumps thrilling every refurbished rank in its new home – what an incredible fortune for Worcester to have this instrument added to its fine array or organs in Central Mass. So now you can add Hanover to the list of four manual pipe organs in the central Worcester area, along with: Mechanics Hall, All Saints, Holy Cross, Wesley, 1st U, 1st B, AUD(altho currently sealed off, unplayable). The Hanover Wurlitzer is a gift from Don Phipps of New Bedford, who is leading the volunteer crew that has tackled the huge job of installing it.

Jonathan Ortloff,  deservedly in the spotlight at the Mighty console, once again underscored why he was chosen as the winner of ATOS’ 2008 Young Theatre Organist Competition. Well spoken verbal program notes kept the interest between pieces, and a wide variety of repertoire was artistically and stylistically performed, supercharged with his intense technique, and covered all the bases and basses: including the Hanover premier of the low octave of the Bombarde 16′ just installed and one of 20 sets that Wurlitzer ever made – a welcomed low blow!  The program included several delightful surprises: two Ortloff arrangements of themes adapted from Fox network’s Family Guy; "Puffin’ Billy" (the name of an Australian locomotive; the theme song from the 1950s-80s CBS TV show Captain Kangaroo) complete with ABABA structure; and the piece de résistance an encore which was a prepared improvisation on A-L-A-I-N (used in Durufle’s Prelude and Fugue) in the style of a – are you sitting down?! – bossa nova, complete with the Durufle flourish at the end of the Fugue. Wow! Fun for all indeed!

Far from depressing, this array of tongue-depressor stop tabs underscored the Mighty-ness of the (new to us) Hanover Wurlitzer, to be premiered at the National ATOS convention in the summer of 2011.
(Photos by Will Sherwood)

MAY, 2010

NEW LIFE FOR AN OLD FRIEND – THE RE-CHRISTENING OF THE REBUILT/EXPANDED CASAVANT OP 3201

Mark Dwyer at St Michael’s at the inauguration concert for the Southfield/Casavant (formerly from St. John’s).
"A Musical Journey" featured works from Germany, France, England, Canada, Denmark to showcase the wide tonal resources available.

The outside temperature on this late Sunday afternoon was 85, and we won’t guess what it was inside. The organ tuning held amazingly.
Ushers had a reverse-offering of over 9 cases of bottled water and small drinking cups, distributed during the concert.  We were thirsty souls!
(Photos by Will Sherwood)

PIPES (VERY) ALIVE

Scott Lamlein performs the last in the 2009-2010 Wesley Methodist Pipes-Alive concert series.  
The image of the face of Bach emerges on the right side of the Skinner music rack woodgrain as illuminated from the historic blue/red stained glass windows.

Scott Lamlein (piano), assisted by Brett Maguire (O/D at Wesley) perform an enjoyable organ-piano duet by Paul Halley.
Later, Scott performed a piano composition of his own to the delight of the audience.

Carillon-Sortie (Mullet) shook the rafters as the series drew to a rousing conclusion.
The mass of Wesley’s Gothic stonework kept the ambient temperature a comfortable 70 degrees (outside it was a humid 82).
(Photos by Will Sherwood)