February 2020

C. B. Fisk, Inc., Gloucester, Massachusetts

First United Methodist Church, Pittsburg, Kansas

From the Organbuilder

Randall Dyer & Associates, Inc., Jefferson City, Tennessee

First United Methodist Church, Lebanon, Tennessee

On July 27, 2018, my dear colleagues and friends, Yannick Merlin and Béatrice Piertot, introduced me to Pierre Labric at his residence southwest of Paris in Dreux. Labric is perhaps best remembered in this country for recording the complete organ symphonies of both Widor and Vierne on the legendary Cavaillé-Coll instruments of St-Ouen, Rouen (Widor), and St-Sernin, Toulouse (Vierne).

The 59th annual University of Michigan conference on organ music took place on the Ann Arbor campus September 29 through October 1, 2019, with important pre-conference events on the Friday and Saturday preceding. The theme for 2019 was “Building Bach: His Foundations and Futures.” In view of (and din of) construction equipment all over the campus, the theme seemed exceptionally apt.

Pre-conference event: Isabelle Demers

Saturday is market day in Alkmaar. On the way to the Sint-Laurenskerk from my hotel there were stalls filled with fresh fish, cheese, fruits and vegetables, breads and desserts. Tempting as they were, I hurried through to make the 9:00 a.m. starting time for the first round of the International Schnitger Organ Competition 2019. With the church bells chiming 9:00, the jury entered, and the members were introduced.

The jury

J. G. P. Leek

When I was a student at Oberlin (Class of 1978), students were not allowed to own cars, ostensibly to limit traffic and parking congestion in the small town. I lived in an apartment off campus during my senior year, and since it came with a parking space, I flouted the rule and bought a 1969 Mercedes 230. I put a great sound system in it—those cassette tapes were just the thing—and I felt like the big man driving around. It was in pretty good shape, but it was a nine-year-old Ohio car, and there were little fringes of rust here and there.

Gottlieb Muffat and his Componimenti Musicali

Since February is the shortest month (even though this leap year does add a twenty-ninth day), it seems right and proper to submit a shorter essay! After all, one must cram a month’s work into a shorter period, so there should be fewer words to read or write.

Appointments

Joshua Stafford is appointed interim organist for the Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, New York, for the 2020 summer assembly season. In this interim capacity, Stafford, a native of neighboring Jamestown, will succeed his mentor and teacher, the late Jared Jacobsen, as the principal performer on the institution’s Massey Memorial Organ.

Nunc Dimittis