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“A Sacred Concert” by Duke Ellington
Sunday April 30, 2023
5:00 PM
Trinity Church Boston
206 Clarendon Street, Boston 02116
Join the Trinity Choirs in collaboration with Berklee College of Music for “A Sacred Concert” by Duke Ellington. Scored for jazz big band, choir, and vocal soloists, the work combines elements of jazz, classical music, choral music, spirituals, gospel, blues and dance. In the words of Ellington himself: “This music is the most important thing I’ve ever done or am ever likely to do.” Sunday, April 30 at 5pm. Free and open to all.
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For more concert information, click here
Boston Bach Birthday 338
Saturday, March 25, 2023
First Lutheran Church Boston
299 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116
The Boston Bach Birthday is back! First Lutheran Church of Boston will hold its annual celebration of Johann Sebastian Bach and his music on Saturday, March 25th. Beginning at 8:30am and going through the evening, music of Bach and friends will be presented in honor of the 338th anniversary of Sebastian’s birth. All musical events are free of charge, with donations gratefully accepted. Tickets are only required for the famous, not-to-be-missed German Lunch ($15 at the door).
This year’s program features organists Jonathan Wessler, Heejin Kim, and Rosalind Mohnsen, as well as Peter Krasinski presenting the special children’s event, accompanying the silent film The Red Balloon. Musicians Kateri Chambers (flute), Sarah Bellott (soprano), and Artem Belogurov (Baroque piano) will also present programs. Instrument builder Kerstin Schwarz will be on hand to discuss the special Baroque piano she made, copied from an early piano built by Bartolomeo Cristofori. The Young People’s Concert will additionally feature young instrumentalists playing the music of Bach. The day ends with Vespers at 5pm, featuring Bach’s cantata no. 1, Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, and the “Uppsala” Magnificat of Heinrich Schütz.
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Upcoming Concerts by Randy Steere
Saturday, March 25, 7:30 PM Groton Hill Music Center – 122 Old Ayer Rd, Groton
Featured Soloist with the Vista Philharmonic Orchestra in their new 1,000 Seat Concert Hall
Tickets at GrotonHill.org – not many tickets left for this concert
“Fleet Feat” – Samuel Barber – Toccata Festival; Camille Saint-Saëns – Symphony No. 3
Friday, April 14, 8:00 PM Groton Hill Music Center – 122 Old Ayer Rd, Groton
Solo Organ Concert to inaugurate the new organ in their new 1,000 Seat Concert Hall
Tickets at GrotonHill.org
Pre-concert talk about the Hauptwerk organ at 7:00 PM
“Back to the Future” – Works by Camillo Schumann, Reger, Bingham, Fey, Bach, Guilmant
Wednesday, May 31, 7:30 PM Methuen Memorial Music Hall – Broadway, Methuen (MMMH.org)
Tickets at the door – $15
“Musical Thoughts on Lives Lived” – Works by Bissinger, Fey, Alain, Ireland, Saint-Saëns, Sowande, Vierne, Weaver
Boston Library Offers Franck “Verset in Fm” for download
In honor of Franck’s 200th year, Carl Klein, Boston Organ Librarian, scanned this “Verset in Fm” of Franck’s and put it on the Library website for all. It’s out of copyright, so this offering is legal.
This was part of a group of pieces for church organists initially issued in several volumes under the title of L’Organiste, and “pour Orgue et Harmonium.” But it is not in the 59 pieces of that collection, although in identical typeface and lettering. Belwin-Mills reprinted L’Organiste in facsimile in 1975, with an interesting introduction by Carleton Russell. Barbara Owen has recommended use of some the pieces from this volume as preludes or offertories over the years. The low pitched bass lines of these collections could easily be played on pedals if one wished.
What is interesting is that these relatively short and uncomplicated pieces, intended for Franck’s colleagues and students who were church organists, were his last works, published serially in August and September of 1880. It may simply have been written for a later volume that was not completed. Apparently more were composed, but not published until after his death in November of that year. Well, Bach’s last works were chorale preludes, thus also intended for use by his fellow church organists.
~ Carl Klein and Barbara Owen, Boston Organ Library
To download the music, click here
Code of Ethics
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2020 – 2022 Officers and Executive Committee
Our Chapter has elected the following people as Officers of our Chapter:
Dean: Mitchell Crawford
Sub-Dean: Cathy Meyer
Treasurer: Daryl Bichel
Secretary: Joshua T. Lawton
Registrar: Jeffrey Mills
Members at Large- Class of 2024
Don Hodgkins
Christine Hogan
Jonathan Wessler
Members at Large – Class of 2026
Sean Glennon
Andrew Scanlon
Deans of Our Chapter
The Massachusetts Chapter was founded in 1905. Our first Dean was George Albert Burdett (pictured here). Our website now has photos and biographies of all of our past Deans. You may view that resource by clicking here.
If you have any additions or remembrances of past Deans to add to our page, please contact us.
The History of the American Guild of Organists in Massachusetts by H. Winthrop Martin is being digitized. This resource includes Deans’ biographies from 1905 through 1954, along with programs and recitals held during those years. The full history of those years is available now by clicking here
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