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Home > Our Chapter > Monthly Chapter Programs
| September
20, 2004 A pleasant chartered bus ride took us on an Organ Crawl to Kalamazoo. We visited Stetson Chapel, at Kalamazoo College, where we heard Tim Tikker demonstrate a small portative organ, plus the three manual instrument built by Hellmuth Wolff & Associés, Laval, Quebec, Canada (1989). Then on to the Cathedral of St. Augustine where Francis Zajac treated us to the fine sounds of the three manual, 41 rank organ built by Nichols & Simpson, Inc., of Little Rock, Arkansas (2002). Our last stop was at the Cathedral of Christ the King. Janet Hill played prelude music on the 49-rank Aeolian-Skinner (1969) – the last organ that company built for a church, and this was followed by An Order of Compline, a service of chanted psalms and prayers, with the Reverend Canon William J. Spaid officiating. In closing, Kent Hill played Postlude for the Office of Compline by Jehan Alain. |
In Stetson Chapel, Tim
Tikker demonstrates the organ by |
| October
18, 2004 Our guest was Dr. James Abington, Editor of African-American Series, GIA Publications, who led us in a delightful sight reading session of recently published anthems written by African-American composers. On the previous Saturday the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship sponsored Dr. Abington who led workshops, rehearsals for Gospel Choirs from area colleges, and, in the evening, a Festive Praise Service in the Calvin College Chapel.
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 Dr. Abington leads AGO chapter members in anthem-reading session. |
| November
15, 2004 Members of the Grand Rapids Chapter gathered at the Episcopal Church of St. Mark for dinner and a glimpse at two extraordinary upcoming events. Our chapter will be hosting the AGO REGION V CONVENTION during the period of June 18– 22, 2005. The Convention Steering Committee presented an exciting overview of recitals and workshops to be presented during that time as well as information on registration and other matters. For the second part of the evening we moved to the sanctuary where Mr. David Wilson, tonal finisher for the J. W. Walker Organ Company of England spoke to us about the mechanical action organ presently being installed. The design of the organ presented several problems. The main part of the organ case is in the south transept, and the console is in the chancel area from where the choir sings. This brought about some problems in designing the paths for the trackers. He also talked about the materials used, such as the wood for the case and the keys, and the carbon fibre rods used for the trackers. He explained the position within the chamber of the four divisions of the instrument, and the double set of Swell/Solo swell shades used. For example, these two divisions not only speak out into the nave from the main organ case, but there are also openings directly into the chancel/choir loft area. It was then necessary, that when the organ is being used to accompany the choir, these two divisions which are under expression could be prevented from speaking directly out into the nave, thus providing better balance between choir and accompaniment.
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 As a part of the Steering Committee’s report on the Region V Convention, Larry Biser (standing in far corner) reveals plans for some of the programs planned for this occasion. |
 David Wilson of the J.W. Walker Organ Company (standing to left of flag) speaks to the assembled guests about the instrument presently being installed. |
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| January
17, 2005 Members met at East Congregational United Church of Christ for a presentation by Dr. Philip Gehring, Director of the AGO Committee on Professional Certification, who reviewed the requirements for the Service Playing Certificate, and gave examples of possible repertoire. He encouraged members to become certified, citing the goals of personal growth, as well as recognition, as reasons for doing so. Dr. Gehring also offered suggestions on how to prepare for the test, and he answered questions regarding the process. Dr. Gehring's sense of humor contributed to a delightful and informative evening. |
 Dr. Philip Gehring discussing the Service Playing Certificate. |
| February 21, 2005 A member's recital at the Church of St. Robert of Newminster featured music for weddings and funerals. Members performing, pictured at right, played music of various composers, including new compositions of chapter members Raymond H. Haan and Kent Hill. Haan's work, Pilgrimage, is to be published in July, and Hill's Dialogue on the Tuba is to be included in the Grand Rapids Organ Book, a compilation of works by local composers to be given to all registrants at the Region V AGO Convention our chapter is hosting in June 2005. |
 Janet Hill, Rex Rallanka, Kent Hill, Kevin Soodsma, Aaron Renninger |
| April
18, 2005 St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in downtown Grand Rapids was the setting for "An Evening with David Hurd." Performer and composer David Hurd presented insights into some of his hymn tunes, explaining that “retrofitting” existing texts with new tunes brings new meaning and life to texts. He also played four short organ pieces based on spirituals on the new J.W. Walker organ at St.Mark’s, the instrument on which he played the dedicatory recital the previous evening. The evening ended with a reading session of several of Mr. Hurd’s choral anthems. |
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| May
16, 2005 Our final meeting for the season was held at Calvin Christian Reformed Church. Longtime chapter member Shirley Boomsma was recognized for many years of service to the guild and specifically her efforts in creating and organizing PIPELINES, our chapter’s educational outreach to fourth graders in our area, introducing them to the pipe organ. The Grand Rapids Organ Book, a publication of compositions of local composers to be given to each person registering to attend the Region V AGO Convention in June of this year, was dedicated to Shirley Boomsma. Members of Shirley's family underwrote the production of this publication in her honor. Following dinner, Dr. Charles Goehring of Creative Music Ministries, and Director of Music at the 5000 member St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, talked to us about ways to revitalize traditional worship. |
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