he
Binghamton
Chapter was founded in 1929 and supports the goals of its
parent organization, the American Guild of Organists. Our chapter
hosted the Regional Convention in 2001 and has participated in
such events as the October 16,
2008
Organ Spectacular. Our small but active group of approximately 55
members plans a variety
of events to serve a diversity of needs. Some of us are organists, some
of us
build organs, and others are simply happy listeners. Most
importantly, we enjoy getting together
and supporting one another in our musical endeavors.
The welcome mat is extended to new members. If you are interested in
joining our chapter, you may download a
membership form or contact our
dean or registrar for further information.
Happy
Birthday!
Another
Centenarian
Last year we recognized
the centennials of the Wanamaker and West Point organs.
This year another iconic instrument celebrates its hundredth birthday.
The 102 rank Kotzschmar Memorial Organ in The Merrill Auditorium
in Portland, Maine, built by Austin, has just had this milestone
observed with a Festival culminating with a Grand Concert by Fred Swann
and John Weaver.
photo
courtesy of Len Levasseur
The Kotzschmar organ was
given to the City of Portland by Cyrus Curtis,
publisher of the Saturday Evening Post. It is now one of the few
municipal organs still owned by a city. The first municipal organist
was Will C. McFarlane, who was instrumental in establishing the city's
longstanding tradition of summer organ concerts. The city of Portland
to this day supports the post of municipal organist, the present
incumbent being Ray Cornils.
On the day after the centennial festival the organ was disassembled for
removal to the premises of Foley-Baker for long needed restoration.
Along the way the organ has suffered such indignities as having been
moved out of the way for an expansion of the stage by a house mover -
intact!
On Saturday, March 16 from 10:00am to 1:00pm our chapter will be
presenting a Pedals, Pipes and Pizza
event. This will take place at United Presbyterian Church,
42 Chenango Street, Binghamton. The presentation, for piano students
age 8 and older, is designed to be an introduction to the pipe organ
and its music. The sounds of the organ, how it functions and what it
can do will all be demon- strated. Participants will have the
opportunity of trying pieces that they know on the organ, experiencing
the differences between the piano and the organ. The program will
continue with a video about the organ and conclude with the performance
of an organ piece. The session will end with pizza at the church.
Parents are encouraged to attend but not required to do so. Click here to go to
online registration page, or click here
to download a registration form in PDF format to be mailed in.
Polly is continuing as this
year's dean. She would very much like to find
someone else to be the editor of Mixtures.
Familiarity with Word or Publisher would be helpful, but we'd be very
happy to help anyone willing to assume this task get started.
Please
Polly if you're interested or can think of someone
you
think might be willing to undertake this.
photo
courtesy Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ
Highly
Recommended Reading!
This article in Symphony
magazine explores the resurgence of interest
in the organ in the concert hall
Broome
County Arts Council Newsletter
It
is very easy to get the BCAC Weekly Newsletter, which
is literally packed with all that is happening in the local and area
arts world. Individual members of Binghamton AGO
Chapter can sign up to receive the newsletter of the BCAC by going
to the Web Site http://www.bcartscouncil.com,
clicking on Get Our Newsletter, and entering one’s
email address.
Enjoy
organ music in its infinite variety on PIPEDREAMS
from American
Public Media, broadcast each week on WSKG Binghamton 89.3 fm* on Sunday
at 6:00am. Each week a new two-hour program also appears online, and
hundreds of past broadcasts are continuously accessible in the PIPEDREAMS
program archive at www.pipedreams.org
* see the WSKG website at
http://wskg.org/radio.aspx for additional transmitter frequencies
Many
of the resources of our website are in PDF format. Free PDF
readers are available from: or
Please
us to report any problems with the website. Suggestions for improving
the site are welcome.
*Javascript
must be enabled in
your browser for Email links. If it isn't, you'll see "No script"
displayed instead of the link
he
Binghamton
Chapter was founded in 1929 and supports the goals of its
parent organization, the American Guild of Organists. Our chapter
hosted the Regional Convention in 2001 and has participated in
such events as the October 16,
2008
Organ Spectacular. Our small but active group of approximately 55
members plans a variety
of events to serve a diversity of needs. Some of us are organists, some
of us
build organs, and others are simply happy listeners. Most
importantly, we enjoy getting together
and supporting one another in our musical endeavors.
Last year we recognized
the centennials of the Wanamaker and West Point organs.
Polly is continuing as this
year's dean. She would very much like to find
someone else to be the editor of 
