| | Summer Newsletter 2022 | Dean’s Letter from our outgoing dean, Susan Snook-Luther |
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I hope early summer has been going well for all of you, with a comfortable blend of relaxation and excitement. Since this is my last dean's column, it looks both backwards and forwards. In March of 2019, the world was hit by the Covid pandemic, and many of our activities were impacted negatively, as SJAGO meetings and recitals (as well as organ/piano lessons) moved online. As we struggled to adapt, our chapter presented three excellent recitals featuring our own members. David Snook-Luther put together videos from members' contributions. Thank you, David! The Executive Board also conducted business online – successfully, but not as enjoyably as at the in-person meetings at Valerie Sterk's home, complete with tea and snacks! Thank you, Valerie.
My tenure as dean was marked by a frequent need to fill unexpected vacancies. Sometimes it seemed as though the board was falling apart, like a boat plowing through turbulent Covid seas, while continually getting holes in the hull! My main job as SJAGO Dean seemed to be to plug up the holes. First we lost our knowledgeable secretary and parliamentarian, Darryl Parker, to liver cancer. His job was temporarily done by Paula Seo, until Kathy Dougherty stepped up on a more permanent basis. Thank you, Paula and Kathy! Then, after serving several months, Kathy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and relinquished the pen to Melanie Cervi, who will be installed officially at our Annual Meeting on June 26. Thank you, Melanie, for graciously filling in early.
Then, our faithful treasurer, Janet Parent, was recruited for a time-consuming volunteer position and could no longer attend Zoom meetings, but continued to do the books and send her report to the board. Thank you, Janet! So Paula Seo invited Eric Holderman (a new member) to take up the reins as treasurer starting in June. Laurel Rogers also resigned due to extensive travel. Her role as member-at-large will be filled by Laura Green (a new member) and Laurel’s role as auditor will be filled by Cathryn Wilkinson (also a new member). Quite recently our professional concerns person, Dick Coulter, stepped down due to health concerns, but Pat Milstead was persuaded to take that position.Thank you, all.
Amid all the resignations, it was great to hear from Mike Cala, who was hoping to rejoin the board! Thank you and welcome back, Mike! Since our current sub-dean, Elisabeth Pintar, will become dean, Mike (experienced in many positions) will become our new sub-dean.
With all these changes, it will be good to have some continuity provided by those board members who are "hanging in there": Christine Merjanian, auditor (despite some cancer related health issues); Paula Seo and David Snook-Luther, members-at-large; Kay Lee (who does such a great job keeping up with our handbook/directory); and Valerie Sterk (historian and education/resources person).
Saving the most obvious change for last, you undoubtedly have noticed this newsletter has a new format and a new editor. Our longtime dedicated newsletter editor, Ken Talbot, informed me some time ago that he and his wife Mary would be retiring to Utah soon. Not knowing quite where to turn, I discussed this with Margaret Kvamme, who (fortunately for us) agreed to take on this important role. Just as we all enthusiastically welcome Margaret with her many talents, so also we want to express our deep gratitude to Ken for his many years of service to the guild. He regularly went above and beyond his job description to keep us well informed, updated, and connected. Personally, I want to express my appreciation to Ken for always being such a generous mentor whenever I needed advice, ideas, or information; he was my right-hand man! Thank you so much, Ken. I think I can speak for all of us, board and membership, in wishing you a happy, blessed, and fulfilling retirement.
Finally, I want to acknowledge that the nominating committee, consisting of Joyce Rhodes (chair), Pat Milstead, and Paula Seo, played an enormous part in securing the excellent slate of officers we will be installing on June 26. Thank you, everyone. The result is an exceptional group of talented, congenial, and efficient people. I finish my term knowing that the future of SJAGO is in excellent hands. I hope to see you all at the Annual Meeting, Installation of Officers, and potluck on Sunday, June 26 at 4:00 PM in the backyard of our incoming dean, Elisabeth Pintar. Her address is: 4505 Faraone Ct., SAN JOSE, 95136 ~ Susan Snook-Luther |
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| Proposed Board for 2022 - 2023 Dean: Elisabeth Pintar Subdean: Mike Cala Secretary: Melanie Cervi Treasurer: Eric Holderman Newsletter Editor: Margaret Kvamme Handbook/Directory: Kay Lee Education/Resources; Historian: Valerie Sterk Budget/Auditors: Christine Merjanian, Cathryn Wilkinson Members-at-large: David Snook-Luther, Paula Seo, Laura Green These positions are uncontested at time of publication. If there are no further volunteers, there will not be a vote by the membership, and installation will occur June 26. | Attention all members: Please forward the following information (or this entire newsletter, telling your recipients to scroll to the gold box below) ASAP to any area piano teachers or young music students. We are ambassadors for the future of the King of Instruments, and this event is the perfect introduction to the organ: |
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| | Pipe Organ AdventureAugust 6 Who: students entering grades 5 - 12 (especially piano, band, and other music students) What: introduction to the pipe organ and a chance to play several organs; plus connection to area organ teachers Faculty: Angela Kraft Cross, Margaret Kvamme, and Jin Kyung Lim Where: St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Palo Alto, 600 Colorado Ave. When: Saturday, August 6 9:00 am – 12:30 pm to include lunch Details: A responsible adult (18+) is required to accompany the student during the event. Registration is required (but it’s free). Register by June 15 by clicking this button: |
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| | | Review of Saratoga Symphony/Kraft Cross Organ Spectacular Concert |
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|  | By Joyce Rhodes, written from program notes On April 30, 2022 Angela Kraft Cross performed with the Saratoga Symphony at the Campbell United Methodist Church on the Schantz organ. The same program was repeated on May 1 at the Congregational Church of San Mateo, on the historic Casavant Frères organ. This reviewer had the pleasure of attending the Campbell concert. Dr. Kraft Cross’s performance was spectacular, played with feeling and expertise, and consisted of two relatively unknown and less often played symphonies for organ and orchestra. It was a wonderful to witness their presentation. The orchestra opened the program with the festive Danse Bacchanale, from Act III of Samson et Dalila by Camille Saint-Saëns, a composer with many connections to the organ as a concert and church instrument. After this colorful opener, Dr. Kraft Cross was introduced and conductor Jason Klein offered informative verbal notes about the two organ symphonies that made up the remainder of the program. Alexandre Guilmant was one of France’s finest organ virtuosos and was the first French organist to tour abroad. When he played at the 1904 St. Louis Exposition on what was then the world’s largest organ, he performed thirty-six recitals without repeating a single program! He was also an excellent composer. Eight organ sonatas composed between 1874 and 1907 are his most substantial contribution. He would later arrange the first and eighth sonatas into symphonies for organ and orchestra – the Symphony No. 1 in d-minor, Op. 42, played in this program, was the very first symphony written for this combination. A dramatic introduction is antiphonally exchanged between organ and orchestra, and leads to a long, garrulous theme on the organ’s pedals, ending in a powerful and climactic conclusion. A lovely Pastorale is the second movement with the organ presenting the main theme, showing off many of the instrument’s colors. The Final is a grand toccata in which the orchestra takes a back seat to the organ. In the middle section of this movement the mood becomes reverent and the organ plays a chorale-like tune. This theme is developed by entrances of the various sections of the orchestra. Lastly, the Final’s ending erupts in a magnificent combination of the toccata motifs with the chorale tune. Both the organ and orchestra drive the work to its conclusion at full volume. Dr. Kraft Cross and the orchestra delivered the shape and drama of this exciting work very effectively, and the audience was invigorated as they took an intermission break. Symphonie Concertante, Op. 81 for Organ and Orchestra (1926) by Joseph Jongen is considered one of the greatest works written for organ and orchestra. For decades this piece lay in relative obscurity. In 1911 John Wanamaker purchased a large pipe organ – the same instrument that Guilmant played at the 1904 St. Louis World Exposition – and had it installed in the Grand Court of the Philadelphia store bearing his name. In 1926 Rodman Wanamaker, John’s son, commissioned Joseph Jongen to write an “organ concerto”. Jongen wrote a large scale work which would treat the organ as a second orchestra, rather than as a soloist. Jongen was scheduled to premiere the Symphonie Concertante at Wanamaker’s in 1928, but the sudden death of both his father and of Rodman Wanamaker delayed this opportunity. Thus the composer and sponsor never heard this work played on the instrument which inspired it. It was premiered in Brussels in 1929. It was not until 2008 that it was finally played on the Wanamaker Organ together with the Philadelphia Orchestra. The performance in Campbell showed Dr. Kraft Cross’s expert use of registrations and her ample technique and understanding of the French style. The all-volunteer orchestra rose to the occasion by tackling the considerable challenges of this music. The result of the obvious care taken in the presentation of this concert was the audience’s privilege of hearing a very interesting program of works with intriguing histories, well performed and presented by artist and symphony, filling our souls. | | St. Luke’s Episcopal, Los Gatos: Music DirectorSt. Luke’s is a small parish with a high church tradition. They seek a part-time music director to lead and support worship on the tracker organ. Services are Saturdays at 5 pm and Sundays at 10 am. Estimated time required is 15 – 20 hours per week. Salary negotiable. St. Luke’s celebrates diversity; all qualified applicants are encouraged to apply. Resumé and cover letter with at least 2 references should be sent to the rector, Fr. Ricardo Avila, c/o parish administrator Michael King at office@stlukeslg.org More details and a pdf file of the full job description are available here: https://stlukeslg.org/music-director-search/ V. A. Hospital Chapel, Los Altos: Pianist The Veteran population is older and prefers traditional hymns in their worship services. The hospital’s needs are as follows (would not have to be all done by the same person): a) One pianist to play for 52 Protestant Worship Services at the Palo Alto Division (PAD) in Palo Alto, CA. The worship services are conducted every Sunday at 10:30am to 11:30am in the PAD Chapel. The pianist must be able to proficiently play Christian hymns and contemporary songs from the Protestant Tradition. The pianist must be able to take direction from the presiding chaplain. In addition, the pianist will be expected prelude (10 minutes) and postlude (10 minutes) before and after the worship. b) One pianist to play for 26 special services, dates and times to be determined, throughout the year. The pianist will be expected to provide prelude and postlude for the service from classical music selections. These services may refer to all three locations, namely: Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Livermore Division. Send resumes to: info@sawyerglobal.com | | (Listed by Venue) St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Cathedral, San Francisco, 1111 Gough St. @ Cleary (Parking under/beside the cathedral). These concerts are live-streamed and available here (just click on the url): https://YouTube.com/cathedralofstmaryoftheassumption Sunday, June 19, 4:00 pm: Roland Voit (Germany), Organ. Works celebrating composers’ jubilees, by Schuetz, Kuhnau, Kellner, Franck, and Vaughan Williams. Sunday, June 26, 4:00 pm: Ethan Haman, Organ. Works by Regan, Kraft Cross, and Haman. Sunday, July 3, 4:00 pm: Martin Baker (UK), Organ. Sunday, July 10, 4:00 pm: Wolff von Roos, Organ. Sunday, July 17: NO RECITAL Sunday, July 24, 4:00 pm: Christoph Hintermueller (Germany), Organ. Sunday, July 31, 4:00 pm: Don Pearson, Organ. Sunday, August 7, 4:00 pm: David Brock, Organ Sunday, August 14, 4:00 pm: ARI Piano Trio, with Jin Kyung Lim, piano Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, 110 California St. at Taylor (pay parking underneath the cathedral, entrance is on Taylor Street between California and Sacramento streets. These concerts are live-streamed and available here (simply click on the url): https://gracecathedral.org/watch-grace-cathedral/ Sunday, July 3, 4:00 pm: Emmanuel Duperrey Sunday, August 7, 4:00 pm: Joseph Arndt |
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| The next newsletter will be published in August. The deadline for submitting concert listings, articles, photos, job listings and notices of instruments for sale, etc. is August 8. Click on the red button below for a set-up email where you can conveniently type, attach, etc. |
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| | | Copyright (C) 2022, SJ Chapter AGO, All rights reserved.
contact: margaret.m.kvamme@gmail.com
c/o Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos
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