ENCHAMADE. Next Charlotte AGO Chapter Meeting. Saturday, April 21, 2018 IN THIS ISSUE

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1 ENCHAMADE THE CHARLOTTE CHAPTER OF THE APRIL 2018 AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS Next Charlotte AGO Chapter Meeting Saturday, April 21, 2018 Sm(organs)bord: Saturday morning workshops 9:00-10:00 Choral Techniques: John Blizzard 10:15-11:15 The Organ and Your Body: Brenda Sorkin 11:30-12:30 Hymn Playing Reminders: John Cummins St. Stephen United Methodist Church 6800 Sardis Road Charlotte, NC IN THIS ISSUE Dean s Message Featured AGO Members: Gil Pirovano Your AGO Board at work Stigall Scholarship Application Summer Recital Series Upcoming Concerts Charlotte AGO Programs Advertisements Member Recommendations: Music for Lent and Easter "The mission of the American Guild of Organists is to foster a thriving community of musicians who share their knowledge and inspire passion for the organ."

2 Jane Cain, AAGO, Charlotte Chapter Dean Office: (704) A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN Dear Friends, This column will be a bit more personal than usual, if you will permit me. As you may have noticed in last month s newsletter, my father passed away in February. I have appreciated the condolences that many of you have expressed, and was moved by the Board s making a memorial donation to the Stigall Scholarship fund. My dad s funeral was at the church where he was an active member for fifty years, though he was not able to attend in his last years due to his health. But what I want to tell you is that the church surrounded our family with hospitality, warmth and love. We felt lifted up. Every aspect of the planning, every request, was met with ready accommodation on their part. The organist complied with a request to play all Bach! My point is this: we organists think of and talk about weddings-and-funerals as one more routine, mundane aspect of our jobs. Every funeral is of utmost significance to the family, it is never routine. The week after my dad s service, we had a funeral at church which was on a Friday night, and they wanted to pass out and light the candles we use on Christmas Eve. Unusual. But I m sure it was meaningful to them in ways that I don t understand, and I m fine with that. My resolutions have become these: 1) Send that sympathy card. 2) Take a meal if I can manage it. 3) Above all, remember how important this one funeral is to this one family, no matter how routine it may seem in my work life, and do what I can through the music to minister to them. Shalom, Jane

3 Featured Charlotte AGO Member: An Interview with Gil Pirovano by Bob Ivey March 20, 2018 On January 30 of this year, long time guild member, Gil Pirovano celebrated his 90th birthday. An active church musician and accompanist, he seemed like an ideal person to be interviewed. Gil grew up in the northern New Jersey town of Wood- Ridge where at the age of eight he began piano lessons. His aunt, his father s sister was his first teacher and she lived three blocks away; Gil rode his bicycle to her home for his lessons. Although his mother was a great motivator for him to practice, Gil s father was never very enthusiastic about the piano lessons as he was sure that one could never earn a living as a musician. The teacher was very old school in many ways and some the first exercises that she had Gil practice were bird calls, descending minor thirds! His aunt was also the organist at the Lutheran church in East Rutherford where Gil began lessons on a small two-manual Moeller organ. Soon, he was asked to play the organ for evening worship services in the First Presbyterian Church of Wood-Ridge and in turn he was allowed to practice there. Following a stint in the Navy during World War II (his brother urged him to enlist in the navy, otherwise he d have to sleep on the ground ). In 1948 he entered Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. When he went into the college chapel for his audition for organ lessons, he was confronted with a three-manual organ and an array of confusing stops and pistons, none of which he had ever seen. When he asked Dr. Alexander McCurdy, head of the organ department, where to play and what sounds (stops) to use, Dr. McCurdy showed him to push 5 and play on the middle manual. Having had no specific pedal technique and thus no actual organ piece to perform, he played The Church s One Foundation. After he had played the hymn, Dr. McCurdy looked around to the three or four other organ instructors and ask who wants him? With heads being bowed and no hand raised, Dr. McCurdy said I guess I ll have to have him. Gil could not remember the first pieces that he was assigned but was told to learn them by the time Dr. McCurdy would return from his organ tour in three weeks. When Dr. McCurdy returned and discovered how much progress Gil had made in a short period of time, he announced to Gil that he would give a recital in May - which he did. Gil gave a recital each year at Westminster and always from memory! He remembers that one of his very earliest recitals he played one of the Bach Trio Sonatas although he can t remember which one. During his junior and senior years at Westminster, Gil had a weekend organist/director position at a Baptist church

4 in New Brunswick. There was a man in the choir who didn t like it when Gil attempted to change certain vowel sounds. Following four years at Westminster, Gil continued study with Dr. McCurdy at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. While there he was required to give regular recitals and always from memory. He also had a student weekend position as organist at an Episcopal church on the Main Line in suburban Philadelphia. Receiving his certificate after one year of study at Curtis, he was ready for his first full time position which was in a Congregational church in Dallas, Texas. He remained there for five years and in the 1958 left to fulfill his long time desire to live in New York City. Returning to the city, he resumed piano studies at the Columbia School of Music in upper Manhattan. That is where he developed his outstanding skills as an accompanist with terrific sight-reading ability. While there, though, he became organist at the First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, New York. For a number of years Gil relocated with various teaching positions and educational opportunities - California, Rochester and the University of Mississippi where he had fifteen organ students. By 1982, Gil had had enough of moving from place to place, often taking train or subway to get from one place to another and he accepted a teaching position at Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina. Before too long, he assumed the position as organist/diretor at the First United Methodist Church here in Charlotte. He also maintained a private teaching studio in Charlotte. Within a short period of time, his reputation as an outstanding accompanist became known and he was hired as rehearsal accompanist for the Charlotte Opera Company. He has many interesting memories of some of the famous soloists who came, usually from New York, and would place the operatic score in front of him to be sight read. He remembers one compliment: I haven t had that played any better by someone in New York. He particularly remembers the score for Porgy and Bess which George Gershwin had reduced for four hands, but Gil played all of it. Following retirement in 2003 (he s not sure of the exact date), Gil continued to substitute at various churches in Charlotte, particularly First Presbyterian and Providence United Methodist. Gil now resides at the Aldersgate Retirement Community where he plays the threemanual Allen organ for Sunday vespers and delights in accompanying an excellent classical cellist who also lives at Aldersgate. Gil is currently preparing to present a program for the residents entitled Name That Tune which will be songs of the 40 s and 50 s which he is sure they will recognize and love. His program will be on the Yamaha grand piano and he is as enthusiastic as ever! Your Board at work.... Your Charlotte AGO board met on Monday night March 5. Some of the topics discussed were: Completed the slate of recitalists and venues for the Summer Recital Series Finalized plans for our April chapter event Reviewed current year programs for effectiveness Discussed importance of membership in AGO to share with potential members Reviewed chapter finances to insure integrity and stability with our funds

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7 Upcoming Concerts March 30 at 7:00 PM, the Chancel Choir of Myers Park Presbyterian Church accompanied by a full orchestra, performing The Seven Last Words of Christ by Theodore Dubois. Prelude music includes Giacomo Puccini s Requiem. Myers Park Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, NC. Free admission. April 11 at 7:30 PM, the Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, directed by Stephen Darlington, performs a concert of sacred choral masterpieces including music by Shepherd, Byrd, Goodall, Purcell, and Stanford. Davidson College Presbyterian Church, Davidson, NC. For information and to purchase tickets, visit or call April 15 at 5:00 PM, Pfeiffer University Music Students perform a concert to benefit their upcoming trip to Washington, D.C. and the Kennedy Center. First Baptist Church, 202 N. Second St., Albemarle. Free admission; donations welcome. April 29 at 7:00 PM, the Pfeiffer Choir under the direction of Joseph Judge presents a concert entitled Make Me an Instrument featuring the Schubert Mass in G and other pieces. Henry Pfeiffer Chapel, Pfeiffer University, Misenheimer, NC. Free admission. May 20 at 3:30 PM, Carol Williams, Organist, in concert at Park Road Baptist church, 3900 Park Road, Charlotte, NC. Free admission. Charlotte AGO Programs April 21, Saturday, Sm(organs)bord: Saturday morning workshops St. Stephen United Methodist Church, 6800 Sardis Road, Charlotte, NC :00-10:00 Choral Techniques: John Blizzard Whether you work with an aging choir or a children s ensemble, John will show you ways to maximize your choir s potential through vocal and choral techniques. 10:15-11:15 The Organ and Your Body: Brenda Sorkin How do you navigate between the complexity of the organ and your own comfort? Are you enjoying pain-free playing? In this Feldenkrais workshop we will develop your ability to play with greater ease and efficiency. Brenda Sorkin has over 30 years of experience in movement education. For more information see: 11:30-12:30 Hymn Playing Reminders: John Cummins David Craighead always said, "90% of teaching is reminding." We will look at examples of tunes and texts from various stylistic periods, as well as registration, tempo, breathing, and phrasing relative to each. JW Pepper and Choirboy will have sacred music displays in the narthex. Beverages and light refreshments will be provided. May 20, Sunday, 5:00 pm: Pentecost Festival and Officer Installation Myers Park Presbyterian, 2501 Oxford Pl, Charlotte, NC AGO members are welcome to attend the service, or take a more active role by singing in an AGO-member choir.

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11 Support the Charlotte AGO! Advertisements are still available for future En Chamade Newsletters. Business Cards: $5/mnth, $35/yr ¼-page ad: $7/mnth, $50/yr ½-page ad: $10/mnth, $75/yr Full-page ad: $15/mnth, $100/yr

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14 Member Recommendations: Music for Lent and Easter A Suite of Passion: Hymn Settings By Wilbur Held A suite in six parts for organ with registration suggestions, ideal for Lent and Passion week. Each movement features a different passion hymn, such as Go to dark Gethsemane, Ah, dearest Jesus, In the cross of Christ I glory. Published by Concordia Publishing House. Difficulty Level: Easy - Medium Six Preludes on Easter Hymns By Wilbur Held A collection of organ preludes ideal for any Sunday during the Easter Season, including preludes on The Strife is O er, Jesus Christ is risen today, Come, ye faithful, raise the strain, and others. Published by Concordia Publishing House. Difficulty Level: Easy - Medium The Holy Eucharist By William Harris A four-part a cappella anthem for mixed voices (SATB) that is perfect for passion week or communion. Published by Oxford University Press. Difficulty Level: Medium

15 AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS CHARLOTTE CHAPTER Dr. Elizabeth Beth Harrison, Newsletter Editor Submissions to: or Charlotte AGO Executive Board Chapter Officers Jane Cain, Chapter Dean Michael Lehtinen, Sub-Dean Lee Northcutt, Secretary Gay Pappin, Treasurer Executive Board Members Class of Robert Ivey Ginger Wyrick Class of Kevin Haney Jacqueline Yost Class of Nicholas Haigh Elizabeth 'Beth' Harrison