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Notes and News (Soundboard November 2007) | Show Menu | ||
Pipeworks Festival Dublin 20-29 June 2008
Pipeworks next festival highlights the wealth of Dublin’s musical and architectural heritage, bringing Dublin’s churches and historic buildings to life with wonderful music and world-class performances. The international organ playing competition will take place in Christ Church Cathedral Dublin. The jury will consist of Thomas Trotter (UK), chairman, Hans Fagius (Sweden), David Higgs (USA), Margareta Hürholz (Germany) and Daniel Roth (France). The Festival programme will be announced at a Friends’ Reception in the Deanery of St Patrick's Cathedral on 15 November. Further information is available on the Festival website:
http://www.pipeworksfestival.com/.
Archbishop's Certificate in Church Music (ACCM) Results of May 2007 examination
The following successfully completed Year 1: Ruth Clinton (Howth), Liam Flynn (Zion), Paul Mullen (St Thomas, Mount Merrion), Rachel O'Byrne (Rathfarnham), Kate O'Neill (Howth), Helen O'Toole (Kiltiernan), Heather Taylor (Lucan & Leixlip), Valerie Twomey (Lucan & Leixlip).
Breffni O'Byrne (Taney) successfully completed Year 3 (final year). For 2007–08, there are four students in year 1 and six students in year 2.
Organists on the Move
David Bedlow is now at Dún Laoghaire Methodist Church.
Maedhbh Daltún has succeeded Raymond Russell at Castleknock.
David Grealy has succeeded David Connolly as organ scholar at the Pro-Cathedral.
Malcolm Wisener has been appointed organist and master of the choristers at St Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork, in succession to Colin Nichols.
Fraser Wilson, ARCO, has been appointed to St Bartholomew's Church, Ballsbridge. He was organ scholar at Christ Church Cathedral during 2007-08 and currently is acting organist and director of music at St Matthews, Carver Street, Sheffield. Pending his taking up the new appointment, Peter Parshall is interim director of music.
Irish Organist Wins International Prize in Holland
At the 7th International Schnitger Organ Competition (21–30 June 2007) Irish organist Simon Harden won first prize and additionally the Audience prize.
The competition was held in Alkmaar and took place on the world famous organs of the St Lawrence Church. Forth seven candidates from Europe, Japan, USA, China, Korea and Australia applied for the competition. On the basis of CD recordings, twelve candidates were selected by a preliminary jury and invited to play the first live round in Alkmaar. Six candidates were admitted to the second round and three to the final.
The jury consisted of five world renowned organists, who, during the festival, played concerts on the two organs of the St Lawrence church. The first prize (€5000) was awarded to Simon Harden (Ireland), second prize (€2500) to Julia Tamminen (Russia) and third (€1000) to Gabor Soos (Hungary)
A native of Arklow, Simon Harden received his secondary school education at the Kings Hospital, where he was first introduced to the organ. For many years he studied piano at the RIAM along with violin and theory. In 1995 he began organ lessons with Professor Gillen. The same year he enrolled at Trinity College Dublin to study Music and History of Art. During his time at TCD he was Organ Scholar and later conductor of the chapel choir. As well, he studied the organ with Peter Sweeney at the DIT college of Music and Drama. In 2000 he won
At the Marcussen organ of the church of St Jürgen in Gettorf, North Germany where he is music director the Actor's Church Union Award, the highest award for the organ from that institution. On graduating from TCD with an honours degree in 1999 he took a part-time teaching position at the TCD School of Music and worked as a freelance organist in Dublin. Engagements included regular performances with the NSO and various recitals including a lunchtime recital at the NCH. Since 2001, he has been living and working abroad.
He has held several positions in Hamburg and deputised in many churches there. Simon is at present 'Kantor' at the St Jürgen church in Gettorf in North Germany. There he is responsible for most of the musical activities of the town and custodian of the historic Marcussen organ. Simon has a busy concert schedule alongside his studies and has performed in Germany, France, Italy, Holland, Poland Great Britain and Switzerland.
Anne Leahy, 1961–2007
It was with deep sorrow that her many friends learned of the death on 5 October of Dr Anne Leahy after struggling with illness for almost twelve months. Dr Leahy was organist and director of music at St Michael's Church, Dún Laoghaire from 1984 to 2006 and taught at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama and NUI, Maynooth. She was awarded a PhD by the University of Utrecht in 2002 for musicological studies on the theological and numerological aspects of one of J. S. Bach collections of chorale preludes for organ.
We also record with regret the unexpected death in October of Isobel Mulligan, organist, Tullamore. Mrs Mulligan was one of the early students on the Archbishop's Course in Church Music, completing the course in 1999.
World's First Steam Clock
On a street corner of this Victorian-era warehouse district of Vancouver, is the world's first steam clock—built in 1977. Four organ pipes stand at the tops of the four corners, and every fifteen minutes they sound the Westminster Chimes—belching forth steam as they do so. The clock is powered by steam from an underground system of pipes that supplies steam to heat many downtown buildings.
Remuneration
Revised guidelines for 2008 on the remuneration of church musicians will be on the website from mid November. Musicians should have no hesitation in downloading this information and handing a copy to their clergy and church treasurers.
RSCM Summer Conference 2008
The next RSCM International Summer School and Conference takes place in the beautiful, historic city of Canterbury in August 2008. The RSCM will welcome musicians, singers and clergy from around the world to a stimulating week of music, worship, practical activity, discussion and fellowship which will inspire the transformation of worship through music. The programme is full and varied—from uplifting services in the Cathedral, to challenging workshops and seminars given by inspiring leaders, and much more. This is an excellent opportunity for church musicians and worship leaders to find a fresh perspective on music in the church and community.
You may download a brochure by going to http://www.rscm.com/ and searching for 'issc 2008'. There also is a link direct to the brochure on our own website
We will be encouraging students on the Archbishop's Certificate Course to attend this conference. Three of our students went to the 2005 conference in York and you may read what they said about it on
www.churchmusicdublin.org/yorkcourse.
Interesting Web Site
Here's a web site that is worth a look. Raphi Giangiulio describes how he designed and built a five-stop, five-rank, all wood pipe organ for his house. It took about five years to complete. There are lots of pictures and recordings of the organ on the site. Not only that, the story has a happy ending—when an organ builder saw his web site he was offered a job and now, as he says himself, he's "a real organ builder".
Companion to Church Hymnal
Companion to Church Hymnal, Darling & Davison (The Columba Press, 2005) would make a very acceptable Christmas present for clergy, singers and other musicians. It is full of fascinating information abut the words and music of the hymn book.
Vacancies for Musicians
Are you aware that vacancies for organists, cantors, singers and other musicians may be advertised on our website? If you wish to advertise, please send the information to
New Music Resources for the Psalms
Since the publication of the Book of Common Prayer 2004, the Liturgical Advisory Committee has been working on a number of projects which will offer supplementary resources for its use in parish worship. One such project has been to provide musical settings for the lectionary psalms. The project is being led by two LAC members, Alison Cadden and Judy Martin, and their work is nearing completion.
The Hon. Secretary of the LAC, the Revd Gerald Field, tells us that the completed work will provide both tracks of the Sunday lectionary psalms across the three year cycle, with musical settings which will allow for their use responsorially, in plainsong, in anglican chant, or in a simple musical setting for situations where there is no choir.
Congratulations
We congratulate Gerard Gillen on being conferred with the degree of Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa by the Pontifical University of St Patrick's College, Maynooth. Dr Gillen retired as Professor and Head of Music at NUI-Maynooth on 30 September.
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Last Modified 11/23/07 11:02 PM