Organists' Workshop - St Mary’s Howth, 22nd January 2005

Last year’s questionnaire highlighted the need for seminars or workshops on various aspects of church music, as well as the opportunity for organists just to meet and talk. Several of the respondents also expressed a desire to be able to view organ and choir music. To help with these matters, the Church Music Committee has organised this forthcoming workshop. The (provisional) programme is as follows:

• Talk by Peter Barley on how to get the best from an amateur choir(*) 
• Talk by Raymond Russell on some of the ‘new’ hymns in the 2000 Church Hymnal 
• Short demonstration of some computer software for church musicians
• Tea/coffee and ‘chat’ time 
• Display of organ music and organ magazines/ journals 
• Music sale 
• Demonstration of ‘marrying’ a keyboard to a pipe organ (purists/organ builders will disapprove, but it saved the day for a bride last year and made her very happy!) 
• Short organ recital followed by the organ being available for visitors to play

Where: St Mary’s Howth, which is at the entrance to Howth Castle/Deer Park Hotel & Golf Club. Coming by car, it would be difficult not to see the church as it is on a hill at the right hand side of the road approaching Howth. The 31 ‘bus (from Lower Abbey Street) passes the church, and runs every 20 minutes approximately. Howth DART station is also close to the church, but unfortunately no trains will be running on Saturdays owing to the current DART upgrade programme.

When: 22nd January 2005 starting at 10.00 a.m. Probably finishing about 12.30 p.m., but if organists want to play on for the rest of the day, the church will be available!

Charge and registration: There is a charge of €10 and this should be sent to Judy Cameron, The Willows, Ballyman Road, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, Tel. 2860122, E-mail: cameronl@eircom.net. Cheques should be made payable to Church Music Dublin. While you may just turn up on the day, it is requested that those intending to be present should register in advance, to ensure that there will be enough handouts and coffee for all!

(*) Mr Barley suggests that if any organist wants help on, or would like him to talk about some particular aspect of church music, to let him know. He can be contacted at St Patrick’s Cathedral and his e-mail address is: peter.barley@stpatrickscathedral.ie

 The Howth Organ