​​​​​​​​​​Northeast Wisconsin Chapter

Hymn Playing 101...and 102!

Even though hymn playing is the bread and butter of most professional organists’ lives, intentional, elegant hymn playing often takes a back seat to repertoire in the academy. Vierne’s Sixth Symphony is surely a masterwork, but most of us will find ourselves playing Nicaea, Hyfrydol, Duke Street, and Lobe den Herren 50 times to 1 over the fabulously difficult Finale. This workshop will rewind to the basics of hymn playing, seeking to articulate those things already commonly practiced and clearly define an approach to hymnody that places the organist at the forefront of musical leadership. Basic reharmonization techniques and registrational schemes oriented towards making the music come to life will ensure that those who have been playing hymns for five or fifty years will have something new to take home and share with their congregations.

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This event is hosted by Adam Pajan via YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzZrCyImiL71r9c4NFs_Vhg

So You Think You Can Dance? A program of Bach works and discussion of how they relate to French dance.

Theodore S. (Ted) Davis holds music degrees in organ performance from Birmingham-Southern College (B. Mus.), choral conducting from Northwestern University (M. Mus.), harpsichord from the Longy School of Music (A.D.), and organ performance from the Peabody Conservatory (D.M.A.). Ted has also been organist and choirmaster at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Baltimore since 2005. As part of the music series Ted has established, he conducts the church choir in choral evensong services, presents an annual “Bach at St. Bartholomew’s” series (music of J.S. Bach for organ and harpsichord), and conducts choral concerts.

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This event will be live streamed and the link is not yet available.  I will be posted to the National AGO website on this page: https://www.agohq.org/online-programming-for-chapters/

Live Streaming Music Legally in Churches and Recitals

This webinar will address all aspects of U.S. copyright laws and will cover all aspects of compliance.

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More information at: https://www.agohq.org/upcoming-ago-webinars/

Hymn Festival - The Righteous Shall Live By Faith

Jeffrey Blersch, Professor of Music and University Organist at Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska, will be the guest organist for this Hymn Festival based on themes from the book of Romans.  Best known for his creative hymn interpretations, this promises to be an exciting afternoon of singing and organ music.

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Zion Lutheran Church, Wausau

But I Need a Rohrschalmei! Understanding Total Design in Mainstream Traditional Church Instruments

How often do we see or hear of a scenario where an organist insists on having their one favorite stop on an instrument before supplying it with something more practical? Worse yet, how often have organs been removed or neglected because the organist at the time of design insisted on having a specific style of organ that may or may not be sympathetic to the congregation it serves? In this hour, we will take a survey of tonal design in organs in mainstream traditional music programs from 1900 to the preset, tracing changes in aesthetic trends and noting the necessities of a service-playing instrument. After a review of what “belongs” in specific divisions and why, we will design an organ of 30 stops jointly by committee, seeing where our collective knowledge, experience, and preferences take us.

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This event will be hosted by Adam Pajan via YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzZrCyImiL71r9c4NFs_Vhg

Improvisation for Beginning Organists

This webinar will share some of the pedagogical techniques specific to demystifying the organ and improvisation for pianists. Anne Laver is Professor of Organ and University Organist at Syracuse University’s Setnor School of Music. Prior to her appointment at Syracuse,Anne served as Instructor of Healthy Keyboard Technique and Organ Repertoire, and Coordinator of Outreach Programs at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester New York.

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More information at: https://www.agohq.org/upcoming-ago-webinars/

Improvisation and the Music of Jean Langlais

Improvisation is one of the most rewarding experiences that can exist for an organist. Taking background from studying with Jean Langlais, Ann will explore approaches to improvisation using hands-on techniques. The webinar will also explore how to understand Langlais’ style of composition and performance.
Ann Labounsky is the author of Jean Langlais: the Man and His Music. She has recorded the complete works of Langlais for the Musical Heritage Society. She is Chair of Organ and Sacred Music at Duquesne University.  A former AGO Councillor for Education, Ann serves as Organ Artist in Residence at First Lutheran Church, Pittsburgh and is a past Dean of the AGO Pittsburgh Chapter.

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More information at: https://www.agohq.org/upcoming-ago-webinars/