San Francisco Pipe Organ Encounter (2005)

A Pipe Organ Encounter is a 4-5 day regional event organized by a local chapter of the American Guild of Organists under the sponsorship of the national organization. It introduces teenagers and young adults to the world of the pipe organ. This short video documents the 2005 POE hosted by the San Francisco Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

© 2006 Vic Ferrer Productions

For information about the producer please visit:
http://www.VicFerrerProductions.com

Teachers and access to real pipe organs were provided for each of the 32 student attendees. At the end of the week Felix Hell, the then 19 year-old German virtuoso, gave a concert at Saint Cecilia's Church in San Francisco.

Justin Kielty served as Director of the event and Craig Brenner procured faculty, venues and coordinated teaching activities.

Additional lectures, tours and demonstrations were provided by Edward Millington Stout, III - Curator, Spreckles Organ, Legion of Honor and Stanford Theater, Palo Alto. Jack Bethards - Tonal Director and President Schoenstein & Co. organ builders.

The following SF-AGO members taught or volunteered their time: Ron McKeen, organist First Presbyterian Church, Oakland, CA, John Karl Hirten, Director of Parish Music at St. Stephen's Church in Belvedere; Eulah Capron, organist at Christ Episcopal Church in Sausalito; Donald Sears; Paul Rosas and Robert Huw Morgan of Stanford University; The Contra Costa Organ Club; Rick Walling; Cheryl Arnold, music director of St Monica's Church in San Francisco; Simon Berry, Director of Music and Liturgy at St Dominic's Church in San Francisco; Bill Catherwood, organist at Ninth Church of Christ, Scientist, San Francisco; Angela Kraft Cross, organist, the Congregational Church of San Mateo; Glen Frank, organist and music director Notre Dame des Victoires, San Francisco; Susan Matthews, principal organist, Grace Cathedral; Douglas Franks, organist, Hope Lutheran Church, San Mateo; Ken Mansfield, organist emeritus, Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church; Christoph Tietze, Music Director and Organist, St Mary's Cathedral, San Francisco; R Jay Williamson, Organist and music director, St Anne of the Sunset.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Pipe
• Organ
• Encounter
• AGO
• Felix
• Hell
• Vic
• Ferrer
• Ed
• Stout
• Jack
• Bethards
• Schoenstein
• Co.
• Stanford
• Theater
• Classical
• Music

[keyboardjeff]

@hawchubby39 It is pachelbel's canon.

[hawchubby39]

Starting at 2:00 is a beautiful song...can anyone tell me what it was...who is the composer? Song Name?

Thanks. Wonderful upload by the way... :o)

[greatjojek]

What is he playin at 1:32 ? :)

[Sfrussell1963]

Fantastic program!! For those who have never experienced the thrill of an organ keyboard, it is an experience for many that is life changing. What a wonderful thing for these kids to get the opportunity.

[lrover03]

I really enjoyed hearing the young kids cheering at the end of the production after they've been enlightened to the sheer complexity and the amazing sounds the organ is capable of producing. You can listen to track after track on stereos and Youtube and never get the full experience of actually BEING there and feeling the floor and your chest rumble with the power of the 16's and 32's and the delicacy of the 1 1/3's and smaller. It's the ultimate experience! :))

[Blueaspen391]

and being an organist, I'd never say such a thing as " I don't play the violin or the piano; I play the king of the instruments"

[Blueaspen391]

I hate the term all the same

[bmhall100]

@Blueaspen391  its called the king of instruments because of its size, its immense power, and tonal varieties.

[Blueaspen391]

I hate the term "king of the instruments" because it contributes to spread the notion that "more difficult is better" or " more complex is more important". Organist with common sense don't look at themselves as more skilled or more intelligent than any other musicians.

[organperson]

how much does it cost