Organ workshop.

I'm attending this tomorrow...


LMC (http://www.catholic.org.sg/lmc/) is organising,in conjunction with the American Guild of Organists,Singapore Chapter, an organ workshop:The Organ in Catholic Liturgy: The French Tradition

Date: 30 Oct 07
Time: 7.30pm to 9.45pm
Venue: Church of St Ignatius, King's Road.Cost: $20 (to be paid in cash at the door)
Registration: Email robertloh54@yahoo.com by 16 Oct 07(places are limited, so register early)


The purpose of this workshop is to demonstrate how anorganist performs his role in the context of Catholicliturgy, especially the Mass. Through accompanyingthe people, solos and improvisations, the organistinterprets liturgical texts, seasons and rites, addingan important dimension to our worship. The French organ tradition is especially rich in thisrespect, and we have privileged to have someone fromwithin that tradition share with us his musicalvocation. Jerome Faucheur's bio is attached for yourreference. This workshop is an opportunity for us to encounterthe organ afresh, to be inspired and to imagine newpossibilities, for ourselves and our communities.Our point of departure will be, as always, what theChurch has to say...Vatican II (Sacrosanctum Concilium):"The pipe organ is to be held in high esteem in theLatin Church, since it is its traditional instrument,the sound of which can add a wonderful splendor to theChurch's ceremonies and powerfully lift up men's mindsto God and higher things."Musicam sacram:"In sung or said Masses, the organ, or otherinstrument legitimately admitted, can be used toaccompany the singing of the choir and the people; itcan also be played solo at the beginning before thepriest reaches the altar, at the Offertory, at theCommunion, and at the end of Mass."It is highly desirable that organists and othermusicians should not only possess the skill to play properly the instrument entrusted to them: they shouldalso enter into and be thoroughly aware of the spiritof the Liturgy, so that even when playing ex tempore,they will enrich the sacred celebration according tothe true nature of each of its parts, and encouragethe participation of the faithful."Pope Benedict XVI:"The organ has always been considered, and rightly so,the king of musical instruments, because it takes upall the sounds of creation - as was just said - andgives resonance to the fullness of human sentiments,from joy to sadness, from praise to lamentation. Bytranscending the merely human sphere, as all musicof quality does, it evokes the divine. The organ'sgreat range of timbre, from piano through to athundering fortissimo, makes it an instrument superiorto all others. It is capable of echoing and expressingall the experiences of human life. The manifoldpossibilities of the organ in some way remind us ofthe immensity and the magnificence of God."N.B. Jerome will giving a recital on 1 Nov at OrchardRoad Presbyterian Church. Details will be availableat http://www.singaporeago.org/