A dedication organ recital for the restored Hutchings, Plaisted & Co. organ (the Thayer organ) at
the Universalist Chapel Society (Unitarian-Universalist) in Woodstock, Vermont will be held
Sunday, September 23 at 4 PM. William Porter is the featured artist for this year's Samuel B.
Whitney Organ Recital. More details about this organ and the recital are included in this newsletter.
Emory Fanning, Professor Emeritus of Music, Middlebury College, will present an all Franck
Organ Recital on Sunday, September 30, 2007 at 3 PM in Mead Chapel, Middlebury College
in Middlebury, Vermont. The program includes "Chorale I in E", "Cantabile in B", "Chorale II in b",
"Pastorale in E", and "Chorale in a". This is a free concert featuring the Gress-Miles Organ, III 50.
Philip Stimmel and Ed Boadway are arranging an organ tour for Saturday afternoon,
October 13, beginning at noon in the Congregational Church, West Brattleboro. The schedule includes organs
by Steere, Erben, Ryder, Nutting, Hamill and Hook & Hastings, with a visit to a museum and the demonstration
of a recently-renovated electropneumatic Estey two-manual reed organ. The tour includes Dummerston Center,
Putney, Westminster West, Saxton's River, Grafton, Newfane and Townshend. Details will appear in the next
issue of Pipe Notes, but you may also call Ed at (603) 542-8142, evenings.
The 7th Katharine Dopp Organ Recital will take place on October 21 at 3:30 PM at
First Baptist Church, Burlington. AGO member George Matthew will be playing the 1864 Hook tracker,
which he played for the past year as Interim Organist. He is now Director of Music, Organist and Choir Director
at the First Methodist Church of Burlington. The Recital Series honors the memory of Katharine E. Dopp who
played the instrument at First Baptist for 30 years. Look at the October issue for highlights of George's program.
Our Treasurer, Alan Walker, reminds us: DUES WERE DUE AUGUST 15!
Long-time Vermont AGO member Ruth Gottlieb turned 100 years old on Sunday, August 12. She is perhaps
our oldest member now. Congratulations, Ruth!
Another long-time Vermont AGO member, Miriam Gates, died on August 15 at the age of 91. She earned a
bachelor's degree in music and education from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and lived in
Charlestown, N.H. most of her life, teaching in the Charlestown schools.
She served in several churches in Charlestown and Claremont as organist for many years, also giving
piano and organ lessons.
Her funeral service was held August 18 at the North Charlestown United Methodist Church.
Our Chapter extends our sincere condolences to her family and friends on their, and our, loss of a fine
lady who did much to enhance the musical life of others.
E. Lary Grossman, our new Regional Councillor for the New England area, shares two pieces of information
with us that are included at the end of this newsletter:
1. AGO Service Playing Certificate information; for those of us who might be considering this challenge.
2. Fall Organ Crawl to the Albany and Troy N.Y. area on October 8 and organized by the Worcester AGO
Chapter;
a unique opportunity that might interest some of our "southern" members; registration form, due
September 30,
John Atwood shares with us the work that has been done on the "Thayer Organ".
The restoration of the Hutchings, Plaisted & Co. organ (the Thayer organ) at the Universalist Chapel
Society (Unitarian-Universalist) in Woodstock, Vermont by A. David Moore, Inc. is nearly complete. Restoration
focused on rebuilding the three badly cracked chests and providing them with neoprene seals to ensure tight
sliders in winter. Various attempts at repairing the damaged chests go very far back as we found a few square
nails attaching portions of the table boards that had come loose. Did Thayer's overheated studio cause the
initial damage shortly after its construction in 1875? More recent repair attempts were revealed by the more
than 550 ring nails found in the Great and Swell table tops. The spacers of the Swell nearly fell out of
their frame, the glue joints having given way. We are surprised that the Swell had worked at all!
The inclusion of a bright mixture of nearly pure tin on such a small organ together with Thayer's known
love of German organs indicate that this was intended to be a strident instrument. No intentional tonal
alterations were made, although the now-tight chests support a much louder treble than the organ ever
exhibited in living memory. Some of these were softened as toe holes had been enlarged to accomodate
leaking wind. Unoriginal beards present on string bases were retained. Although adapting beards on an original
instrument such as this would be questionable under current restoration practices, the strings sound much
more prompt than before they were applied. It is fortunate and surprising indeed that this organ survived
its early years when organ building favored the direction of the Willis organs of England and those of E. M.
Skinner. Its full appreciation had to await discovery by Ed Boadway and Robert Reich around 1955.
All stoppers of wood pipes have been refit with new felt and leather gaskets to accomodate winter drying.
A new blower with quieting blower box has replaced a noisier winding system. Roller arms replaced during an
earlier restoration have been reinforced.
After much consultation with organ historians, the Great action has been moderately redesigned with
smaller pallets (especially to the base), and creation of new pivot points to the backfalls provide better
leverage. Hutchings actions were characteristically "clunky," apparently a cultural feature of the company.
The action is now much more light and responsive making possible more complex ornamentation, especially to
the bass. The Swell is also more light and responsive owing to a new set of pallet springs and to removal
of a superfluous tracker guide causing excessive friction. We believe these mechanical alterations enhance
the utility to an otherwise faithfully restored instrument.
Organ recital attendance in Woodstock has been phenomenal with 55 to 155 persons. This is a town of
about 3000 residents. No other classical events attract such numbers here. Perhaps people are now ready to
listen to organs, or does extensive newspaper publicity featuring organ histroy peek their interest? The organ
was featured in a recital by David Pipe of England on August 12. Dedication of this restoration will take
place on September 23 at 4 PM. This year's player for the Samuel B. Whitney Organ Recital will be William
Porter, famous teacher and recitalist. The recital is free to the public, and refreshments will follow the
concert. These recitals are supported by the Vermont Chapter of the AGO and by the Vermont Liturgical
and Music Society, Inc.
First Baptist Church (ABC) of Burlington, VT is now searching to fill the following positions:
1) Interim organist, for the months of July and August, 2007. Duties include one service per week
(providing prelude, offertory, postlude, service music including hymns) and accompanying various guest
instrumentalists or singers for special music during worship. For more information, please call
(802) 864-6515.
2) Full-time chancel choir director, beginning in September 2007. The position entails conducting the
choir for one Sunday service, a one-and-a-half hour choir rehearsal once a week, and possible extra
services during Lent and Advent.
3) Junior choir director, beginning in September 2007. Duties for this position include preparing
children grades 2 through 6 for singing in monthly worship services, rehearsing with the children each
Sunday.
4) Keenan Handbell Choir Director. The position entails preparing the handbell choir (adults and youth)
for participation in worship services and conducting them.
Applications for each position are welcome and should be addressed to Sarah Himes, Search Committee Chair,
First Baptist Church, 81 St. Paul Street, Burlington, VT 05401. You may also send e-mail to Ms. Himes at
fbcbvt@together.net, or telephone the church office: (802) 864-6515.
The search committee will begin to review the applications for permanent positions on July 15, 2007.
The Stowe Community Church, a non-denominational Protestant church, seeks a Music Director and Organist
to provide a meaningful ministry of music that is an integral part of the worship experience. This church is
located in the village of Stowe and is a well-respected partner in the community, with an active and growing
congregation. In addition to a traditional service calendar, the Church also hosts many musical performances
throughout the year. The Church has recently restored its 1864 Simmons Tracker Pipe Organ and also owns a
restored 1898 Steinway Grand Piano. The Director of Music/Church Organist will oversee all areas of the music
programs, including the music library, guest musicians for services, and adult and children's choirs. He or
She will work with the pastor and the Music Committee in selecting music for services and special occasions,
and will play for two weekly services during the September to June months, one service weekly in the summer
and additional services for the Easter and Christmas seasons. Weekly hours are approximately 10 - 15, and
annual salary is about $15,000. The position is available October 1, 2007, and the response deadline is
September 21. Contact person is Mary Lou Durett at the Stowe Community Church, P.O. Box 991, Stowe, Vermont
05672. Please submit a description of experience, resume and references. Applications may be mailed to the
church address or emailed to info@stowechurch.org.
From a 1971 issue of The Boston Organ Club Newsletter -
A parody of a well-known hymn:
Sit down, O men of God!
His kingdom he will bring
Exactly when it pleases him;
You cannot do a thing.
Maintained by Sherri MatthewLast modified 8/30/2007 (Please note that humor does not necessarily reflect the taste of the webmaster. Content
is entered as received.)
