Music Notes
by Rebecca Mebert, Music Coordinator
It has been more than 6 months since we have gathered in person for worship. Recently reading surveys from several of you regarding returning to in-person worship, it has been both rewarding and sad to understand the impact to people as they consider returning to the building for worship and not being able to sing. Music is woven into Presbyterian worship, whether it is singing hymns or listening to special music created by our choir and music leadership. “What’s the point,” to quote one person, “to moving from virtual back to in-person, if I can’t sing?” It may be a long time before we can return to worship with the freedom to utilize voices and wind instruments. It also reinforces the wonderful truth that it is not about concerts of special singers for worship, but everyone feeling the spirit of community by singing together. We all miss that.
Research has clearly stated that, until a vaccine is created and distributed, any wind instrument or vocal production carries the virus and projects it into the air where it lingers for quite a while. There is always a risk that someone producing that sound might have the virus without knowing it and can pass it on. So, our work as music leaders has shifted to playing or singing by the metronome to record so others can listen and record their instruments or voices. Looking at yourself as you record your single part to put into the file for mixing is a combination of embarrassment, frustrations, many “startovers,” and yes, giggles and laughter. “I did it!” can also be heard from multiple households! The reward was seeing some of our voice and bell choirs appear in the now familiar “windows” of individual musicians with earphones plugged in. But it did bring tears to our eyes to see a group effort!!!
Handchime rehearsals have taken place in the parking lot and the side yard with trees, with the ringers spaced far apart. Rehearsals were to help everyone hear the piece together so they could record separately in their homes with the earpieces and hearing the “click track” (metronome keeping everyone together). We also had some outdoor rhythm instrument gatherings with Elikem Nyamuame teaching, because no wind is needed to play the drums. We hope they can continue to be part of the music when we gather for in-person worship in the future.
So, we continue to worship online, and create music singly in our homes or alone in the sanctuary (being recorded). We all value each other, respect the science of the current research, and pray for the combined wisdom and efforts of many to bring a medical solution that will allow us to worship as a group once again with music!
Welcome to our new handchimes director and tenor section leader
Austin Shadduck is a musician and composer with degrees from the University of Rochester and Queens College, CUNY. His doctoral research focuses on the shakuhachi, an end-blown Japanese flute. He also plays saxophone and has performed on wind and percussion instruments in a wide variety of ensembles. Austin returned to his hometown of Binghamton after eight years in NYC, and he works with nonprofits that support living composers and music scholarship. Involvement in local organizations is important to him as he rejoins the Binghamton music community, and he looks forward to creating music with the United Presbyterian Church.
Save the Date: Sunday, November 15, 4:00pm
You are cordially invited to “An Evening in Paris”, a recital by Jean Herman Henssler, which will be streamed online on Sunday, November 15, 4:00pm, and performed on the recently renovated organ at United Presbyterian Church, Binghamton. She will play works by Gigout, René Vierne, Louis Vierne, Franck, Bossi, Whitlock, Mulet, and Bourgeois. Tune in to experience the glorious, dramatic, and whimsical music of Parisian organists, with side trips to England and Italy. The recital is sponsored by the Binghamton Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO), and United Presbyterian Church.
We celebrate the completion of a necessary releathering project begun several years ago and finished this summer. Jean will demonstrate the full beauty of our sanctuary organ. Given our COVID time and due to the lack of sufficient ventilation in our sanctuary, the recital will be online only.
The Guilbault-Therian sanctuary organ was completed in 1996/97. Robin Lostetter was the organist at the time. The design consolidated all the inner workings of the organ upstairs where they reside now, and included a new console which is our current one. The former organ worked from bellows in the basement, which was problematic. Releathering is absolutely necessary after several decades. The organ produces sound because of bellows composed of leather. Leather, with heat, use, and time, ages and cracks and breaks (sounds familiar to those of us older folks). The releathering process also uses high quality canvas, rubber cloth, etc., in order to apply new belts and corner pieces. Our organ has wooden pipe stoppers, which were also re-leathered to keep the tuning stable. The money that was used was from large donations (some historic) designated for organ maintenance. We are thankful for that insight, and we are good stewards of the resources.