Loading...The Episcopal Church of the Ascension, 211 N. Third St., Bardstown, is celebrating the recent renovation of its organ with two special events in May: a rededication service and concert and a four-hour seminar for church musicians and worship leaders.
The rededication of the 1964/2000 Ward organ will take place at 7 p.m. (EDT) Friday, May 20. After the brief service, guest
organist Martin Ellis of Indianapolis will perform a program of sacred and secular music to demonstrate the expanded capabilities of the organ. The program also will include organ-harp duets by Ellis and Hobert Humphrey, Ascension's music director. Ellis is the organist at the North United Methodist Church and staff organist for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
On Saturday, May 21, Ellis and Thad Reynolds, president of Reynolds Associates Pipe Organ Builders, will lead the workshop, "The Organ for the Novice Church Organist – A Seminar for Church Musicians," from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (EDT). The $30 registration fee includes lunch.
The workshop is designed for church organists, choir directors, pastors and lay leaders who are interested in enhancing their knowledge and use of the organ in worship services. Information about how the pipe organ may be used to create depth and excitement in worship will be provided as well as suggestions for finding suitable sources for effective and playable service music.
Program highlights will include a "tonal tour" of Ascension's recently renovated organ "to demonstrate not just the sounds the organ has, but the architecture of its ensemble and how sounds are designed to work together," say seminar organizers. "The goal is for the participants to not think of the organ as an 'acoustic synthesizer' and to learn to experiment with new combinations and sounds."
Each organist participating is invited, but not required, to bring a musical selection that he/she might play as a prelude, offertory or postlude for Sunday worship, to be played during the seminar. Ellis will work with the player in a master-class setting, offering suggestions for phrasing and registration.
The registration form, downloadable here, and fee (check or money order) must be sent to the church no later than May 13. For more information, call the church office at (502) 348-4317 and leave a message for assistance.
