Ulster Society of Organists and Choirmasters

U.S.O.C. Newsletter - October 2001

MAKE IT UP!

Although the subject of organ improvisation has been discussed on more than one occasion at earlier meetings, our October meeting has been planned to help members who have not yet made a start on this aspect of service playing. John Riley from Edinburgh is an expert in this field and has recently contributed two useful articles on the topic to Organists Review.

At 3 pm on Saturday 20th October at St Peter's Parish Church, Antrim Road, Belfast, he will present a lecture/demonstration on IMPROVISATION FOR THE BEGINNER, and between 11 am and 12:30 pm on the same day he will provide individual tuition for members (of any age) who would welcome one-to-one assistance. Much can be learnt from listening to others being instructed so the morning session is open to anyone who would like to attend. If you would like to be one of those receiving individual instruction please contact Michael McCracken (tel: 4483 1926) not later than 13th October.

Between the morning and afternoon sessions, those attending both will find lunch available at the Lansdowne Court Hotel adjacent to the church.

A SAD LOSS

With great regret I must inform you of the death of James Duff which occurred in August. For many years James had been a very loyal and enthusiastic member of the society, and for fifty-five years the organist of Coleraine Methodist Church. He will be missed.

NEW MEMBER

To the society we are pleased to welcome as a new student member ANDREW SMYTH, organist of Garvaghy Presbyterian Church. His address is ..............................

ADDRESS ALTERATIONS

ADAMS, Miss Rachel...............................

ALLEN, Mr Timothy ......................., St Louis, Missouri, .........., USA. Web: www.csmsg.org.

McMASTER, Mr Charles ..............................

TAGGART, Mr J W ............................

WANDERING MINSTRELS

To the list of itinerant Ulster musicians which appeared in last month's USOC circular should be added the names of John Crothers and Robert Thompson who during the summer travelled to Tuscany and with the Chamber Choir of Wallace High School sang services in various places in that delightful part of northern Italy.

That's all for now. I hope to meet you on 20th October.

RODNEY BAMBRICK
Honorary Secretary

RSB/IAFH
05/10/01

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