Ulster Society of Organists and Choirmasters

U.S.O.C. Newsletter - June 1999

CHANGE - OR DECAY?

Like it or not a wind of change is sweeping across the world of church music leaving some of us bewitched but many more, I suspect, bothered and bewildered. One man who has sought to trim his sails to the prevailing wind is DAVID BRATTLE, Director of Music at Lisburn Cathedral, and at our next meeting he will describe his approach to church music, using a group of singers and instrumentalists to illustrate. He is keen that the session should engender discussion so time for this will be provided, as will some light refreshments. All this at 3pm on Saturday 12th June - in Lisburn Cathedral.

SPRING INTO SUMMER

Our series of three organ and choral concerts got off to an encouraging start at Down Cathedral a few weeks ago. Please remember that there are two more to come:
SATURDAY 29TH MAY
Gerard Gillen and Choir of Belfast Cathedral
St Brigid's Church, Derryvolgie Avenue, Belfast;
SATURDAY 9TH JUNE
Christopher Boodle and Chamber Choir of MCB
Anglican Cathedral, Armagh

MULLINGAR AND TULLAMORE

To date only 14 members have registered for our proposed trip on Friday 10th/Saturday 11th September, barely half the number required to make the venture viable. In the hope that more applications will be returned, I have asked the hotel in Mullingar at which reservations have been made for Friday evening, to hold these until 30th June, so please let me have your reply by then. Details of our trip were given in the May circular (QV), so just a brief reminder that our itinerary will include the three-manual Frobenius in Tullamore Parish Church, (the only Frobenius in Ireland - to be played for us by Malcolm Proud), the Compton in Mullingar Cathedral (one of the largest built by this firm), and the Spath in St Finian's College, Mullingar - three organs all of exceptional interest. The charge of £52.00 per person includes coach transport plus bed and breakfast at Mullingar's three-star Bloomfield Court Hotel. And just in case you have mislaid your last circular, another reply-slip is appended.

TRIO OF TEMPTATIONS

A brief reminder of three organ festivals to be held this summer:
DUBLIN June 19th-27th (details enclosed);
SAINT ALBAN'S July 8th-17th (see Organists Review);
BIRMINGHAM July 30th-August 1st (IAO Mini-Congress).

AT BELFAST CATHEDRAL

Return visit of Parisian organist YANKA HEKIMOVA - 8pm on Saturday 5th June.

PARTICULARS PERSONAL

1 Apologies to Peter LIVINGSTONE, new member whose surname was incorrectly given as Cunningham in the last circular;
2 New address of Timothy Wilson - ...

ORGANISTS REQUIRED

1 West Presbyterian Church, Ballymena - details and application form from Clerk of Session, Tom Bloomer (just one!), 4 Prospect, Ballymena, BT42 1QX;
2 St Mark's PC, Ballymacash, Lisburn - RSCM Affiliated choir and Copeland-Hart organ. Further details from Revd G Irwin at Lisburn 662393.

REMINDER TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Next meeting: Monday 7th June, 7 30 pm at Osborne Park, Belfast.

This, you will be relieved (grieved?) to hear, is the last USOC circular you will receive until after our summer recess. It leaves you with two important decisions to make and two reply-slips to return to me by 30th June. Both of the ventures described above (Tullamore this year, Berlin next year) depend upon your support - without it they may have to be cancelled.

For now, my best wishes to you for your own summer holiday wherever you spend it.

RODNEY BAMBRICK
Honorary Secretary

RSB/IAFH
25/05/99


USOC TRIP TO TULLAMORE & MULLINGAR : SEPTEMBER 10TH / 11TH 1999

Member's Name : _____________________________ Tel No: ________________
Please reserve ___ place/s for me and for ___________________________________________
I wish to share a room with _______________________________________________________
(If not naming anyone in particular write "Another USOC Member".)
I wish to have a single room (supplement £15.00).
In full payment a cheque (payable to USOC) for £_____ (£52 per person + any single supplement) is enclosed.

Please return to the Honorary Secretary NOT LATER THAN 30TH JUNE


USOC TOUR TO BERLIN : APRIL 27th - MAY 1ST 2000

Member's Name : _____________________________ Tel No: ________________
Please reserve ___ place/s for me and for ___________________________________________
As deposit a cheque (payable to USOC) for £_____ (£50 per person) is enclosed).
I would/would not be interested in the possibility of accepting hospitality in the home of a member of the Berlin Organists Association.
I wish to extend my stay in Berlin and to return on _________________.
(Precise date can be decided later)

Please return to the Honorary Secretary NOT LATER THAN 30TH JUNE


BERLIN 2000

A USOC TOUR TO CELEBRATE THE MILLENNIUM

DATES

Thursday 27th April to Monday 1st May, 2000
Note: (a) May 1st next year will be a Public Holiday;
(b) Members wishing to extend their visit to Berlin may do so.

PROGRAMME

This is being planned by Berlin organist Silke Riemann in co-operation with the Berlin Association of Organists and will include visits to the most interesting organs in and around the city, among them:
Berliner Dom (huge romantic organ);
Hedwig Cathedral (large modern instrument);
The Jerusalem Church (wood pipes only);
Mariendorf;
Herz Jesu Kirche;
Museum of Musical Instruments (including several organs);
. . . . and many more.

ACCOMMODATION

Bed and Breakfast in a conveniently situated hotel (Hotel Garni) not far from city centre; other meals will be arranged at restaurants near venues to be visited. Members of the Berlin Organists Association have very kindly offered to provide accommodation in their own homes for a limited number of USOC members: if this would be welcome please indicate accordingly on the reply-slip.

TRANSPORT

Flights to and from Berlin using the most economical route available - to be determined later this year.

COST

Estimated cost will be about £400.00 per person for the five day (four night) tour. This will include flight tickets, accommodation and meals, and transport around Berlin.

HOW TO BOOK

Complete the reply-slip below and return it with deposit of £50.00 per person to Honorary Secretary by 30th June.

PLEASE NOTE

Because accommodation in the millennial year will be difficult to obtain (especially for a party) provisional reservations have already been made but need to be confirmed by 30th June. This may seem a long way ahead but I have been reliably assured by an experienced tours operator that this really is necessary.

For many years USOC's overseas tours have been highlights of the Society's annual programme and have provided members with wonderful opportunities to hear and play organs to which access would otherwise be difficult - and to do so in congenial company! This visit to Berlin is our most ambitious undertaking to date and could well be the opportunity of a lifetime. It will certainly be an exciting and memorable way to celebrate the millennium. Join us!

Please return reply-slip above to the Honorary Secretary NOT LATER THAN 30TH JUNE

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