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AND CHOIRMASTERS |
| NEXT EVENT: 18 September 2010 |
Improving our Music - Broadening
our repertoire Fisherwick Presbyterian Church 3:00 p.m. |
The September meeting of USOC continues the President’s ‘Improving’ series, this time - ‘Improving our Music.’
At the start of the new session organists & choirmasters are always searching for new material or perhaps new or different ways of presenting familiar music.
The meeting will again take the form of a practical workshop, working through accessible choral music by lesser-known composers/publishers and considering how music may be adapted to suit available choral resources and available instrumentalists. It is also hoped that the choice of music will appeal to both practicing organists and also those with less experience of formal choral music.
Adrian McLaughlin will introduce the afternoon. Andrew Skelly (Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn) and Neale Agnew (Fisherwick Presbyterian Church, Belfast) will then lead us through learning and performing the music. Do please plan to be present and bring along guests who may also be involved in planning and performing music in church.
| ... AND LOOKING A BIT FURTHER AHEAD |
Saturday 16th October 2010
OPEN CONSOLE at the
Ulster Hall Mulholland Grand Organ.
This years OPEN CONSOLE date is something different and something special for USOC, so please mark it up as a 'must' in your diaries - and also bring friends along too! Please note that there is no charge to come along and be involved! Our municipal organ in Belfast really needs its friends! Together withour member and City Organist Colm Carey, we are hosting an opportunity 'to get up close and personal' with the Mulholland Grand Organ after its recent renovation! Everyone is welcome in the Ulster Hall during the period 9am through to 2pm on 16th October. This is a rare opportunity given that the Ulster Hall is so much in demand.
To help you plan, the timetable is as follows:
9:00 - 10:30am Find
out how the organ works, and the sounds it makes
Hands on for the beginners
and interested pianists up to grade 4 (guide age range up to 15 years of age)
10:30 - 12:00 noon Workshop for Young Players (guide age range up to 20 years of age)
12:00 noon Mini recital
12.20-2pm Open Consoles - Come and play your favourite piece all welcome. Someone will be there to help you manage the console and pull the stops. If you are a teacher, or if you know of youngsters at whatever level, do encourage them to come along. This is open to the public also, so non-members are particularly welcome.
NOTE: Please don't forget that ultimately, the public pays for this historic and wonderful instrument. It is therefore in our interests that as much interest as possible can be encouraged, so that its future may be more assured. We are most grateful to Belfast City Council and to the City Organist for facilitating this event.
Saturday 27th November 2010
USOC PRESIDENT'S DAY Drumbeg
Parish Church
The President, Alasdair MacLaughlin, invites you and your friends to a pot pourri afternoon of music, the spoken word, information and fun. This will take place in Drumbeg Parish Church at 3.00pm on Saturday 27th November 2010.
You will hear very interesting, topical and unusual music for organ and other instruments, some appreciations, some readings about anniversary composers, and perhaps some song as well. There may well be some surprises too! You will meet old friends, and also some new ones!
As well as the fun side of the occasion, we shall be welcoming a representative of the IAO, and you will be able to hear more about the IAO Congress, which is coming to Northern Ireland in July 2011.
Come along at
3.00pm. The event will finish with some refreshments around 5.00pm. Please come
that day - you will enjoy it!
