After the success of the recent "Sydney Organ Competition" with so
many young people taking part, the "Organ Music Society of
Sydney" (Sydney Chapter of the AGO) has begun a special online
newsletter for young organists which can be downloaded from the "Organ
Music Society of Sydney" website. Four issues are planned per year at
this stage.

The first issue is available now and contains an article by Jaques van
Ortmessen on early fingering, a question and answer section by an
organbuilder (this one on why we should leave the swell pedal open
when switching off the organ) and an article on exploring Australian
organ music, particularly for school music examinations which require
this.

The first issue is 10 pages!

Here is the link to the Society's homepage and a link to the new
"Youth News" can be found down towards the bottom of the page.

http://www.sydneyorgan.com/


-- --
Mark Quarmby
Assistant Organist, St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney

1006/5 Albert Road
Strathfield NSW 2135
Australia

Tel: +61 2 9746 8742
Mob: +61 413 166 803

Email: mark_quarmby@...
Website: http://mq.sydneyorgan.com

Good stuff.  I also heard during the Sydney Organ Competition that
an email list will be set up for this.  How do I get on this (kololee
[at]hotmail[dot]com)?

--- In sydneyorgan@..., Mark Quarmby
<mark_quarmby@...> wrote:
>
> After the success of the recent "Sydney Organ Competition" with
so
> many young people taking part, the "Organ Music Society of
> Sydney" (Sydney Chapter of the AGO) has begun a special online
> newsletter for young organists which can be downloaded from
the "Organ
> Music Society of Sydney" website. Four issues are planned per year
at
> this stage.
>
> The first issue is available now and contains an article by Jaques
van
> Ortmessen on early fingering, a question and answer section by an
> organbuilder (this one on why we should leave the swell pedal
open
> when switching off the organ) and an article on exploring
Australian
> organ music, particularly for school music examinations which
require
> this.
>
> The first issue is 10 pages!
>
> Here is the link to the Society's homepage and a link to the new
> "Youth News" can be found down towards the bottom of the page.
>
> http://www.sydneyorgan.com/
>
>
> -- --
> Mark Quarmby
> Assistant Organist, St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney
>
> 1006/5 Albert Road
> Strathfield NSW 2135
> Australia
>
> Tel: +61 2 9746 8742
> Mob: +61 413 166 803
>
> Email: mark_quarmby@...
> Website: http://mq.sydneyorgan.com
>

Sarah Kim will be performing an organ recital at St James' King St
this Wednesday 1.15-1.45pm.  We all know Sarah Kim, and this is the
historic church opposite the NSW Supreme Courts.

Hope you can come along - Arthur.

Hi everyone

Most of you already know about the World Organ Day Spectacular at the
Sydney University Great Hall, on the afternoon of Sunday October 19.

A facebook event has been set up for this at
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=37701145349.  Should you have a
facebook account, you are free to invite all your friends who might be
able to make it.  Let's get 100+ yeses on facebook!

Cheers from Arthur.

Try this link, it's different:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=37701145349

If you still see gaps in the url try to eliminate them.

Cheers.

--- In sydneyorgan@..., James Lally <jpl05250@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Arthur,
>  
> I have a facebook account but cannot open the link you sent. What
else can I try.
>  
> Cheers
>  
> James
>  
> PS. I would like to contact Kylie Warner, I think she is a member of
the group. Can you help please?

> --- On Fri, 9/5/08, alomi_revolution <kololee@...> wrote:
>
> From: alomi_revolution <kololee@...>
> Subject: [sydneyorgan] World Organ Day @ Sydney University
> To: sydneyorgan@...
> Date: Friday, September 5, 2008, 9:04 AM
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Hi everyone
>
> Most of you already know about the World Organ Day Spectacular at the
> Sydney University Great Hall, on the afternoon of Sunday October 19.
>
> A facebook event has been set up for this at
> http://www.facebook .com/event. php?eid=37701145 349. Should you have a
> facebook account, you are free to invite all your friends who might be
> able to make it. Let's get 100+ yeses on facebook!
>
> Cheers from Arthur.
>

This may be off-topic for this group - I'm happy to have referrals!

First, does anyone have "Moon Moths"? - I presume it's the set of
pieces  by Albert Kussner, circa 1897.  I bought it on eBay weeks ago
but it hasn't turned up.

Second, I understand it's usually a piano piece.  Do you happen to
know if it was ever transcribed for organ?*

The reason for these queries is that, years back, an old gentleman
told me that this piece was played at an opening recital/dedication
for an organ that I'm helping to demonstrate this weekend.

*Even if the answer's no - this can be useful.  It would illustrate
the flexibility and ethos of the times with such things.

A pic of the cover at
http://users.bigpond.net.au/davidpowell/music/MoonMoths.jpg

Tks

David

Dear friends and colleagues,

Grammar's annual Bach birthday concert will be played tomorrow at
6.30pm, and last for approximately one hour. John O'Donnell is one of
Australia's finest Bach players; this is a rare chance to hear him play
in Sydney. Details of the concert are below.
You would be very welcome!

Regards,

Bob Wagner.

------------------------------------

Tuesday 24th March 2009
6.30pm
John O' Donnell will play a recital on the Mander Organ at Sydney
Grammar School to celebrate the birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach (born
21st March, 1685). This programme will include the first Sydney
performance of the recently discovered chorale fantasia: Wo Gott der
Herr nicht bei uns hält.

Programme:

Prelude and Fugue in b BWV 544

From the Eighteen Leipzig Chorales
Nun Komm, der Heiden Heiland BWV 659
Trio super Nun Komm, der Heiden Heiland BWV 660
Nun Komm, der Heiden Heiland BWV 661

Canonic Variations on Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her BWV 769

Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält BWV 1128

Prelude and Fugue in E-flat BWV 552

Big Schoolroom, Sydney Grammar School, College Street, Sydney. Admission
free. Parking is available in the School grounds.
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Tomorrow  (Friday  24 April,  Eve  of  St  Mark,  Eve  of  Anzac  Day)  I  will 
be  playing  Jiri  Ropek's  Variations  on  the  Easter  Sequence  "Vicimae 
Paschali  Laudes"  at  St  Andrew's  Cathedral,  at  the  usual  time  of  1.10
pm.

Ropek,  like  Messiaen,  was  as  much  theologian  as  composer,  and  his 
music  searches  out  the  Easter  themes  of  Life  and  Death,  of 
Resurrection  and  Cosmic  Triumph,  with  quite  remarkable depth  and  
intensity.

A  rare  chance  to  hear  music  rarely  performed  in  Australia.

   (David  Malloy  tells  me  he once  played  this  piece  at  St  Mary's 
Cathedral,  but  I  think  that  was  about  20  years  ago,  so  I  doubt  if 
many  will  feel  that  the music  is  boringly  hackneyed  and  familiar !)

John Aitchison.

Piano moving is not a simple task. Pianos are heavy, expensive and most of the
time have sentimental value. Hiring a moving company for your piano move is
probably your best option but some people move themselves. There are a few
things you can do to make moving your piano easier on your friends and on your
back.
The main tool you will need is a four wheel dolly with non marring casters. You
will use this tool for placing under your piano so you can easily roll it
around. You will also need moving pads, some shrink wrap and ratchet straps.
Buying or renting these tools and supplies will ensure your piano move is done
right. You should also look into using a back support brace while moving this
heavy item. Two strong people can move a piano if there are no stairs involved.
If you have stairs you will need 3-5 people depending on their strength and the
weight of your piano. Moving a piano on stairs is not a simple feat, I recommend
hiring a moving company for this task.
The first step is padding and shrink wrapping your piano. Use at least two
moving pads to cover the front and sides. Shrink wrap the pads into place so
they will stay where they need to while shifting your piano around during the
move. You may need to use additional shrink wrap on the legs if your piano is a
spinet. Make sure you do not pad over the handles that are built into the back
of the piano, you will need to hold onto these while you are moving it.
Next you need to place the four wheel dolly underneath the piano. Lift one end
of the piano and place a pad under under the side edge. Doing so will protect
the piano while you're putting the dolly under it. From the end opposite the
side with the pad, tilt the piano up enough for someone to slide the four wheel
dolly underneath. If you do not want to tilt your piano, two strong people can
lift the piano straight up and onto the four wheel dolly. Make sure that the
four wheel dolly is in the center of the piano and that it feels balanced before
you move it.
Using straps to hold the four wheel dolly into place is recommended for safety
especially if you have never moved a piano before. Strapping will help you
control the movements of the piano without having your dolly shift around on
bumps you might go over. Do not over-tighten your straps and make sure that the
ratchets and hooks are in the back or in a place where the metal will not press
into the pads too much.
Once the piano is padded, wrapped and the dolly is strapped on, you can start
moving it. Have at least one person on each end at all times and keep your hands
on the piano at all times. When you come to a threshold or bump you need to move
over, the person walking backwards over the bump first needs to lift the first
two wheels of the dolly over the bump. You do this by holding the built in
handle in the back of the piano and holding the edge in the front. Lift with
control and take it nice and easy. You should be able to clear the bump and set
the wheels down with little strain. The last two wheels will clear the bump even
easier then the first when the person walking forwards lifts the piano just
enough to clear the bump.
Now that you have the piano out of your home you can roll it up your ramp into
your moving truck or trailer. I prefer using cargo trailers because they have a
lower deck, this means your ramp is not as steep as a bobtail moving truck. Once
you get it inside, remove the dolly in the reverse order of how it was put
underneath. Place the piano with its back against the wall of your vehicle and
strap it down. I like to use three straps; one strap lower down, one in the
middle and one near the top.
Moving a piano is not as hard as some people fear if done properly. Take your
time, use your head and make sure you have the tools and strength for the job.
Good luck on your piano moving adventure!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/learnpianokydf/

The  Sydney  Organ  Journal  tells  us  who  is  performing  at  the   Friday 
recitals  at  St  Andrew's  each  week,  but  it  still  doesn't  tell us what 
music  is being  played.   This  is  regretable.  I, for  one,  am  reluctant 
to  venture all the  way  into  the  cathedral  on  a Friday,  knowing  that  I 
might  well  find  myself  listening  to  music  that  I  find  uncongenial  and
can't  relate  to.

Perhaps  this  Yahoo  group  could  be  a  place  in  which  we  are  givewn 
information  about  the  cathedral  recital  each  week ?

I'll  start  the  trend,  by  proclaiming  that  I'll  be  playing  Cesar 
Franck's  Choral  #2  and  his  Pastorale  this  Friday  (June  26th).   Also, 
at  the  risk  of  making  a  complete  fool  of  myself,  I'll  be  playing
some  little  compositions  of  my  own.  I  hope  this  wont  be  a  case  of 
"the  siblime  to  the  ridiculous !"

John  Aitchison.

It's true that you never forget certain things that you learn as a child, like
riding a bicycle. Playing piano is another example. A minimum of two to three
years of piano lessons is enough to instill an indelible knowledge of piano
basics. That knowledge will likely be remembered throughout adulthood.
However, some adults who have been out of practice for several years may find
returning to piano lessons challenging. It's sometimes scary to learn to play
the piano over again. Starting piano lessons again can be fulfilling though for
those prepared to tackle the challenges.
One of the biggest challenges of re-learning piano as an adult is changing
methods. Adults who took only a few years of piano lessons as children may have
initially learned to play by rote. Playing piano by rote focuses more on
memorization and mimicry than on learning to read music and understand chords.
Children tend to learn very quickly by rote. Children who learn by this method
appear to progress quickly. Eventually though, as pieces get more difficult,
learning tends to slow down significantly. Grasping new skills becomes
increasingly difficult. This method is becoming less and less favored by piano
instructors today for this reason.
Another hurdle to clear when re-learning piano as an adult is chords and theory.
Even if you hated piano lessons as a child you can still learn to play. Adults
who had five or fewer years of piano lessons likely didn't learn chord theory.
Even adults who learned to read music as children frequently have trouble
grasping chords.
Learning anything (piano or otherwise) is always harder in adulthood than
childhood. It's not impossible though. Anyone with a foundation in music is at
an advantage when re-learning piano as an adult.
Would you like to tickle the ivories and play your favorite songs? Here are four
things to consider before you start:
1. Be willing to put aside old habits. That keyboard is still the same old
keyboard. Teaching methods may have though. Don't discount a teaching method
just because it's different from what you're used to. Compare different learning
methods before deciding which one is best for you.
2. Be willing to start from square one. Adults by experience have a better grasp
of the physical properties of a piano keyboard. That doesn't mean it won't be
challenging. Don't expect to play a classical sonata in the first month. Take
things slowly, perhaps even starting with a refresher of the basics (i.e.,
scales).
3. Be committed to practicing. Remember your mother nagging you to practice as a
kid? Mom's not around now, so it's up to you to push yourself. The results you
get in piano playing will be commensurate with the time and effort you practice.
Make daily practice time a priority.
4. Find the right teacher. Getting the right piano instructor makes all the
difference in the world. Look for a teacher who is experienced with working with
adults. Make sure the instructor is familiar with the original method that you
learned. The right instructor should be able to evaluate your skills within one
or two sessions. He or she will then set you on the right course for
re-learning. For self-motivated adults, there are a couple great piano teachers
online that can get you playing and enjoying yourself fairly quickly. Type in
"play piano" or "piano lessons for adults" in any search engine and you will
locate them.
Re-learning piano as an adult can be very rewarding. Not only will you improve
your piano skills; you'll stimulate your brain too. There are benefits galore in
many ways from playing piano. Adults who take piano lessons often report a
better ability to concentrate. Many also realize a greater aptitude for learning
other new skills. These things carry over into other parts of adult life, from
work, to hobbies and even raising children.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/learnpianokydf/