THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 30, 1997 TAG: 9701290195
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TRUDY CUTHRELL, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 72 lines
Nearly 800 third grade students from Suffolk Public Schools will have a unique learning opportunity on Feb. 12 and 13 as they attend a ``Pipe Organ INformance'' sponsored by the St. Paul's Episcopal Church in downtown Suffolk.
Organ concert performer Cj Sambach of Brick, N.J., will be on hand to lead six 1-hour sessions to introduce students to the fascinating features of St. Paul's impressive Casavant Freres pipe organ.
``This is a music enrichment program to educate students about this kind of keyboard,'' explained Marjorie Setnicky, organist and choir master at St. Paul's.
``The number of organists is dramatically dwindling,'' Setnicky reported. ``When I was in college 12 years ago, there were a handful. Now there are only three or four majoring in organ and sacred music . . . There's a critical need to develop some new interest in this wonderful instrument among our young people.''
Setnicky experienced an Organ INformance by Sambach firsthand last February at the Thalia Lynn Baptist Church in Virginia Beach. She and four of St.
Sambach is an organ performance graduate of Westminster Choir College. For 15 years Sambach has traveled throughout the states serving as a conference clinician, organ concert performer and a consultant to many churches considering a new organ installation.
Sambach relates how, in his travels, he has become keenly aware of the small number of young people studying the organ or pursing careers in church music. Addressing this need and eager to share his own love and knowledge of the pipe organ, Sambach developed the concept of the ``Pipe Organ INformance.'' This program explains the fascinating aspects of the instrument in a simple, easy-to-understand manner. It is a highly entertaining and educational presentation.
Sambach is a master communicator. ``He demonstrates by making the organ sound like birds and comparing its different aspects to the colors on a canvas,'' Setnicky explained. He begins his presentation with an explanation of the four ``primary sound colors'' of the pipe organ - flutes, strings, reeds and principles. There's lots of lively dialogue, entertaining demonstrations, large visual props and a question and answer time with free T-shirts awarded for right answers.
``Often our interests in life are sparked by an initial positive exposure in our younger years,'' an INformance participant commented. And Sambach is doing his part to spark an interest among young people in the organ and the field of church music.
On a local level, Setnicky is doing her part as well at St. Paul's Episcopal with her ``Kids On the Bench'' program. For the last three years, Setnicky has offered elementary school children in the church the opportunity to serve as ``music assistants.'' On a rotating schedule, each of the 16 participants works with Setnicky at the organ during a worship service.
``They sit with me on the bench, get the music pages ready and set and cancel stops,'' Setnicky explained. ``After the service each one receives private instruction about how the organ works and gets to play a piece of their own,'' she continued. ``This gives them a better understanding of what happens behind the scenes in a worship service as well.''
To aid with the technical portion of this endeavor, Falcon Cable TV will provide sound monitors for this two-day event.
Presentations are scheduled for 9:45 a.m., 11 a.m. and 12 noon on both Feb. 12 and 13. During some sessions, limited space may be available for the general public in the church balcony. MEMO: For information call 539-2478. The church is at 213 N. Main St. in
downtown Suffolk. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Nolan Robertson, left, and Marjorie Setnicky, organist and choir
master at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, rehearse for a performance.