The Reuter Organ Company, Lawrence, Kansas, has built a new
organ for University Presbyterian Church in Seattle, Washington. Opus 2196 is a
large instrument of 93 ranks across four manuals and pedal (with preparations
for a total of 104 ranks). Jo Ann Stremler is resident organist.
Paul Pettinga,
longtime professor of music at the University of Illinois, died one year ago,
on October 28, 1999, in Urbana, Illinois, at the age of 85. He was born on
April 15, 1914, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After attending Grand Rapids Junior
College, he studied at Oberlin College from 1933-38, receiving the BMus in 1936
and the MMus in 1939. He served as assistant organist at St. Mark's
Procathedral, Grand Rapids, from 1930-33; organist and choirmaster at St.
Andrew's Episcopal Church, Elyria, OH, 1935-38; and organist and choirmaster at
St.
The Isle of Man
This article is coming to you from the Isle of Man, an
island some 30 miles long by about 14 miles wide, and sitting midway between
Ireland and England. Its longest river--the Sulby--stretches for a
full 10 miles or more, and Snaefell--the highest mountain--reaches a
height of over 2,000 feet. Anyone with a world atlas and a magnifying glass to
hand will have no trouble in locating the "Island," as those who
live here often term it, off the west coast of England, facing Liverpool.
Perhaps it is a good idea to state right away that there are
several goals which may be served by a report on the AGO 2000 convention in
Seattle, Washington. The first is to validate the experience of those who were
there, the second is to describe and interpret the events that took place for
those who could not attend, and the third is to mention the word
"millennial" only once! A convention report is like
"Highlights of the Opera"--hopefully the important arias are
there for all to hear. Alas, it is impossible to tell the whole story, and
surely some events will be left out all together.
