Music at St. Paul's Church
 The
music provided at St. Paul’s in New Orleans is offered to
the greater glory of God. The Episcopal tradition is one of exceptionally
fine choral music and we strive to uphold that tradition, singing
works from a wide variety of styles and periods. Music selections
for the Sunday Choral Eucharists are guided by the lectionary
readings for the day as well as the liturgical season.
Dr. Caroline Carson
Director of Music Ministry
 Originally
from Charleston, SC, Caroline Carson is currently
the Director of Choral Activities at the University of New Orleans,
state R&S (Repertoire & Standards) Chair for Ethnic and
Multicultural choirs for Louisiana ACDA and is thrilled to be
on board at St. Paul's Episcopal Church! Dr. Carson has served
on the faculties of Georgia College & State University (Milledgeville,
GA) as Director of Choral Activities and Shenandoah Conservatory
(Winchester, Virginia) as an Adjunct Professor of Choral Literature
and Graduate Applied Conducting. In addition, she has taught classes
in Bulgaria on American Music History and Music Education in association
with the University of Varna, Bulgaria. Dr. Carson has prepared
choruses for concerts, workshops, national and international tours,
and a year 2000 Carnegie Hall performance. Dr. Carson taught in
the Georgia public school systems for seven years. While in Atlanta,
she participated in four Grammy-winning recordings with the Atlanta
Symphony Orchestra Chorus under the direction of Robert Shaw and
Yoel Levi. While teaching at an arts magnet school in Macon, she
founded and directed the Milledgeville Singers Guild, now in its
sixth successful season.
Dr. Carson received her Bachelors degree in Music
Education from the University of South Carolina, a Masters in
Conducting from Emory University, and the Doctorate of Musical
Arts in Conducting from USC in Columbia, SC.
Dr. Carson serves as an LMEA adjudicator. In 2007,
she founded the New Orleans Summer Chorus, a relaxed, annual summer
performing choral ensemble open to anyone. She has helping the
Jefferson Performing Arts Society re-start their children's choral
program and sings with the Jefferson Chorale under the direction
of Dr. Louise LaBruyère and the NOVA (New Orleans Vocal
Arts) Chorale directed by Dr. Meg Frazier. Caroline is taking
a choral tour to Bulgaria in May 2008.
PIPE DREAMS
by: Frank C. Fromherz II
Vestry and Chairman of Music, Choir and Organ Committee
One of the many items lost due to the flood that followed Katrina
was the church’s organ. The search for a replacement instrument
began more than three years ago while we were holding services
at St. Martin’s Chapel. The search has progressed, and
we have now reached the stage at which we are sharing our information
with the church’s congregation as well as any other interested
person.
Our church was built with a loft that is designed
to hold the pipes, chests, and other equipment associated with
a pipe organ. Even so, for the entire time since St. Paul’s
has existed at its present location, our services have been
accompanied by an electronic organ. The organ that was lost
was a three-manual instrument made by the Allen Organ Company
and was about 25 years old. The instrument that is now played
every Sunday is a two-manual rental unit, also by Allen, that
is not for sale.
 The
basic options for a replacement instrument involve a selection
among the following two general options: new vs. used; pipe
vs. electronic. There are cost factors and longevity factors
associated with each selection. An electronic instrument is
the least costly, but even a new, state-of-the-art electronic
organ can be expected to last only 20 to 30 years. Indeed, our
destroyed instrument was fast approaching the point at which
replacement was needed. New pipe instruments are the most expensive,
but a pipe organ will last indefinitely with proper maintenance.
There is a strong market for used pipe instruments, and this
has been the area of primary focus for our search.
In early 2006, Dr. Jerry Davidson and I followed
an advertisement published in one of the organ periodicals.
The ad offered a 1935 Aeolian-Skinner organ located in Pittsburgh,
PA. Aeolian-Skinner was the Cadillac of American organ builders,
and instruments of this era are particularly excellent. Even
though this appeared to be an attractive instrument, the priorities
at the time made acquisition impossible. In mid-2007, the ad
appeared again, and we determined that this was the same organ
and that it was still available. The organ builder who was selling
the organ was a gentleman named Harry Ebert. Dr. D. and I concluded
that this instrument had strong possibilities for St. Paul’s.
In November 2007, Mr. Ebert visited St. Paul’s,
and we all concluded that we had a match. Funding the purchase
was the major issue. While these discussions proceeded among
myself (Dr. D. had resigned by the is time), the Vestry, and
Mr. Ebert, the church that owned the instrument advertised it
on Ebay without letting Mr. Ebert know they were doing it. St.
Paul’s could not respond, and a church in West Virginia
acquired that organ. But, they didn’t take all of it.
Mr. Ebert retained the three-manual console and a dozen large
bass pipes.
Shortly after this setback, Mr. Ebert became
aware of a church that wanted to sell an organ that he had built
in the mid-1990s. We are currently negotiating with Mr. Ebert
to acquire that organ, increase its size by more than a third,
utilize the Skinner console and the remaining Skinner pipes,
and install the instrument at St. Paul’s. Most importantly,
we have some time before we need to make a firm commitment.
Nearly two years ago, St. Paul’s established
an Organ Fund to finance the purchase of a new instrument. The
fund has received donations from individuals and a grant from
the American Guild of Organists. This past January, the Vestry
approved a campaign to share the information concerning our
search and authorized the placement of a donation box in the
Narthex. Contributions to the Organ Fund are now being received,
and we invite all who would like to do so to support this project.
By the next issue of The Journey, we will have
a firm proposal and will share the full scope of the project.
We are also providing additional information in the form of
a newsletter that can be picked up in the Narthex adjacent to
the donation box. Please consider becoming a partner to this
project with your financial support.
Choir CD's for Sale
Listen to your favorite song performed by
St. Paul's Church Choir and St. Paul's Episcopal School Choir.
CD's are just $10.00 each and are available for purchase by
contacting the church office
504-488-3749 or church@stpaulschurchno.org.
|
|
