Music News

The Organist's Role in Worship

2012-10-22T18:24:02Z

On Sunday, October 3, 1976, I assumed the role of organist for Vine Street Christian Church. For 36 years that role has been a vital part of my ministry in music along with many other responsibilities as Organist-Director of Music Ministries. Selecting music and providing organ and piano music for worship services and other occasions like funerals and weddings at Vine Street has been a privilege and a blessing for me. After Sunday, October 28, 2012, I will retire from that role! I look forward to some retirement fun but plan to continue to teach organ and piano privately. In the future I will also serve as supply organist in the Nashville area and at Vine Street.

The role of the organist at most churches includes selecting appropriate music for organ voluntaries, leading the congregatonal hymn singing and responses, and accompanying rehearsals and gifts of music provided by choirs and other musicians. The leadership of the organ in worship is a strong part of Vine Street's musical heritage. On my first Sunday at Vine Street, the October 3, 1976 bulletin includes this opening sentence: When the organ sounds let our conversations be directed to God in a spirit of reverence and awe. I do not know who wrote that statement but at the time, worship was to begin with the first note of the organ for the Prelude and ended with the last note of the Postlude.

The role of the organist in worship today continues to be an important one. Although Vine Street uses many additional musical resources in worship, the sound of the organ is strongly linked to our church experiences. "When the organ sounds" we can be called to a worship experience filled with moments of reflection, times of awe and reverence, songs of praise, and opportunities for dedication, healing, peace, and joy. It is important that we join together to commune with God through many gifts of music .

On my Retirement Sunday, October 28, I will play two organ selections based on the chorale "In Thee Is Gladness". Johann Sebastian Bach's traditional Baroque setting of the chorale will be the 10:45 Service Postlude. My 2:00 PM Retirement Celebration Concert will end with an "Afro-Cuban" dance setting by contemporary German composer Johannes Matthias Michel. Come share the gladness with me!

Blessings and peace, Julia

Soli Deo Gloria!

Robert E. Binkley, Vine Street's Chancel Choir Director for 25 years.

2012-10-08T22:28:36Z

On October 5, after a valiant battle with cancer, Bob Binkley joined the heavenly choir! We can imagine the joy his voice has added to the tenor section and him sharing his gifts as an experienced choir director.

Bob is greatly missed by his family and the many friends and students he taught and directed. His skills at teaching the joy of singing with best choral sounds and creating top quality musical experiences in school, church, and community settings are well known. During his 25 years at Vine Street, the Chancel Choir was challenged and lifted to high levels of musical excellence and presented community concerts of major works including Handel's MESSIAH, Shaw's MANY MOODS OF CHRISTMAS, and REQUIEM settings by Archer, Faure', Mozart, and Rutter.

A memorial service for Bob is being planned for Friday, October 12 at 7:00 pm at Vine Street. All available choir singers will rehearse Thursday at 7:00. We hope you will join us.

Gabriel's Oboe

2012-09-24T18:11:14Z

We welcome oboist Roger Wiesmeyer, member of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, as guest musician in 10:45 worship on September 30. Roger's beautiful oboe sound will be heard during the service prelude. He and I will play "Gabriel's Oboe" as arranged by Nashville organist Dr. Wilma Jensen from music Ennio Morricone wrote for the movie, "The Mission". If you are not familiar with this movie, check it out on the internet.

During the service Roger and I will play an "Aria" from one of J. S. Bach's cantatas. Funds for guest musicians at Vine Street are made possible by your support of the operating budget and special designated gifts to the Ministry of Music.

Fall Rehearsals resume in the Vine Street Choir Room!

2012-09-20T20:02:30Z

About a dozen young Vine Street choristers have begun regular Children's Choir rehearsals in the choir room with T.J. and Katie McLaughlin on Wednesdays from 6:30-7:15 p.m. We encourage all Vine Street families with children to enable their children to join in the fun! We look forward to hearing the children sing in worship soon.

The Chancel Choir led by T.J. McLaughlin continues to rehearse at 9:30 AM on Sundays and welcomes new singers at any time. If you have been in worship recently, you have noticed that the choir is not robing or sitting in the Chancel every Sunday. We are trying this to allow choir members to help lead hymn singing from the pews and also to sit with other family members more often.

Thank you for your support of the Vine Street Choir Program through your (or your children's) participation in choirs, special gifts for music purchases, and helping us spread the word of the importance of our choirs musical leadership in the worship life of the congregation.

In words attributed to Martin Luther, "As long as we live, there is never enough singing."

Planning for the Future of Vine Street's Music Ministry!

2012-07-27T00:06:00Z

The August VINE arrived in my mailbox today with the good news that T.J. and Katie McLaughlin have agreed to become Directors of Music Ministries on September 1. That is good news indeed and I look forward to helping them transition into this new position before I retire at the end of October.

During this time of transition, we will share ideas as discussions continue on the future of the Music Ministry of Vine Street. We are blessed with many musical resources in the church and community and we look for ways to make the best use of those resources to enhance our worship and Christian Education experiences at Vine Street.

Hiring an Organist/Pianist is next on the Personnel Committee's agenda as they work with T.J. and Katie to complete the music staff for 2012-2013. We hope this process can be completed before I "get off the bench" on October 28 following my 2:00 PM Retirement Celebration Concert!

For those asking about my plans, I will remain in Nashville and continue to teach organ and piano and do more symphony volunteer work. After a few months, I might join the Nashville AGO List of Supply Organists. I do look forward to having time to worship from the pew, to travel, and to visit with my mother in NC.

Hymns, Waffles and a Harpguitar?

2012-07-16T21:41:05Z

Sunday is the final summer gathering for waffles and hymn singing! Please join us at 9:30 in the fellowship hall for yummy waffles ($5 for adults) prepared by Vine Street Youth and help us sing some of your hymn favorites from the CHALICE HYMNAL. This hymn sing will be dedicated to the memory of Howard Evans who loved singing hymns old and new.

In our 10:45 worship service Sunday, guest musician, Tom Shinness, will play his harpguitar to accompany Jan Volk. Check for information on the internet about this unusual instrument Tom created which combines the sound of guitar with the lush harplike sounds of a zither.

See you Sunday!

Nashville Welcomes American Guild of Organists (AGO) National Convention!

2012-06-26T12:57:58Z

Over 1300 organists, choir directors, and supporters of choirs and organs have registered to attend the National AGO Convention, July 1-6, 2012, right here in Nashville! Complete information about the convention may be found on the convention website www.ago2012.org. The first official convention event will be a thrilling Opening Worship Service at First Baptist Church at 7:30 Sunday night.

Many of the larger churches in Nashville will be hosting competitions, concerts, and worship services. You might even see AGO convention buses headed out West End on July 2 and 3 and in the Vine Street parking lot. Several events will take place at Schermerhorn Symphony Center and a concert by Straight No Chaser at the Ryman on July 3. Contact Julia Callaway for information about tickets and events open to public.

Sound the Trumpet, Play the Pipes

2012-06-16T17:16:40Z

On Sunday, June 24 we welcome Paul Epp as guest trumpeter for our 10:45 service. Paul is a freelance performer, composer, arranger and educator in and around Nashville, TN . He has degrees from the Blair School of Music and the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. We thank Marcina Clark for putting us in touch with Paul.

In the recent celebrations of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth, we heard much stirring music by English composers. In addition to JERUSALEM (O Day of Peace), we heard the tune THAXTED. This tune first appeared as a theme in the Jupiter section of Holst's "The Planets". A wonderful hymn text "O God Beyond All Praising" has been set to that tune. We will practice this new hymn during our "Waffles and Hymns" at 9:30 next Sunday. In 10:45 worship we will hear a "Festival Prelude for Trumpet and Organ" based on THAXTED and then sing the hymn together.

Summer Music Plans at Vine Street - beginning Sunday, June 3!

2012-05-29T22:09:51Z

An 8:30 Special Music team will lead music for the 8:30 worship during June. Marcina Clark, Jack Wallace, and Erica Well have plans to make this early service extra special with old and new songs to sing. If you like to get an early start on your Sunday, 8:30 worship will be the place to be!

If you attend 8:30 worship or 10:45 worship, we hope you have read about plans for "Waffles and Hymns" at Vine Street. The first one is June 3! On three summer Sundays during the 9:30 hour, we will gather for yummy waffles and a chance to sing some favorite hymns and prepare new ones for worship. T.J. McLaughlin, Chancel Choir Director and I will lead the sessions on June 3 and June 24.

Love the sound of the flute? On June 3, Noelle McIntyre will bring her flute for special music during 10:45 service. This will be Noelle's last Sunday with us before she moves to Texas.

On Sunday the Chancel Choir will present Stainer's "God So Loved the World" . Summer rehearsal schedule for Chancel Choir begins next week: 7:00 PM Thursdays, June 7 and 21, and July 12 and 26.

Stay cool in worship this summer!

Children's Choir in Worship on Mother's Day!

2012-05-08T16:53:16Z

On Mother's Day, May 13, the Children's Choir will complete their second year under Marcina Clark's leadership. As part of the Children's Conversaton time, we will recognize our singing children and the conclusion of Marcina's leadership as Director of Music for Youth and Children. We greatly appreciate the many musical gifts Marcina has given us in that position and her hard work to involve as many youth and children as possible in the Ministry of Music at Vine Street. Thank you, Marcina!!!