Sigma Alpha Iota

Sound bites Grammy Goes to Professional Organist T he American Guild of Organists (AGO) celebrates with its distinguished member, Paul Jacobs, winner of the 2011 GRAMMY Award for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without Orchestra). The award was announced at the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards in Los Angeles on Feb.13, and given in recognition of his CD recording of Olivier Messiaen's Livre du Saint-Sacrement (Naxos, 2010) made at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in New York City. Messiaen's Livre was commissioned by the AGO for the 1986 AGO National Convention in Detroit. "Jacobs is the first organist ever to receive a prestigious GRAMMY Award for a solo recording," declared AGO Executive Director James Thomashower. "For organists everywhere, the day has been made brighter by the light of Paul's stunning accomplishment." "This is indeed an important occurrence for all of us associated with the art of organ playing," Jacobs said. "It has been an ongoing passion of mine to build even a modest bridge from the organ profession to the broader world of music. Young organists must understand that enthusiasm alone — no matter how sincere — is not enough to garner the respect needed to be taken seriously as artists. We must be willing to The AGO is the national professional work tirelessly. We must become wedded to the association serving the organ and choral music beauty of great organ music so that it drives us fields. Founded in 1896 as both an educational to intense devotion to our art; then we will reap and service organization, it sets and maintains golden rewards." high musical standards and promotes the Hailed for his prodigious technique, vivid understanding and appreciation of all aspects of interpretive imagination, and charismatic organ and choral music. showmanship, Jacobs is widely acknowledged for reinvigorating the American organ stage with The purpose of the AGO is to promote a fresh performance style. He has performed the organ in its historic and evolving roles, to the complete organ works encourage excellence in the BY THE NUMBERS of Olivier Messiaen in performance of organ and As of May 2011, nine-hour marathons in choral music, and to provide 490 SAI members listed "organ" eight American cities. Livre a forum for mutual support, du Saint-Sacrement (Book as their primary instrument. inspiration, education, of the Blessed Sacrament) and certification of Guild is Messiaen's last and longest organ work, members. The Guild currently serves more than a thematic cycle based on the sacrament of 20,000 members in more than 340 local chapters Communion comprising eighteen movements, throughout the United States and abroad. many based on the composer's recorded The American Organist Magazine, the official improvisations, arranged into three thematic journal of the AGO, the Royal Canadian College groups. Jacobs is chairman of the organ faculty of Organists, and the Associated Pipe Organ at the Juilliard School and is a frequent featured Builders of America, reaches an audience of performer at AGO Regional and National more than 24,000 each month. Conventions. The GRAMMYs are the only peer-presented CLICK FOR MORE award to honor artistic achievement, technical To learn more about The American proficiency, and overall excellence in the Guild of Organists, visit recording industry, without regard to album sales agohq.org or chart position. MEDLEY continued from page 3 traditional band and orchestral instruments. Patrick Jones uses the term "lifewide and lifelong musicing" to describe the activity of adults whose interests — both in school and in adulthood — extend beyond the musical ensembles typically offered in schools to include less formal and more diverse music-making. The music education being offered may not be preparing them to continue making the kinds of music that engage their interest. The other factor that may hinder development of a lifetime of musicmaking is the emphasis that is placed on the extra-musical social benefits of school music, such as the close bond of friendship that develops in the secondary performance ensembles, and the interdependence of the ensemble members. Loyalty to the group, its members and its director can become the primary motivation for musical participation, yet this musical/ social unit to which students become fiercely loyal is destined to disperse at graduation. If these extrinsic social values supersede the joy and satisfaction of making music as the main motivation for musical participation, it is unlikely that a maturing adult will find similar outlets for music. On the other hand, expertise in reading and playing or singing music, and confidence in music's ability to improve the quality of one's life might be factors that motivate an adult to seek out opportunities to continue interacting with music. At a time when we face reductions in arts education in the public schools as the unintended consequences of budgetary and curricular At a time when we face reductions in arts education in the public schools as the unintended consequences of budgetary and curricular decisions, our profession needs a nation of enthusiastic and engaged amateur musicians who value and support the arts. decisions, our profession needs a nation of enthusiastic and engaged amateur musicians who value and support the arts. And at a time when life seems to become faster-paced and more stressful each day, our citizens need to continue into adulthood the pleasure of making and listening to music that was so influential in their K-12 years. Supporters and practitioners of music education might well consider how we can encourage this engagement with music that will last a lifetime. Barbara Resch is Director of Music Education and the Associate Dean of Visual and Performing Arts at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). She joined SAI as a faculty member of IPFW's Zeta Psi chapter in 1980 and currently is a member of the Fort Wayne Alumnae Chapter. sai-national.org SPRING 2011 PAN PIPES 5

• Cover