Misson Statement: ArtsPlymouth is a series dedicated to presenting arts events for the spiritual enrichment of the congregation of Plymouth Church and the community which it serves.

ArtsPlymouth has presented fifty-nine programs since its inception in 1996 and ArtsPlymouth provides funding at the Buckeye-Woodland Elementary School for music/art programing. In 2004, ArtsPlymouth received the 2004 Sunshine Award, presented by Young Audiences of Greater Cleveland, for outstanding service to the community.

In 2006, ArtsPlymouth celebrated its 10th anniversary by launching summer events using both the indoor and the outdoor spaces of Plymouth Church. These events were met with great enthusiasm. For more details and/ or information about ArtsPlymouth call 216.921.3510 x34.

Music Staff

James P. Riggs, Director of Music/Organist

Abigail Rockwood, Music Intern

Nicole Batson, Jennifer Rice, Robert Davis, and Michael Parry, soloists

Plymouth has long been known for its strong music program. Music is a gift from God, and we offer our music back to God in thanksgiving for the gift. Music speaks to the soul, deepening our worship experience. Music ministry at Plymouth seeks to provide for children and adults, of all ages, as many opportunities as possible to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord" through singing as well as on instruments as diverse as drums, handbells, Orff instruments recorder, organ and piano, strings, and brass. It is our prayer that you will consider joining us in praising God through music.

• Chancel Choir
  The choir rehearses on Thursday evenings from 8 pm-9:30 pm September through April and prior to worship on Sunday. The choir is comprised of adults and high school students who enjoy preparing and offering a wide variety of anthems and large works.
  
  
• Children's Choirs
  A.N.D. (A New Day) is a new music/art ministry for children in grades K-4 that meets on Wednesday's from 6:30 pm-7 pm January through March. Rehearsals begin January 9, 2008. (contact the Director of Music/Organist for a complete listing of events).
  
  
  
• Handbell Choir
  In 1995 Plymouth began a Handbell Choir which has been received by the
  congregation with enthusiasm. A new four octave set of handbells was donated
  and dedicated in December, 1997. The Plymouth Ringers (adults) rehearses
  Thursday evenings from 6:45 pm--7:45 pm.
  
  
• Special Choirs
  The Summer Choir sings at various times during June, July and August with a brief rehearsal on Sunday mornings at 9:15 AM. (contact the Director of Music/Organist for a complete schedule).
  
  
  Music Outreach at Plymouth
  

Music Together--music and movement for newborns to age 5 and the adults who love them. Anne Murphy, director. For more information or to enroll in a class visit www.MusicTogether4kids.com or call 440.543.5025.

Cleveland Institute of Music--contact the Preparaatory Division for information about music lessons at www.cim.edu/prepContEd or call 216.791.5000.

A HISTORY OF THE SANCTUARY ORGANS

FROM THE PAST......

The first organ in the sanctuary of Plymouth Church was a Skinner organ installed in 1923 by the E.M. Skinner Organ Company of Boston, Mass. The cost of the project was $21,000. On March 18, 1923, James H. Rogers, Organist and Director at Plymouth as well as Music Editor for the Cleveland News and the Cleveland Plain Dealer, played the inaugural recital to a crowd of 750.

The Skinner organ console was placed far above the chancel area in its own loft and the instrument was placed behind a facade. In addition the original choir loft was quite small because there was no choir, but a paid quartet in the tradition of the time. The organ contained more than 3,000 pipes playable from four manuals and pedal keyboard. In 1940 several more ranks of pipes were added.

By the late 1930's plans were under way to expand the choir loft to accommodate more singers and enable the singers to follow the direction of the organist, but the coming of the war years brought a halt to this plan. Discussions continued well into the 1950's. Plymouth decided to hire a full-time church musician in the 1950's; however, several candidates declined the position due to the small choir loft which would prevent them from expanding the choir program. Finally in 1954 James Darling accepted this position--a post he assumed until 1961 when he left for Bruton Parish in Williamsburg,VA, a position he still holds today. At this time John D. Herr was appointed Director of Music.

"A resolution was passed by the Board of Trustees of Plymouth Church at the January 10, 1962 meeting to appoint a committee to investigate thoroughly the installation of a new organ, or rebuilding the present one [Skinner organ] , along with remodeling of the choir loft and chancel." With Mr. Herr as adviser, Mrs. Brown M. Dobyns served as chairperson of this committee. At the April 10, 1963, Board of Trustees meeting the organ committee presented an organ proposal recommending that the Holtkamp Organ Company of Cleveland Ohio install a new organ at a cost of $70,000. At a congregational meeting in May the recommendation of remodeling the chancel area, lowering the choir loft, and the purchase of a new organ was approved. Total project cost was estimated between $100,000 to $110,000.

One day after the May congregational meeting, the C. Bert McDonald Charitable Trust made a gift to Plymouth Church which covered the entire cost of the organ ($70,380). The organ contract was signed on June 27, 1963. The Skinner organ was sold to the Toledo Pipe Organ Company for $3,000. [Note: Recently, via the Internet, Plymouth located the Skinner organ, opus 310, which is now in operation at Church of the Transfiguration, Orleans, Massachusetts]. The chancel remodeling began in June 1964 and was completed in September of that year. The new Holtkamp organ was installed and dedicated on December 18, 1964. To quote from the 1964 bulletin cover, "This American instrument embraces principles of organ building and composition from the Classical era of the 17th and 18th centuries. It is an instrument designed to perform literature of all periods in a meaningful manner to today's congregation." The Holtkamp organ consisted of three manuals and a pedal keyboard, with 2,851 pipes divided into 53 ranks of 40 stops. During this time Mr. Herr brought Plymouth to a new height in musical excellence.

TO THE PRESENT.......

After Mr. Herr's sudden death in 1993, Dr. Peter V. Picerno was called as Plymouth's next Director of Music. In September of 1996 Dr. Picerno presented a report to Mr. John Schier and members of the Music Committee on long range plans concerning liturgy, worship, music, and the sanctuary organ. This comprehensive report addressed issues concerning the inflexibility of the choir loft, the poor acoustical situation, and the state of the organ as addressed by several organ builders who were invited to assess the present state of the Holtkamp organ. No action was taken at that time. A year later Dr. Picerno resigned from his position.

Two months after being called as Plymouth's fourth Director of Music/Organist, James P. Riggs was advised, in September of 1998 by the Expenditure Oversight Committee (EOC), that the sanctuary would be renovated during the summer of 1999. Although no funding had been set aside for an organ project during the Capital Campaign, questions were being asked as to the state of the organ, redesigning the chancel area, etc. Clearly in January of 1999 there were many unanswered questions concerning the sanctuary/organ renovation; therefore, the project was postponed until the summer of 2000.

An organ committee consisting of Jane Hitchcock, Ida Mercer, Norma Nelson, John Schier, and Jim Riggs, as advisor, was formed. During the summer of 1999 the organ committee solicited bids and ideas from four different builders including the Holtkamp Organ Co. Each builder made a presentation to the committee. The bids ranged from $90,000 to $400,000. One builder was unanimously voted as being the best to do the job; however, his bid was at approximately $160,000. By then the EOC had set aside $100,000 with another $20,000 coming from the Foundation Fund as voted on by church council on November 17, 1999. It was apparent that the $120,000 would not be enough to complete the project as hoped. Two anonymous donors came forward-one with a $25,000 contribution and another with a $5,000 contribution to be put towards the organ project. The remaining funds came one last time from the Foundation Fund.

On January 6, 2000 a contract was signed with Tim Hemry of the Hemry Pipe Organ Co. from Novelty, OH to do the necessary organ renovations at a total cost of $166,233. Following the Laural School graduation on June 8, 2000, all the pipes and the console were removed and construction began. The organ renovation consists of refurbishing the console to make it moveable, the addition of new solid state switching systems including 128 levels of combination action memory with full MIDI capabilities, and three programable crescendos. All pipes, chests, and chambers were cleaned and all current pipework re-voiced. Six new ranks of pipes are being added. When completed the organ will consist of 3,217 pipes divided into 59 ranks.
The extension of the chancel floor and the removal of the carpet from the chancel has greatly improved the acoustics of both the organ and the choir. Moving the choir out from underneath the organ chests has created a better environment for choral singing. The additional space gained allows for much flexibility with guest instrumentalists, handbell choirs, and future musicals.

TO THE FUTURE......

Between 1923 and 1964 forty-one years passed. Between 1964 and 2000 thirty-six years passed. Every thirty-five to forty years is normal for repairs, updates, etc. In another forty years this writer will be seventy-two. Will a current member of the Westminster Handchimes Choir or the Joyful Noise Choir oversee the next renovation?

We at Plymouth have been blessed with so much. How appropriate on this Thanksgiving Sunday, November 19, 2000, we rededicate this Holtkamp/Hemry pipe organ to the honor and glory of God. Plymouth has always been a cutting-edge church. With this newly renovated space and organ we have only begun to explore the many worship and ministry possibilities that lie ahead.

This report was prepared by James P. Riggs
November 2000
Early information from music archives

PipeScreams V
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
5:45 pm--dinner
7:00 pm--program

Come in your costume for dinner and costume judging. Reservations are a must for dinner by calling 216.921.3510 by Monday, October 22. At 7:00 pm a program of bone shaking music for all featuring the "Dracula Suite" on the King of Instruments--the pipe organ.

Choir Master Class with

Dr. Rollo Dilworth
Monday, November 5, 2007
10:00 am--2:00 pm

Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities and Music Education at North Park University School of Music in Chicago, Dr. Dilworth will lead master classes on selected pieces of his music compositions as well as the African-American tradition. Participating choirs are The Arts Academy of Lorain and Cleveland, The Cleveland School of the Arts, and The Cleveland Boychoir. Area choir directors are invited to attend this event to observe Dr. Dilworth.

Gloria by Antonio Vivaldi
Sunday, December 16, 2007
10:30 am

The Chancel Choir, female soloists, and chamber orchestra offer this excellent Baroque work for the Third Sunday of Advent.

2008 Handbell Reading Session
Saturday, January 12, 2008
9:30 am--4:00 pm

A FREE ring through of new handbell issues. Registrants will be the sight-readers for the sessions. Contact Lynn at B&Y Music Co.(440.331.5343) to make a reservation.

9:30 am--12 noon 2-3 octave music

12 noon--1:30 pm lunch on your own

1:30 pm-- 4:00 pm 3-5 octave music

Music will be available for purchase at the end of each session.

Mardi Gras Celebration
Sunday, February 3, 2008
10:30 am

Dig out your "favorite hat" and wear it to worship. This fourth annual event has become a favorite at Plymouth. Brunch follows worship with the King/Queen's cake, the crowning of the King/Queen and the hat parade. Reservations are a must for the brunch by calling 216.921.3510 by Wednesday, January 30.

Dona Nobis Pacem
Sunday, March 2, 2008
3:00 pm--First Baptist Church, 3630 Farimount Blvd.

In a world filled with violence and war, the choirs of Fairmount Presbyterian Church, First Baptist Church and Plymouth Church join forces, with orchestra, to present Ralph Vaughan Williams' "Dona Nobis Pacem" (Grant Us Peace) and "Serenade to Music." Robert Porco, guest conductor. General Admission and Preferred Seating available. Tickets may be purchased by calling 216.932.7480

Brentano String Quartet with Todd Palmer, clarinet
Friday, March 14, 2008
7:30 pm

The Cleveland Museum of Art presents this award-winning quartet in a program of music by Mendelssohn, Janacek, and Brahms. Tickets required and available by calling 216. 421.7350 or online at www.clevelandart.org/viva

"The Glory of Christ"

Hymn Festival with

K. Lee Scott
Sunday, April 6, 2008
7:30 pm

Sponsored by The Cleveland Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and ArtsPlymouth, area church choirs come together to rehearse and then present a hymn festival to the public at 7:30 pm with brass, handbells, and organ.

The organ installed in the rear balcony of the Chapel in 1998 by William Visscher Associates, was built in 1844 in East Cambridge, MA by George Stevens. It has two manuals (keyboards), pedal, and 23 stops. It was probably originally installed in St. Mary's Church in Boston. In the 1870's the organ was moved to First Baptist Church of Groton, MA where it remained for over a hundred years. When First Baptist Church built a new sanctuary too small to accommodate the organ in 1975, the instrument was purchased by Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania where it remained in storage. In 1986, the organ was purchased by St. Augustin Church of Scotts Valley, CA-its fourth home. The organ was completely restored, which included the removal of sixteen layers of paint from its case, and was refurbished when it was installed in St. Augustin Church.

In its 153 years of life, the organ has remained largely unchanged. With the exception of the pipes of the present Trumpet stop, which have replaced those of the original Trumpet stop, all of the pipes of the remaining seventeen manual stops are original. In the 1960's the pedal division, which in its original form probably consisted of only one stop, was expanded by the addition of three new sets of pipes comprising six stops. The wind system was also updated at about the same time so that the organ now uses a self-contained electric blower and one large wind-reservoir. Otherwise, the windchests, playing mechanism, keyboards, stop-knobs, and casework are original.