Westminster College Students Study Organ in Germany
Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Two Westminster College music majors, Shelley Culver and Craig Dressler, spent 15 days in Germany and the Netherlands taking advantage of the Westminster College International Historic Organ Program.
"Å“The purpose of this visit was to hear and experience North German organs from the 16th to the 21st centuries,"? said Dr. Elizabeth Harrison, assistant professor of music, Westminster College organist, and founder of this program. "Å“We also visited the Ahrend Organ Workshop, one of the most prestigious organ workshops in the world."?
"Å“Playing the great organs of the Netherlands and Germany helped me to develop better articulation and understanding of phrasing when playing my organ repertory,"? Dressler said. "Å“The people of these countries are very proud of their instruments and work hard to preserve them, and the organ is highly respected and used in almost all worship."?
"Å“During a lesson on campus, we talk about articulation and fingering, but sometimes it"â„¢s hard to hear the difference,"? Culver said. "Å“When you play an organ that the music was written for, it"â„¢s so easy to hear the difference and improve almost immediately."?
While in Germany, the students were part of the Marktmusik concert series, where they performed on the Arp-Schnitger organ. The series takes place on Saturdays, when the open market is occurring across the street from the church. People were free to enter and leave, but many stayed for the entire concert.
"Å“There"â„¢s a growing trend toward the historical style of playing, and playing original pipe organs made by Arp Schnitger, one of the most influential organ builders in the world, gives our students a unique opportunity to learn this,"? said Harrison.
"Å“The pipe organs in Germany and the Netherlands are very sensitive to the organist"â„¢s touch because there is a direct connection between the key, which the organists depresses and releases, and the pipes being opened for air to enter, causing them to speak,"? Dressler said. "Å“This allows the organist to truly control all aspects of the music he or she performs."?
"Å“Dr. Harrison is an incredible teacher,"? Culver said. "Å“She knows so much about these organs and the music of the time. This trip was really a great experience."?
Culver, a senior sacred music and music education major, is a daughter of Rickey and Susan Culver, Frewsburg, N.Y. She is a graduate of Frewsburg Central School.
Dressler, a sophomore music performance major, is a son of Douglas and Diane Dressler, Erie. He is a graduate of McDowell High School.
Contact Harrison at (724) 946-7024 or e-mail harrisea@westminster.edu for more information.
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