Creating an Ecstatic, Engaged Audience
Have you ever wondered how you might help create an organ concert audience that is engaged, walks away ecstatic, and wanting more of the same?
Are you at the end of your rope trying to find a way to enliven your concert series programming?
Do you want to draw people from the general community with a program that is new, relevant, and able to perpetuate important music and playing into the future?
Welcome to From Sea to Shining Sea, an organ and multi-media concert experience that gives an audience the opportunity to:
From Sea to Shining Sea blends various artistic elements into one story:
A Mayflower descendant?
I am Jeannine Jordan and I am a Mayflower descendant. What does that mean? Well, it means my relatives were the first Europeans who crossed the Atlantic in 1620 on the ship, The Mayflower, to make their home in what was to become the United States of America. Years ago, I needed a dissertation topic. Loving the history and music of our country, and coupled with the fact that I am related to its earliest settlers, I decided to research the lives and times of organists in the colonies and new United States. These are the stories and music I share in From Sea to Shining Sea.
What do dusty church attics
have to do with this concert?
Sitting in dusty church attics, historical archives, and museums in cities up and down the East Coast,
I started putting together
the picture of the early American organ, its players, and its music by reading the diaries kept by prominent citizens of those first American communities. There are stories and music I’ll share with you that you won’t hear anywhere else. They are simply too good to keep buried in a dissertation locked away in a library.
Brother Wilhelm Grabs --
shoemaker, oxcart driver, or organist?
Besides being the person chosen to deliver an organ to Wachovia, upon his arrival, Br. Grabs was informed of his new calling – that of learning to play the little organ as well.
What was this group of men doing in Philadelphia?
In bold and rash steps on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed by a group of men committed to the establishment of the United States of America. By signing this document, it meant the battle lines were then formally drawn and the loosely organized colonies were at war with England. This led to the Battle of Trenton.
Described musically by Mr. James Hewitt, this uniquely American programmatic sonata thrills audiences today just as it did in the 18th century.
For a downloadable pdf of the From Sea to Shining Sea program and the individual organ pieces played, click here.
Really? A woman in a boat? Niagara Falls?
Organ concert material?
Yes, this dare devil of a woman, Annie Edson Taylor actually lived to tell about her unimaginable journey over the falls. Hear about what happened and see some pictures that are quite harrowing.
Discover how several prominent women organists held their own during this time.
Consider the year 1751. What was popular?
Ah… a pipe organ! Now there was an instrument to behold. Under the able fingers and feet of one player a wondrous plethora of sounds and harmonies could be produced. Expressly for this reason, the organ became hugely popular. It was reported that a 20-rank pipe organ built by a Mr. Johann Schmahl created such a stir that an immense crowd came a great distance – some traveling ten, twenty, thirty, forty, and even fifty hours’ journey in order to see and hear this marvel! Do you think the person traveling those 50 hours was the organist’s mother?
There was a virtual explosion of American organ builders in the 18 and 19th centuries.
David’s stunning visuals will take you to the Battle for Baltimore where Francis Scott Key penned the now famous text to what was to become our National Anthem
The Star-Spangled Banner quickly became one of the nation’s best-loved patriotic songs and officially became our National Anthem in 1931.
From Sea to Shining Sea completes its journey with Dudley Buck’s glorious arrangement of The Star Spangled Banner. The power of this piece wonderfully expressed with organ, images, and video, that brings every audience to its feet in great appreciation of the entire experience.
For a free downloadable pdf of the From Sea to Shining Sea program and the individual organ pieces played, click here.
Contact us now for bookings of this highly acclaimed multi-media concert for the 2016-20017 season.jeannine@fromseatoshiningsea.net or
541-905-0108e
Have you ever wondered how you might help create an organ concert audience that is engaged, walks away ecstatic, and wanting more of the same?
Are you at the end of your rope trying to find a way to enliven your concert series programming?
Do you want to draw people from the general community with a program that is new, relevant, and able to perpetuate important music and playing into the future?
Welcome to From Sea to Shining Sea, an organ and multi-media concert experience that gives an audience the opportunity to:
- experience the rich history of the organ, its bounty of beautiful music, and its gloriously dazzling aesthetics
- encounter the grandeur of the organ in ways that will involve all their senses
- engage so completely they will want to be part of the conduit to ensure the journey of the instrument and its music, far into the future.
From Sea to Shining Sea blends various artistic elements into one story:
- performance of unique and beloved American concert organ works by Dr. Jordan
- narration by Mayflower descendant, Dr. Jordan, weaves the story together
- creative visuals by David Jordan and live projections on a large screen illustrate the stories and showcase the organ music
A Mayflower descendant?
I am Jeannine Jordan and I am a Mayflower descendant. What does that mean? Well, it means my relatives were the first Europeans who crossed the Atlantic in 1620 on the ship, The Mayflower, to make their home in what was to become the United States of America. Years ago, I needed a dissertation topic. Loving the history and music of our country, and coupled with the fact that I am related to its earliest settlers, I decided to research the lives and times of organists in the colonies and new United States. These are the stories and music I share in From Sea to Shining Sea.
What do dusty church attics
have to do with this concert?
Sitting in dusty church attics, historical archives, and museums in cities up and down the East Coast,
I started putting together
the picture of the early American organ, its players, and its music by reading the diaries kept by prominent citizens of those first American communities. There are stories and music I’ll share with you that you won’t hear anywhere else. They are simply too good to keep buried in a dissertation locked away in a library.
Brother Wilhelm Grabs --
shoemaker, oxcart driver, or organist?
Besides being the person chosen to deliver an organ to Wachovia, upon his arrival, Br. Grabs was informed of his new calling – that of learning to play the little organ as well.
What was this group of men doing in Philadelphia?
In bold and rash steps on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed by a group of men committed to the establishment of the United States of America. By signing this document, it meant the battle lines were then formally drawn and the loosely organized colonies were at war with England. This led to the Battle of Trenton.
Described musically by Mr. James Hewitt, this uniquely American programmatic sonata thrills audiences today just as it did in the 18th century.
For a downloadable pdf of the From Sea to Shining Sea program and the individual organ pieces played, click here.
Really? A woman in a boat? Niagara Falls?
Organ concert material?
Yes, this dare devil of a woman, Annie Edson Taylor actually lived to tell about her unimaginable journey over the falls. Hear about what happened and see some pictures that are quite harrowing.
Discover how several prominent women organists held their own during this time.
Consider the year 1751. What was popular?
Ah… a pipe organ! Now there was an instrument to behold. Under the able fingers and feet of one player a wondrous plethora of sounds and harmonies could be produced. Expressly for this reason, the organ became hugely popular. It was reported that a 20-rank pipe organ built by a Mr. Johann Schmahl created such a stir that an immense crowd came a great distance – some traveling ten, twenty, thirty, forty, and even fifty hours’ journey in order to see and hear this marvel! Do you think the person traveling those 50 hours was the organist’s mother?
There was a virtual explosion of American organ builders in the 18 and 19th centuries.
David’s stunning visuals will take you to the Battle for Baltimore where Francis Scott Key penned the now famous text to what was to become our National Anthem
The Star-Spangled Banner quickly became one of the nation’s best-loved patriotic songs and officially became our National Anthem in 1931.
From Sea to Shining Sea completes its journey with Dudley Buck’s glorious arrangement of The Star Spangled Banner. The power of this piece wonderfully expressed with organ, images, and video, that brings every audience to its feet in great appreciation of the entire experience.
For a free downloadable pdf of the From Sea to Shining Sea program and the individual organ pieces played, click here.
Contact us now for bookings of this highly acclaimed multi-media concert for the 2016-20017 season.jeannine@fromseatoshiningsea.net or
541-905-0108e