Wooster Music Club highlights diverse performances at September meeting

The Wooster Music Club met Sept. 2 at Wooster United Methodist Church with Co-president Kathy Helmuth welcoming members and guests.

The first performance of the evening was a Double Reed Duo. Annie Gerig (English horn) and Jay Klemme (bassoon) played Opus 21 “Suite for English Horn and Bassoon” by Alan Hovhaness.

Next on the program was a memorial tribute to Ferne Haghiri, a longtime member of the Wooster Music Club who was an accomplished pianist and organist. The tribute was arranged and presented by Ferne’s daughter Jeannie Haghiri.

Three of Ferne Haghiri’s favorite hymns — “It Is Well with My Soul,” “Be Still My Soul” and “O Day of Peace” — were sung by Jeannie Haghiri and Barb and Jon Wills. The club also listened to recordings of Ferne Haghiri playing “Appalachian Sunrise” by Joseph Martin and “Hymn MacDowell,” composed by Ferne and sung by Jeannie.

Following the tribute, saxophonist Eric W Fairhurst and flutist Margaret Latta performed “Greensleeves,” arranged by Leon Lester, and “Bye, Bye Blackbird” by Ray Henderson.

Hope Long then played the small pipes (bagpipes) while wearing traditional Scottish garb. She played the following tunes: “Sound of Sleat,” a reel by D. MacKinnon; “Itchy Fingers,” a hornpipe by Robert Pinkman; “Drew James MacIntosh,” a jig by Bob Worral; and “Greensleeves,” a traditional English folk song arranged by Janette Montague.

Meg Litteral completed the performance segment of the meeting with readings of her original poems, “Summer Rumble” and “My Walkway.” 

The Wooster Music Club meets the first Tuesday each month from September through May, except January and February, at 6:30 p.m. in Wesley Hall of the Wooster United Methodist Church, and guests are welcome to attend.