Robert Shaw

Rodney K. Hansen, a nationally known concert organist who was the organist at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Baltimore, died Tuesday of cancer at the Gilchrist Center for Hospice Care. The Bolton Hill resident was 64.Admired for his graceful style of playing, Mr. Hansen had been organist and choirmaster of Old St. Paul's Episcopal Church for 19 years before he was appointed organist at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in 1991."He had a style all his own and a majestic way of playing. He had a touch and an assurance that set him aside from other organists," said the Rev. R. Douglas Pitt, senior minister at Old St. Paul's.

Annapolis guitar maker John Ingram was dozing in front of the TV one night when he was startled by music as familiar as his own voice. On the screen was guitarist Scott Patton, performing with the country/pop band Sugarland. And the sound that Ingram knew so intimately was coming from Patton's electric guitar , custom designed and built by Ingram and his creative partner, Eric Johnson of Bowie. While Ingram hadn't expected to see Sugarland on television that evening, it wasn't a surprise that Patton was playing the guitar that the partners call the Seneca, named for Seneca Lake in New York state, where Johnson's grandfather had a summer place.

The Weekend Watch:LOOKING BACK -- A pair of shows tonight review the arts and entertainment past. At 8 o'clock on ABC (Channel 13), "Entertainers '91: The Top 20 of the Year" is a celebration of the past year's most influential figures as chosen by cable's E! Entertainment network. Comedian Dennis Miller is the host. And at 9 p.m. on CBS (Channel 11), the annual "Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts" program pays tribute to Roy Acuff, Betty Comden & Adolph Green, The Nicholas Brothers, Gregory Peck and Robert Shaw.

A little more than 15 percent of Taneytown's registered voters showed that they were satisfied with the status quo yesterday by re-electing their incumbent councilmen to four-year terms.Thomas J. Denike, Henry C. Heine Jr. and James L. McCarron won the three seats by total votes of 184, 173 and 151, respectively.Political newcomer Roger Keller, a county road maintenance worker who was the only challenger, received 70 votes.Election Supervisor Linda M. Hess said the voter turnout -- 209 out of the city's 1,379 eligible voters -- was one of the lowest in the last few elections.

The "St. John Passion" of Johann Sebastian Bach is on my mind these days, not just because of the generally unsatisfactory account of it given recently by the Annapolis Chorale, but because of an extraordinary new recording just released to coincide with the Easter season. Bach's musical setting of the Gospel of John is captured in all its gritty, dramatic splendor by Japan's premier baroque specialist, Masaaki Suzuki, who presides over a remarkable "Johannespassion" on Scandinavia's BIS label.

Just as Nicolas Cage solves puzzles and follows cryptic clues to find the treasure of the Knights Templar in the action-adventure National Treasure, viewers must discover clues scattered throughout the DVD extras to access even more special features. The extras include deleted scenes and a weak alternate ending with commentary from director Jon Turteltaub, a behind-the-scenes documentary, a look at the history of the Knights Templar and a featurette on contemporary treasure hunters. (Disney, $30)

Although 1993 is the 50th anniversary of the death of Sergei Rachmaninov and although he was one of the 20th century's greatest composers, there has been little in the way of celebration this year. Whether this is because the composer's powerful (and ever growing) grip on the standard repertory makes celebration unnecessary or because Rachmaninov's unreconstructed romanticism continues to make him unfashionable is impossible to say.It is with qualified gratitude, therefore, that one heard the Baltimore Choral Arts Society and its music director, Tom Hall, celebrate Rachmaninov last night at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen with a performance of his "Vespers."

CHICAGO -- After dropping murder charges against two boys, ages 7 and 8, in the brutal slaying of an 11-year-old girl, police officials say they are taking a closer look at how they treat juvenile offenders.The police charged the boys on Aug. 9 after saying they had confessed to the murder of Ryan Harris. No lawyer or parent was present during the questioning.Police spokesman Pat Camden said the department was talking with the state's attorney's office about requiring officers and prosecutors to videotape interviews with suspects younger than 12 and having a parent or guardian present at such questioning.

The Carroll County commissioners unanimously enacted an ordinance yesterday that will allow bioscience research facilities to operate in areas zoned for agriculture. The ordinance could affect any possible expansion of Spring Valley Laboratories in Woodbine, the county's only animal research facility. The facility, on a 110-acre farm, has housed labs for breeding and testing animals since 1980. The business tests vaccines and has contracts with the National Institutes of Health and several private companies.

If it's after 8 p.m., turn to Nickelodeon. Now."Melrose Place" (8 p.m.-9 p.m., WBFF, Channel 45) -- Loni Anderson leaves. Somebody dies. Fox."Star Trek: Voyager" (8 p.m.-9 p.m., WNUV, Channel 54) -- Michael McKean is an extraterrestrial clown who's anything but a barrel of yucks. UPN."Chicago Hope" (10 p.m.-11 p.m., WJZ, Channel 13) -- Mandy Patinkin's Dr. Geiger sweeps back into town, dressed as a clown. Does he know Michael McKean's alien? CBS."The Beast" (9 p.m.-11 p.m., WBAL, Channel 11)