Historic American Organs #2623
. . . though ours is not nearly the tradition of Europe, early American builders have crafted some authentic marvels.
Hour 1
WILLIAM BILLINGS: Chester (1800 Diefenbach/Historical Society, Reading, PA). CHARLES IVES: Variations on America –E. Power Biggs (1875 Hutchings-Plaisted/1st Universalist Church, Woodstock, VT) Columbia MS 6161 (LP)
ANONYMOUS: Air & Prelude, fr Caspar Schaffer’s Book I (1790) –Philip Cooper (1776 Tannenberg/Moravian Historical Society, Nazareth, PA) Cooper 3
CHRISTIAN LATROBE: 2 Preludes in g/G –Peter Sykes (1800 Tannenberg/Visitors Center, Old Salem, NC) Raven 700
JOHN KNOWLES PAINE: Fantasia and Fugue in e, Op. 2, no. 1 –Murray Forbes Somerville (1863 Hook/Immaculate Conception Church, Boston, MA) Raven 460. The church for which this fantastic instrument was built has closed and the organ been removed to storage by the Organ Clearing House and awaits a better future.
DANIEL PINKHAM: Four Short Pieces. CARSON COOMAN: Planctus II (2012) –Rhonda Sider Edgington (1863 Jardine/1st Baptist Church, Hudson, WI) PD Archive (r. 8/5/17)
VICTOR HERBERT: American Fantasy (1902) –Peter Richard Conte (1930 Aeolian/Longwood Gardens Ballroom, Kennett Square, PA) PD Archive (r. 2/4/11)
Filler – IVES (see above)
Hour 2
JOHANN FRIEDRICH PETER: Glory be to Him –Gloria Dei Cantores/Elizabeth Patterson; David Chalmers (1864 Hook/Mechanic’s Hall, Worcester, MA) Gloria Dei Cantores 010
ANONYMOUS: 3 Pieces in D (Viva; La Belle Catharina; Stony Point), fr Sam Geehr’s Music Book (1797) –Philip Cooper (1791 Tannenberg/Zion Lutheran Church, Spring City, PA) Cooper 3
HORATIO PARKER: Melody & Intermezzo in A, Op. 20, no. 3 –David Craighead (1864 Hook/Mechanics Hall, Worcester, MA) Gothic 49021
ARCHER GIBSON: Fantasy & Fugue in f –Rollin Smith (1883 Roosevelt/1st Congregational Church, Great Barrington, MA) Repertoire Recording Society 12
HERMAN BERLINSKI: Sukkoth, fr The Three Festivals –Thom Miles (1866 Koehnken & Grimm/Plum Street Temple, Cincinnati OH) Arsis 157
DUDLEY BUCK: Grand Sonata in E-flat, Op. 22…(i.) Allegro con brio –George Bozeman (1860 Hook/St. John’s Catholic Church, Bangor, ME) PD Archive (r. 7/18/02); (ii) Andante espressivo –David Schrader (1883 Johnson & Son/St Paul Catholic Church, Valparaiso, IN) OHS 02; iii.) Scherzo --James Hamman (1863 Hook/St. John’s Episcopal Church, Quincey, IL) Raven 916; (iv.) Allegro maestoso-Fugue on Hail Columbia –Richard Morris (1876 Hook/St. Joseph’ Cathedral, Buffalo, NY) New World Records 280
Filler – PAINE: Fugue in e (see above)
The Organ Historical Society is the premiere advocacy organization dealing with the documentation and promotion of our American pipe organ heritage. The OHS Archives and Database are invaluable resources in preserving information and spreading awareness of these priceless pieces of our nation’s musical past.
All PIPEDREAMS programs this month are devoted to the organ art in the United States.
PIPEDREAMS is supported in loving memory of Lucinda and Wesley Dudley by their family, with additional support from Walter McCarthy, Clara Ueland, and the Greystone Foundation, from Ed and Wanda Eichler, and from the Andover Organ Company of Methuen, MA and the Bedient Pipe Organ Company of Lincoln, NE, members of APOBA, the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America, a collaborative of designers, creators, and maintainers of pipe organs found in religious and educational institutions, concert halls, and residences throughout the United States and beyond. An APOBA resource guide and member prospectus is available at APOBA.COM.
