A tribute to the famous French organbuilder Aristide Cavaillé-Coll [1811—1899] whose vision created a new style of instrument and whose generosity encouraged artists who would maximize its potential.
an innovative collection of unusual music inspired by the African continent and the African experience, as created by composers both white and black, African and African-American.
powerful music for organ, winds, brasses and percussion, performed in concert at the Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, TX. The late Paul Riedo plays the 84-rank C.B. Fisk pipe organ in concert with the Dallas Wind Symphony, recorded May 18, 1993, Frederick Fennell conducts. This same ensemble repertoire, plus other selections, was later recorded in sessions at the Meyerson for an exceptional compact disc release from Reference Recordings, RR-58CD. The solo selections come from a compact disc by David Higgs, Delos DE-3148CD.
The passionate and powerful Sixth Organ Symphony by Charles-Marie Widor in two versions, for organ solo and with orchestra. Widor’s arrangement of the outer movements of his popular Sixth Organ Symphony [solo] was his first major essay for organ and orchestra. He went on to create two additional, totally original organ and orchestra compositions later in life. It was prepared for a London concert in 1882, later played by Charles Courboin in Antwerp in 1900, and presented again by Courboin, with the Philadelphia Orchestra and Stokowski, at the Wanamaker Store in 1919. The Bowden/McKinley performance in Indiana was only the second American outing for this score since that Philadelphia premiere.
A treat for the whole family, this week’s broadcast features organ arrangements of famous classical works and original compositions used in Fantasia and other Walt Disney films.
A colorful miscellany of music by women composers from past and present. Though not nearly so numerous or celebrated as their male counterparts, women composers have created a substantial and remarkable repertoire for the pipe organ. Note that Women’s Equality Day is observed on August 26.
Proof that the creative spirit was alive when Marcel Dupré improvised in Paris eighty years ago. On August 15, 1919, while substituting for an ailing Louis Vierne, 33-year-old Marcel Dupré improvised for an afternoon service at Notre Dame Cathedral. In the audience, totally by chance, was Claude Johnson, head of Rolls-Royce. He was so moved by the music that he encouraged Dupré to write down his improvisations, guaranteed their publication and sponsored Dupré’s subsequent London debut recital which marked the beginning of this artist’s astounding international career.
Will Headlee and David Hurd play two noteworthy examples of Walter Holtkamp, Sr.’s pioneering neo-classic instruments at Syracuse University in New York State and Fisk University in Nashville TN.
A great American showplace with a phenomenal and historic theatre organ. Sample sounds from the new CD release. Georgia’s foremost showroom plays host to recitalist Hector Olivera, with historical insights concerning the resident Mighty Möller organ provided by Joe Patten and Bob Van Camp. Olivera’s performance was recorded during a national convention of the American Guild of Organists A CD release, Vantage CD-6306, featuring Olivera at the Atlanta Fox includes similar repertoire and is available from the Organ Historical Society. The Albright piece, premiered on that occasion, is also sampled via its premiere CD release by Ms. Decker from a very different venue. Our talk with Joe Patten, the energy behind the Fox’s historic Mighty Möller pipe organ, was recorded in his nifty penthouse apartment above the theater.

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Learn more about the tremendous support we receive from the Family of Lucinda and Wesley C. Dudley, from Walter McCarthyClara Ueland and the Greystone Foundation, from Ed and Wanda Eichler, from the Art and Martha Kaemmer Fund of the HRK Foundation, and from affiliate members of the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America (APOBA), including the Dobson Pipe Organ Builders of Lake City, Iowa.