The traditional summary of a past year’s events, with resolutions for the New Year to come.
Performers and instruments in the United States transform a global collection of holiday melodies.
Christmas music from many lands is transformed by the colors of the pipe organ
Perhaps from hanging around in the organ lofts near those bell towers, organ composers have amassed a fine pile of bell-music.
An eclectic and engaging survey of evidence of the pipe organs potential for color and variety, from recent recordings.
Some select pipe organs in Illinois, Indiana and Iowa share the good muse.
A visit with recitalist István Ruppert from Budapest, who introduces some intriguing but little-known music from his homeland.
The commanding artistry of Stephen Tharp, a young American recitalist who this month plays his 800th public concert in the United States.
A visit with British organist David Briggs, heard in performances recorded in England, California, and Minnesota.
American artists on American-built instrument showcase a kaleidoscope of colors and styles.
…would ‘The Three Bs’ ever have imagined being represented by organ music in quite this way?!
A large new instrument by Mander Organs of England brings resplendent opportunity to a prospering United Methodist congregation in Atlanta, Georgia.
With soloist Massimo Nosetti we explore a seldom heard yet charming and characterful repertoire from five centuries, played on period instruments.
A memorial tribute to the inimitable Virgil Fox, narrated by Richard Torrence, the artist’s former manager and present-day champion.
A multi-generational encounter with two masters of the polyphonic arts, introduced by Brink Bush.
An “artists showcase” featuring members of the Twin Cities chapter of A.G.O. in concert at St. Andrew Lutheran in Mahtomedi, MN.
On the fourth anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, this musical offering of remembrance, resilience and hope.
Famous names may dominate the scene, but these often overlooked composers demonstrate a remarkable degree of individuality and imagination.
Some instruments of recent vintage in venues near and far.
A glimpse into America’s organbuilding past, exemplified by the work of a dozen builders found in and around New Haven.
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.
American composers Frank Ferko and Stephen Paulus confirm the influence of a medieval mystic, Hildegard of Bingen, upon their contemporary art.
Hildegard believed music to be the highest form of human activity, a mirror of the celestial resonance of angel choirs and the harmony of the heavenly spheres. Why shouldn’t composers today be inspired by her example?
A colorful collection both from and inspired by the pipe organ’s earliest known repertoire.
Music from four centuries in which a single ‘good idea’ generates multiple perspectives on a theme.
…recital recordings from the Lahti Organ Festival, one of Scandinavia’s foremost summer organ celebrations.
The idea of the pipe organ may be old, but those who are excited about playing it certainly are not!
whether in their themes or styles, American organists have always gone their own, independent way.
John Longhurst, Clay Christiansen and Richard Elliott demonstrate the famous Mormon Tabernacle organ, plus new instruments at the LDS Conference Center and at Brigham Young University-Idaho.
A marvelous miscellany of colorful compositions which share little beyond their common format name.
A 50th anniversary celebration of the ongoing activities of the American Theatre Organ Society.
Theatre organs, invented to provide accompaniment to ‘silent films’ in the early days of the 20th century, found themselves unneeded in their original line of work by the mid 1930s. Yet their novel and engaging sounds continue to fascinate and entertain. Check next month’s A.T.O.S. National Convention, July 1-5, 2005 in Los Angeles, CA. Contact the Organ Historical Society Catalog for access to a large variety of theater organ recordings on compact disc.
Inspired fantasies based on the 16th century psalm-tune by Louis Bourgeois.
An organist’s perspective on a grand and glorious repertoire for the musical stage.
Today’s world culture is nothing new to the pipe organ, which has been importing and integrating international influences for centuries.
We go beyond the standard repertoire to explore several engaging and mostly little-known scores.
Hot to the touch, and hotter to hear, these compositions cover the keyboard with memorable sonic effects.
A four-century survey of organ music and a review of some resplendent recent recordings.
Just like the fairy stories we once enjoyed, our childhood years provoke music both charming and challenging.
Four substantial instruments, two of them quite new, are showcased by a quintet of talented local recitalists.
A conversation with recitalist and recording engineer/producer Fred Hohman, who introduces performances from his enterprising CD/video label Pro Organo.
Inaugural concert performances from the Protestant Cathedral in Lausanne featuring the new 2003 C.B. Fisk organ at Lausanne Cathedral, Switzerland instrument, the largest American-built pipe organ in Europe.
Cathedral organist Jean-Christophe Geiser appears with the Chamber Orchestra of Lausanne. Jean Balissat conducts, recorded December 3, 2003. These recordings were provided by the Swiss Radio through the European Broadcasting Union. We’ll also play some brief selections from Mr. Geiser’s solo-organ CD [Organ CD ORG7210]
Our spirits find renewal in springtime through music for the Easter festival.
…concert performances of music by J.S. Bach presented by American organists on American instruments.
A reminder of the variety of Bach’s own music, and the instruments, playing styles, and compositions that he inspired.
Stellar recitalist Cherry Rhodes demonstrates the full sonic capacity of the 2003 Dobson organ at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles, CA.
From the 17th through the 20th centuries, composers have gathered together movements of tenderness, audacity, rhythm and color to create sweet samplers of their art.
As always, the King of Instruments enjoys visitors, and ours today come in many forms and flavors.
Showing independence of spirit and diversity of expressive means, a sampler of music from Norway.
Tune in and discover a few revelatory attitudes and probing interpretations that set this noteable French virtuoso apart from the norm.
It may seem that organs can never be too large, but the music on this week’s show reveals the beauty in smaller things—music played on instruments with only a single manual keyboard!
Tune in as we look at battle music. Quite the opposite of peace pieces, this collection chronicles the strife between good and evil.
Come along as we explore composers for the organ and historic instruments from Mexico.
This week’s show is a convenient collector’s guide to remarkable recordings featuring American performers and instruments.
