Fox Theatre Organ

There’s a song in the air and it’s about change. The future is just around the corner… but not quite, not yet. On this week’s broadcast, we’ll ponder the problem of the unknown, with music for Advent, including an atmospheric pharaphrase by Hans-Andre Stamm, a collection of Bach chorale-preludes, and an improvised symphonic movement by Marcel Dupré that he recorded with compelling persuasiveness in his 79th year.

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.

…timeless musical gifts from many hands and many lands celebrated the festival of Christmas.

…some recently released CDs featuring organs, composers and performers from these United States.

…composers and performers from at home and abroad explore diverse compositions in celebration of the gift of Christmas.

…performers, composers, arrangers, and instrument builders join in providing music for the holiday celebration.

…classical and theatre organists, and some young competition winners, provide some sounds from the deep south.

…a visit with Ken Double of the American Theatre Organ Society, with excerpts from recordings made at ATOS Conventions centered in Cleveland, Seattle, eastern Massachusetts, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Indianapolis and Philadelphia.

…a spring quarterly survey of recent recordings.

Premiere performances and other sonically exceptional music presented in southern comfort at a national convention of the American Guild of Organistrs.

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.