1558 Ebert organ at Hofkirche, Innsbruck, Austria

The old tunes have their charm, and the old instruments, too, as we revisit the beginnings of organ music; play on pipes that have been singing persuasively for four, five, and six hundred years; and remember that the matter of age directly relates to attitude. This week on Pipedreams you’ll hear instruments dating from the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries - instruments from Italy, Austria, France, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands - including the oldest in the world, still going strong.

We march through a sonically stimulating sequence of recently issued compact discs on our next Pipedreams program. You’ll savor some English instruments from the 18th century, French music from the 17th century, an Austrian antique from the 16th century and a clangorous composition from the 15th century talk about time travel. This week, you’ll also hear first recordings of new music commissioned by a forward-thinking church in Saint Paul, taste the glories of one of America’s grandest concert instruments at Yale’s Woolsey Hall, and relive the exciting times of a popular and well-aid virtuoso. Calvert Johnson, Thomas Murray, John Butt, Roger Fisher and others demonstrate the goods. We’re Going On Record with new CDs in review this week on Pipedreams.

…of composers and performers who reached significant milestones in the year 2018.

…proving quality over quantity and the remarkable capability of organs with ‘only’ two manuals.

…Roots organ music from the earliest times plus some modern reflections.

…music and instruments mostly from the 16th and 17th centuries recorded in Stade, Innsbruck, Imbach, Ossiach, and Metz. Three of these instruments were built recently, though designed in a strict, historic manner.

…music and instruments mostly from the 16th and 17th centuries recorded in Stade, Innsbruck, Imbach, Ossiach, and Metz. Three of these instruments were built recently, though designed in a strict, historic manner.