1980 Sipe organ at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, Minneapolis, MN

Contrary to the notion that the organ is old-fashioned, this week’s Pipedreams broadcast takes a look at organ repertoire today, with a sampler of some engaging and accessible modern compositions from the upper Midwest. Leonard Danek plays his little bouquet, Flowers, David Cherwin shows us some of his hymn-preludes, John Eggert discovers an amazingly diverse collection of styles right in his own backyard, and Diane Meredith Belcher premiere’s Libby Larsen’s Aspects of Glory at an Organists Guild Convention.

It’s about the adventure of discovery, the excitement of surprise. On the next Pipedreams program we explore recent works by mostly American composers, including a Concerto for Organ Solo, and a lyric Cantilena that sounds like a cool, slow jazz solo brought to church. For the kids, a funny, quasi-rap piece about Rex, the King of Instruments. Some people will do anything to get your attention, and our highlight is a stunning item for organ, strings and percussion which will knock your socks off. Don’t miss the great sounds, American Premieres, this week on Pipedreams. To learn more about Stephen Paulus and Norman Mackenzie, read Family Secret by Michael Barone.

We step out in a colorful procession in this week’s show by parading select works by American composers. You’ll hear everything from dances to gospel preludes. William Bolcom, Robert Elmore, Howard Hanson, Emma Lou Diemer and Leo Sowerby are just a few of the musicians represented, with works recorded in concert settings in San Francisco, Minneapolis, Rochester, NY, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Our promenade builds from subtlety to strength. If you’ve considered the organ an old-world instrument, think again and join us for a celebration of new world sounds, a virtual Pageant.

Tune in as we take our recording equipment around the region, capturing the excitement of LIVE performances. The first of two parts, we find artists meeting the challenge of the concert experience with incomparable panache.

A centenary tribute to Dmitri Shostakovich [1906-1975], and recital performances by guest Daniel Zaretsky, who introduces little-known music from an unlikely source.

…some varied recital performances of works by history’s greatest composer for the King of Instruments, as recorded in the Twin Cities.

…composer William Bolcom provides glimpses into the creation of these beguiling re-imaginings of familiar American tunes.

…performances featuring soloists, composers and instruments recorded in and around Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota.

…a stellar line-up of exceptional young players who have won important awards in recent national and international competitions.

…an all-American program that explores the sonic and virtuosic freedoms and possibilities of pipe organs and those who play them.

…a kaleidoscopic collection of twentieth-century music by composers from the United States, many in first broadcast performances.

…the palpable excitement of live performance is conveyed through these recital appearances by Nathan Laube, Ken Cowan, Carlo Curley, Andrew Kotylo and Vincent Dubois.

…the palpable excitement of live performance is conveyed through these recital appearances by Nathan Laube, Ken Cowan, Carlo Curley, Andrew Kotylo and Vincent Dubois.

…concert performances of American music from an American Guild of Organists convention in the Minnesota twin cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

…a collection of previously unheard recital performances from the Pipedreams Archive.

…revisiting some engaging mechanical-instruments in Minneapolis-Saint Paul neighborhoods.

…a recital by Dr. John Obetz on the Rieger organ at All Souls Unitarian Church in Washington, DC, recorded during the 1982 National Biennial Convention of the American Guild of Organists.

…Varied and colorful concert performances by Keith Chapman, George Ritchie, Gilliam Weir, Rudolph Innig, and Peter Hurford of music by Johann Sebastian Bach.

…Whether inspired by hymn tunes or mere caprice, American composers approach the pipe organ in refreshingly diverse ways.

…A collection of engaging and ear-catching moments from the program's archives.

…Olivier Messiaen –A Tribute, an introduction to and celebration of the work of this century's foremost organ composer, on the occasion of his 80th birthday. The following are all works by Messiaen. : Diptyque (1930) –organist Jennifer Bate (1989 Danion-Gonzalez organ/Beauvais Cathedral) : Le banque celeste (1926) –organist Susan Landale (1852 Cavaille-Coll/St. Vincent de Paul Church, Paris)

…Going on Record....the spring quarterly sampler of recent releases in review.

…performances and comments by husband-and-wife recitalists Cherry Rhodes and Ladd Thomas, organ faculty members of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

…an appealing collection of new and not-so-new works for organ by American composers, recorded in concert.