Going on Record #1231
…a review of some recent CD releases, testament to the incredible international activity or organ builders, performers, and audio producers.
Hour 1
HORATIO PARKER: 2 Pieces (Risoluto, Op. 68. no. 5; Scherzino, Op. 66, no. 3) – Rudolf Innig (2003 Kuhn/Osnabrück Cathedral, Germany) Dabringhaus & Grimm 317.1741
KOJI KONDO (arr. Chen): Super Mario Fantasia. GABRIEL FAURÉ: Mi-0a-ou, fr Dolly Suite, Op. 56 –Chelsea Chen (2003 Blackinton/Bethel University, Saint Paul, MN) Chen 2011
DIETERICH BUXTEHUDE: Praeludium in d, BuxWV 140 –Thomas Dressler (2000 Frittz/Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ) Dressler 2012
HUGO DISTLER: 2 Pieces, fr Dreissig Spielstücke, Op. 8, no. 1. JAN BENDER: 4 Pieces, fr Kleine Choralvorspiele, Op. 2 – David Herman (2000 Dobson/Sharp Hall, University of Delaware; Newark, DE) Herman 2012
WILLIAM BOLCOM: 2 Gospel Preludes (Jesus calls us, fr Book 3; Shall we gather, fr Book 2) – Gregory Hand (1928 Skinner/2008 Schantz/Rockefeller Chapel, University of Chicago, IL) Naxos 8.559695
DAVID BRIGGS: Concert Etude No. 3 (Sarabande). LOUIS VIERNE: Hymne au Soleil, fr Fantasy Pieces, Op. 53, no. 3 – Douglas Cleveland (1928 Skinner/2008 Schantz/Rockefeller Chapel, University of Chicago, IL) Loft 1118
Filler – KONDO (see above)
Hour 2
LOUIS-NICOLAS CLERAMBAULT: Plein Jeu, fr Premiere Livre. CHARLES-MARIE-WIDOR: Andante sostenuto, fr Symphonie Gothique (No. 9), Op. 70 – Lynne Davis (1985 Marcussen/Wiedemann Hall, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS) WSU 2010
CARSON COOMAN: 2 Pieces (Trumpet Tune; No darkness at all) –Harry Huff (1921 Skinner/Old South Church, Boston, MA) Raven 932
ANDREW FLETCHER: Cantilena. JOSEPH BONNET: Etude de Concert, Op. 7. no. 2 – Adam Brakel (2000 Austin/Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea, Palm Beach, FL) Raven 933
JOHANN CHRISTIAN KITTEL: 2 Preludes in E-flat –David Higgs, organ. J. S. BACH: Partita, Sei gegrüsset, Jesu gütig, BWV 768 (selections) – David Higgs & William Porter (2008 GoArt Casparini replica/Christ Church, Rochester, NY) Loft 1115
GEORG BÖHM: Vater unser im Himmelreich – Ann Elise Smoot (1741 J-A Silbermann/St. Thomas Church, Strasbourg, France) JAV 192
J. S. BACH: 2 Schübler Chorales (Wo soll ich fliehen hin; Kommst dun nun, Jesu) – Frederick Teardo (1741 Silbermann/St. Thomas Church, Strasbourg, France) JAV 191
DAVID N. JOHNSON: Trumpet Tune in A – Jonathan Dimmock (1871 Willis/Örgryte New Church, Göteborg, Sweden) Raven 917
Filler – WIDOR (see above)
These items above represent only the 'tip of the iceberg', a modest sampler of the many remarkabl new CDs of organ music that continue to be issued every month. Some of these, such as the album by Thomas Dressler, are made on a shoe-string budget, though still accomplished with the highest quality. None will likely be big money makers, but all were created with the belief that the pipe organ and its music… in its many styles… remains a potent and valuable contributor to our cultural heritage.
In that mood, Joe Vitacco, proprietor of JAV Recordings, has been engaged in a restoration project for the Kilgen pipe organ that Joe first heard as a child, at Our Lady of Refuge Church in Brooklyn. Opportunities remain for others to add their names to the donor list to bring this process to fruition and allow the re-inauguration concert by Olivier Latry to take place next year, on October 18, 2013. Might you become an organ donor?
