An American Organist’s Christmas #2452
. . . music for the holiday festival with a distinctly home-grown flavor.
Hour 1
DAVID CONTE: Christmas Intrada –Ken Cowan (1997 Fisk-Rosales/Edith Bates Old Recital Hall, Rice University, Houston, TX) PD Archive (r. 12/12/20)
TRADITIONAL (arr. Larsen): Carol Fantasy –Christian Elliott (Wurlitzer/Nethercutt Collection, San Sylmar, CA) CPE Productions 107
FRED COOTS: Santa Claus is coming to town –Michael Stairs (1929 Aeolian/Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA) DTR 9102
JAMES WELCH: 2 Christmas Songs (Sleep, baby, and smile & And holy is his name) –Nancy Wait and Sheryl Lee Wilson, sopranos; James Welch (1903 Murray Harris/Memorial Church, Stanford University, CA) Wilson 806/8419
WILBUR HELD: Of the Father’s love begotten –Robert Benjamin Dobey (2001 Schoenstein/Grace Episcopal Church, Sheboygan, WI) Pro Organo 7175
LEO SOWERBY: Jesu, bright and morning star –Memphis Chamber Choir & Boy Choir/Darren Raley; John Ayer (1990 Reuter/St. John’s Episcopal Church, Memphis, TN) Pro Organo 7099
GEORGE BAKER: 3 Christmas Pieces (Ricercar on Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland; Berceuse-Paraphrase on Away in a manger; Toccata-Gigue on the Sussex Carol) –George Baker (1862 Cavaillé-Coll/Church of St. Sulpice, Paris, France) Solstice 252
Filler – CONTE (see above)
Hour 2
GERALD NEAR: Carillon on a Ukrainian Carol –David Leigh (1902 Willis-1963 Walker/St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland) Regent 587
HECTOR OLIVERA: Improvisation on O little town of Bethlehem. G. F. HANDEL (arr. Olivera): Hallelujah Chorus, fr Messiah –Hector Olivera (1991 Casavant-Rodgers/Bel Air Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles, CA) Rodgers 876015
SAMUEL BACKMAN: Symfonia Koled (Polish Christmas Carol Symphony) –Samuel Backman (1928 Hinners-1957 Wicks-1997 Orvold/Holy Cross Catholic Church, Minneapolis, MN) PD Archive (r. 1/12/24). Check out the Youtube video of this performance, with detailed program notes.
Filler – BAKER: Toccata-Gigue (see above)
Continuing support of PIPEDREAMS is provided in loving memory of Lucinda and Wesley Dudley by their family, with additional support from Walter McCarthy, Clara Ueland, and the Greystone Foundation, from Jan and Steve Kirchner, from the Art and Martha Kaemmer Fund of the HRK Foundation, and from listener-contributors to this public radio station. Support also comes from OSI, Organ Supply Industries, Total Organ Resources, of Erie, PA and Parsons Pipe Organ Builders of Canandaigua, NY, members of APOBA, the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America, a collaborative of designers, creators, and maintainers of pipe organs found in religious and educational institutions, concert halls, and residences throughout the United States and beyond. An APOBA resource guide and member prospectus is available at APOBA.COM.
