All Episodes

…Olivier Latry in Concert...the exceptional French organist in concert at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis (recorded, 2/14/88).

With organologist and restorer Susan Tattershall, we explore the musical legacy of the Spanish conquest of the New World, visiting historic instruments in the regions of Oaxaca, Tlaxcala and Mexico City. Less than a century after the first expedition of Christopher Columbus, the art of organbuilding, taught by Spanish monks and practiced, to large extent, by indigenous artisans, was firmly established on the North American continent. Our program travels the countryside, revelling in the ‘sights and sounds’ of a remarkable culture, and listening to instruments built in the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries, some small enough to stand on a card table, others as grand as the finest cathedral organs of Old Spain. Performances feature Jose Suarez of the Mexico City Conservatory, and Roberto Oropeza. All recordings were made on location and generally in compromised circumstances, and in most cases the organs were pumped by hand. Sites and musical selections include:

…A collection of historic American pipe organs playing the music of American composers. These performances were recorded during the 1987 National Convention of the Organ Historical Society.

…A cycle of exquisite organ tone poems, and other music inspired by or performed in the landmark Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Paris.

…Reflections by the famous French teacher and performer, whose many recordings document a long and continuing pursuit.

…No horsing around at Milwaukee's Performing Arts Center and the Birmingham (England) Town Hall by virtuoso British performer Thomas Trotter.

…Marilyn Mason plays American music at New York City's Riverside Church.

…Some musical views of the scintillating American organist Anthony Newman.

…Performances from inaugural concerts on the new John Brombaugh organ at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.

…concert performances from an American Guild of Organists regional convention featuring several new works and historic instruments.

…through arrangements, transcriptions and revised attributions we discover that Wolfgang Amadeus really did revere the 'king of instruments', sometimes in unexpected ways.

…Performances recorded during the National Convention of the American Guild of Organists held in Texas in 1988.

…A Summer guide to recent organ music recordings, focusing on sonic and emotional appeal and variety.

…Concert recordings from three American locations featuring instruments built in England, Germany and Canada.

…Solos and duets from the campus Center for Faith and Life in Decorah, Iowa, featuring the 62-rank 1979 Robert Sipe tracker organ.

…Organs Here and There ... from Red Bank, New Jersey to San Diego, California, the melodious sound of wind-blown pipes fills the air.

…Holy Toledo ... recital performances at Holy Rosary Cathedral and Ashland Avenue Baptist Church featuring noteworthy instruments by E.M. Skinner and John Brombaugh in Toledo, Ohio.

…Unusual compositions and extraordinary performances in tribute to the great French teacher, composer and virtuoso.