1997 Rieger organ at Christchurch Town Hall, New Zealand

What do a city auditorium in New Zealand, an historic church of in Manila, a Scandinavian university science project and the Tennessee Valley Arts Commission have in common? Each celebrates the art of the organ. This week we’ll savor performances from Christchurch Town Hall, the parish of Las Pinas in the Philippines, the Hamburg Baroque Organ Project of Gothenburg, Sweden and the Unitarian Church in Knoxville where pipe organs, old and new, excite the imagination with ear-intriguing sounds. The proof is in the playing. Enjoy some sonically beguiling CD releases while we’re Going On Record with organ music in review.

Put some spring in your step with this week’s show, and perhaps even respond to the urge to get on your feet and troop around with these parade pieces and processionals for diverse occasions. Whether it be a pompous processional from Paris, or a splashy sound-off by Sousa, our program guarantees to make you move up out of your chair, fall in and straighten that rank and, in response to irrepressible rhythms and March Again.

…a time for celebration, reflection, and projection of expectations for the new season ahead.

…the annual end-of-the-year reflection, with highlights from recent recordings, concert excerpts, prize-winning performances and more.

…the tradition of grand pipe organs in civic halls seems to have been an English invention, one carried on successfully throughout the Empire and still maintained…and emulated…today.