1785 Holzhey organ at the Saint Verena Parish Church, Rot-an-der-Rot, Germany

When George Fredric Handel needed to draw crowds to performances of his new oratorios, he discovered that they’d come to see HIM play the organ. Now that’s star-power. And although the ravages of time have been less kind to some of his contemporaries, Handel’s concertos, and specifically those written for the organ, are still among the most delightful concert works ever devised from that period.

From an historic monastery in Austria to Princeton University chapel, this week’s show features the work of three composers who happen to be born under the sign of The Twins [as in astrology, not baseball]. We’ll hear a Sonata for Organ and Strings by Daniel Pinkham, Gospel Preludes and a Princeton premiere by William Bolcom, and tantalizing toccatas from the 17th century by Georg Muffat. Join in as we celebrate their 80th, 65th and 250th late spring birthdays with a chest full of Gemini Jewels.

Michael Barone shares his field recordings of some exceptional historic instruments in spectacular Bavarian Baroque churches, and invites you to join his tour there in May 2006.

…select shorts of some of the remarkable instruments we heard during a 2006 tour in southern Germany.

…Beginning the New Year with a sampler of recent released of organ music on cassette and compact disc.

A spring survey of recent organ recordings.