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.
This week we take a listen to new recordings that represent an exceptional survey of four centuries of music.
A four-century survey of organ music and a review of some resplendent recent recordings.
…in the company of guest commentator and biographer Kerala Snyder, we explore the profoundly influential music of the “Great Dane” of the German Baroque organ scene.
…works by J.S.B., variants on Bach themes, and music inspired by his example.
…the old boys in northern Europe showed the way, and others later followed with extravagant compositions that explore the stylus phantasticus manner.
…more recently released CDs featuring organs, composers and performers from Europe and elsewhere.
…composers, performers and instrument builders provide a brilliant outlet for musical imagination in Nordic countries.
…choirs and organists share a bountiful repertoire drawn from many years of the British holiday tradition.
…though Wilhelm Friedemann Bach was reputed to be the finest organist of his era, he died penniless while his younger brother, Carl Philip Emmanuel Bach, prospered as harpsichordist to Frederick the Great and, later, Music Director for the city of Hamburg.
…in the company of guest commentator and biographer Kerala Snyder, we explore the profoundly influential music of this “Great Dane” of the German Baroque organ scene.
…a selective collection of organ works by composers with significant birthdays observed during this year.
…a prelude to the upcoming East Texas Organ Festival, plus Pipedreams Live! visits to Dallas and Fort Worth.
…we anticipate the upcoming 100th birthday of America’s most popular outdoor pipe organ at the Spreckels Pavilion in Balboa Park.
…we borrow from an international collective of music old and new in celebration of the Christmas holiday.
…the traditional summing-up of some of the year’s activity in the world of the King of Instruments.
…since the 18th century, the combination of organ with other instrumental ensembles has provided many good vibes.
…a tribute some masters of the past, composers with significant anniversaries this year.
