1931 Steinmeyer organ at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona, PA

We offer a gamut of the organ experience on this week’s Pipedreams program, from some of the simplest to the most challenging of music. Climb up the scale with the eight Little Preludes and Fugues by J.S. Bach - student music with a heart - as we pair those with contrasting works by the greatest German organ composer AFTER Bach, Max Reger. It’s a confluence of contrapuntal ingenuity, from serene to seismic, and performances on a pathbreaking organ at a splendid cathedral in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

There’s a song in the air and it’s about change. The future is just around the corner… but not quite, not yet. On this week’s broadcast, we’ll ponder the problem of the unknown, with music for Advent, including an atmospheric pharaphrase by Hans-Andre Stamm, a collection of Bach chorale-preludes, and an improvised symphonic movement by Marcel Dupré that he recorded with compelling persuasiveness in his 79th year.

…concert performances of music by J.S. Bach presented by American organists on American instruments.

…composers from four centuries create energetic musical manifestations of a timeless, singular song of praise.

…musical portraits of the progressive pomp and impending peril which comprise the dramatic narration of Holy Week.

…a multi-cultural exploration of diverse musicks for the Festival of the Nativity.

…composers from four centuries create energetic musical manifestations of a timeless, singular song of praise.

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