1984 Fritts-Richards organ at Saint Alphonsus Church, Seattle WA

He’s absolutely the best tonic for any time of year. On our next Pipedreams program, we anticipate the coming of spring and celebrate the March birthday of arguably the world’s finest composer, Johann Sebastian Bach. Drawing on some exclusive-to-Pipedreams recital recordings from the American Guild of Organists Convention in Seattle, you’ll hear James David Christie at Saint Alphonsus Church, Christa Rakich at Saint Mark’s Cathedral, Paul Jacobs at Epiphany Episcopal, and Robert Bates at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma. Also James Kibbie at University of Michigan, Peter Sykes in Reykjavik, Iceland, and Bill Chouinard at the Wooddale Church in Minnesota. It’s a Prelude in C, a Concerto in G, and other music sent Vom Himmel hoch, from heaven above. American organists recorded in recital in Seattle, Eden Prairie, Ann Arbor, and Reykjavik celebrate the change of seasons and honor one of history’s all-time greats. We offer Bach for Springtime, this week on Pipedreams.

We return with recordings of live events from around the nation where the performers radiate that special energy which guarantees exciting listening.

Varied concert performances from an American Guild of Organists national convention.

Without travelling abroad, we can learn more about this music by playing on instruments attuned to his era.

…whether on historic instruments in his homeland, a Catholic church in New Orleans, or in a Japanese concert hall, nothing quite satisfies like the music of Johann Sebastian Bach!

…though his roots are inextricably in Central German soil, transplanted his music never ceases to flourish here in the United States.

…performers and composers ‘of a certain age’ show continued interest in the King of Instruments.

…a selective quarterly sampling of recent organ recordings, with emphasis on the unusual and unusually attractive. This potpourri covers a wide variety of musical types, performance styles, and organ-building attitudes as displayed on LP's, CD's and tapes of foreign and domestic vintage. Host Michael Barone provides revealing commentary.

…Music for two organists at one or two instruments, recorded in concert.

…A New Year's survey of recent recordings, focusing on American artists and instruments. This material also appeared at the Autumn '93 fundraiser.

Glittering interpretations of cosmic compositions on brilliantly shining and heavenly themes.