1962 Aeolian-Skinner; 1977 Ruffatti organ at Crystal Cathedral, Garden Grove, California

A celebration and remembrance of that most charismatic and controversial of 20th century American virtuosos, Virgil Fox [1912-1980] with comments from Fox and long-time friends and associates Ted Alan Worth and Lawrence Schreiber, plus recordings made by Fox at the Riverside Church, the Filmore East Auditorium in New York City, Philharmonic Hall at Lincoln Center, and the Garden Grove Church in California. This program was produced in cooperation with Dan Cronenwett, Stephen Carlson, and public radio station KBYU-FM, Provo, Utah.

If the organ is the king of instruments, then our next Pipedreams program is a showplace for the kings of kings. This week we will compare seven of the world’s largest pipe organs in all of their Olympian splendor. We’ll listen to Peter Baicchi as he plays at the Crystal Cathedral and Fred Swann as he shows off the latest additions to First Congregational Church, Los Angeles. We’ll also visit the Cadet Chapel at West Point, the Mother Church of Christian Science in Boston, and Passau Cathedral, the largest church organ in Europe. And we’ll hear the mightiest of all, the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ in Philadelphia, and Senator Emerson Richards’ still-unrealized dream at Atlantic City’s Boarwalk Hall. It’s Big, Bigger, Biggest, the giants in their homes, this week on Pipedreams.

After sixty years as a church musician, Frederick Swann is hanging up his organ shoes. We celebrate his art as he reminisces about his life experiences. He came to prominence first as organist at the Riverside Church in New York City. This week, we’ll review the remarkable career of Frederick Swann, one of the most highly regarded American organists, as he reflects on his sixty-year career in the spotlight. In music by Franck and Farnam, Clarence Dickinson and some of his own compositions, we’ll hear Fred at Riverside, the Crystal Cathedral and First Congregational Church, Los Angeles, all churches with pipe organs of more than 200 stops each. Even as a kid he knew what he wanted to do, and has done it masterfully a life fully lived Frederick Swann. Tune in for his Swann Song, with every verse an adventure.

This week, we’ll reflect upon events form the past year and take a look at some projections for the future.

Considering what one player at the console can accomplish, just imagine what is possible with organ duos and duets.

…select performances from a national convention in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Los Angeles chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

…of composers and performers who reached significant milestones in the year 2018.

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

…in celebration of American Music Week, diverse organ works by American composers.

…In search of some “lost chords”, this is an exploration of the varied art of transcription.

…The autumn quarterly sampler of recent releases of organ music on cassette and compact disc, with comments and recommendations by host Michael Barone.

…Reflections upon events of the past twelve months, including highlights of some new instruments, tributes to Helmut Walcha, Jean Langlais and others, some summer snapshots, and resolutions for the new year.

…a ring of words and music, crowned by Ernst Krenek's imposing setting of mystical poems of John Donne.

…Variants on the Reformation Hymn, and other musics of faith and fortitude.

A spring survey of recent releases of organ music on compact disc.