1958, 1968 Aeolian-Skinner organ at Trinity Church, Wall Street, New York, NY

This is fair and pleasant music, grave yet rapturous, from the pen of Marcel Dupré, a collection of introspective Vespers Antiphons which began as improvisations and proved to be so compelling that he was commissioned to later write them down. On our next Pipedreams program, these and other such works by Benjamin Britten, Larry King, and William Mathias provide startling contrast to outspoken scores by Percy Whitlock, Daniel Gawthrop, Barbara Harbach, and Brent Weaver, where heraldic brilliance calls us to attention and involvement. It’s a program of contrasts, brilliant and subdued, theatrical and introspective, with instrumental and choral pieces dedicated to color and collective prayer. From the Cathedral in Mallaga to Trinity Church, Wall Street, delight in variety Fanfares and Antiphons, this week on Pipedreams.

It is a procession of hope, a progression from darkness into light, the weeks of Advent anticipation. But this week, we’ll rush the season a bit, mixing music of joyful abandon with other scores perhaps just a bit reticent and watchful. Joel Martinson, John Rutter, William Mathias and Richard Purvis give fresh interpretation to prophetic scripture, while organists John Gowens, Guy Bovet, Richard Cummins and Frederick Hohman apply the King of Instruments to a celebration of the King of Kings. Poetic reflections and exuberant outbursts proclaim a holy season, with overriding hopes for peace on earth. With carols and anthems, preludes and dances, let instruments and choirs lift your spirits in anticipation of Christmas as we Prepare the Way.

Join us this week in a celebration of the memorable creations of Englishman Herbert Howells, whose splendid works for organs and choirs delight our souls and senses alike.

Our spirits find renewal in springtime through music for the Easter festival.

A 10th anniversary salute to Joseph A. Vitacco, a young business major from the University of Notre Dame who set out to document some of the world’s finest pipe organs.

…we celebrate composer Ned Rorem with performances of his music in anticipation of his 85th birthday. On this week’s show, we visit with Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Ned Rorem and celebrate the remarkable and envigorating repertoire that he has composed for organists and choirs. Is it strange that an agnostic son of Quaker parents should write so compellingly for the church or is everything under the sun just a concert celebrating creativity? Insights from the artist with his art, it’s Rorem on Rorem.

…a wrap up to this year’s bicentennial celebrations with a look at some of the composer’s best and least-known works for organ.

…music for an Earth Day celebration of the world's splendor and the environment which is our life-support.

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

…A quarterly survey of recent recordings.

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

…Going on Record....the spring quarterly sampler of recent releases in review.

…a survey of recordings of choral and organ works by the famous Michigan-born, Chicago-based, nationally acclaimed Leo Sowerby, one of America's major minor musical masters.

…performances and comments by husband-and-wife recitalists Cherry Rhodes and Ladd Thomas, organ faculty members of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

More music by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Leo Sowerby, in celebration of his 100th anniversary.

Playing the daylights out of nine of New York City’s foremost instruments.

Concert performances from diverse New York City churches, with traditional and untraditional repertoire.

Exploring the actualities and implications of Mozart’s life-long love of the ‘King of Instruments’, and other’s love of Wolfgang Amadeus.

A collection of composed and improvised settings of Gregorian chants, traditional hymns and chorales for organ, choirs and other instruments.