The Cathedral of Saint Paul is blessed with two pipe organs, a 1927 Skinner in the Sanctuary and a 1963 Aeolian-Skinner in the gallery, the latter renovated and expanded by Quimby Pipe Organs in 2013, and both playable from a single (or two separate)…

A rose blooms out of season on a winter morning. The Brightest and Best stars show up in the “Company at the Creche.” Images, scenes, and personalities such asa these are present in our next Pipedreams program. It’s a showcase for the work of composers here in the United States, giving a sense of home and place to this international festival. Timothy Albrecht plays grace notes at Emory University, Nancy Whipkey leads her Ascension Children’s Choir in a cantata by Daniel Pinkham, Allison Luedecke and Robert Gallagher stir the echoes at Saint John’s Cathedral in Milwaukee, and Craig Cansler and the Choir of Saint Philip’s in Atlanta celebrates the work of Charles Beaudrot. Our torch lights up the manger scene in Bethlehem, and who do we see there but a circle of composers from the United States, celebrating the holiday with their special gifts. Tune in for An American Organist’s Christmas, this week on Pipedreams.

Whenever the sound of organ music is not quite enough, the King of Instruments always has plenty of friends to augment the harmony. This week’s program celebrates exactly that situation with a collection of familiar and unusual works scored for the pipe organ with other instrumental resources. Organ with trumpet, organ with string trio or chamber orchestra, organ with choir and synthesizer and even electronic tape. Michael Murray, Leonard Raver, Peter Hurford and others call on their colleagues to play works by Marcel Dupré, Thomas Augustin Arne, Monte Mason and J.S. Bach. It’s a scene with unlimited horizons; music for Organ Plus.

This week we’ve raided the Pipedreams archive and have come up with a few surprises in celebration of history’s foremost pipe organ master.

Or Woman Composers for the Organ, a survey of some interesting works by some interesting people.

…in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Minnesota Statehood, May 11, 1858, we share varied works by Minnesota composers of today.

…would ‘The Three Bs’ ever have imagined being represented by organ music in quite this way?!

…a time for celebration, reflection, and projection of new expectations for the new season ahead.

…performances featuring soloists, composers and instruments recorded in and around Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota.

…the splendid sound of organ music in American cathedrals in Seattle, San Francisco, Wilkes-Barre, Toledo, Buffalo and the Twin Cities.

…the splendid sound of organ music in American cathedrals in Seattle, San Francisco, Wilkes-Barre, Toledo, Buffalo and the Twin Cities.

…having a great time up in the organ loft, with clarinet, trombone, cello, and brass ensemble.

…a celebration, on the occasion of her 85th birthday, of the art, the music, and the indomitable spirit of one of Nashville’s great performers and classy ladies, Wilma Jensen.

…recordings on the 1927 Skinner and 1963 Aeolian–Skinner organs in the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Saint Paul, in Minnesota’s capital city.

…concert performances featuring the renovated organs at the Cathedral of Saint Paul in Minnesota’s capital city.

…our annual Olde Yeare-New Year reflection, with highlights from recent recordings, concert excerpts, prize-winning performances, memorial tributes, and more.

…though some instruments were specifically created to accompany silent films, pipe organs have proven that they can tackle movie music of any sort!

…compositions and performances by Minnesota musicians, from the Pipedreams archive.

…he studied organ in his youth, but then ignored the instrument throughout his career.  We’ll fix that!

…a sampler of some instruments heard next month during the Organ Historical Society's national convention.

…whether in a poetic vision or an emotional sensibility, regardless of the time of day, sometimes a nocturnal impression provides exactly the right mood.

…picturesque evocations of the first Christmas, including the extraordinary music of Olivier Messiaen.

…highlights from a national gathering of the Organ Historical Society in and around the Twin Cities.

…and have proven themselves exceptional performers and composers, whom we celebrate on International Women's Day during Women's History Month.

…drawn from the archives, arresting repertoire and performances featuring Minnesota venues and instruments.