2000 Noack organ (Op. 136) at the Saint Paul Seminary in Saint Paul, MN.

The professional journals show an incredible stream of new organs, but when the national newspapers herald the installation of some lovely instrument, you get a convincing sense that the pipe organ is still a viabile medium for our modern times. In this week’s program, we celebrate two new instruments in Minnesota: the Noack organ at Saint Paul Seminary Chapel, and a new Casavant at Incarnation Lutheran Church, a Saint Paul suburb. We’ll also travel to the cathedral in Treviso, Italy, for a continental perspective. With music from Mozart to Messiaen, David Jenkins, Diane Belcher and Eric Lebrun put three new organs through the motions, proving that the art of the king of instruments is alive and well in the 21st century.

Obviously, his fingers do the talking. Though he’s spending most of his energy as a guest conductor; and leading revelatory performances by his Vienna Akademie Orchestra, Austrian recitalist Martin Haselböck still savors his first love, which is the pipe organ. This week, we’ll enjoy his lively playing and insightful commentary in selections from Bach to Bruckner. Recorded while in concert on the recent Fritz Noack instrument at the Chapel of the Saint Paul Seminary in Minnesota, you’ll be impressed with his interpretation and technique. Listen to performances of Haydn, Heiller, Froberger and Muffat, plus an improvisation combining Ach, du lieber Augustine and Deep River. Experience the energy of Martin Haselböck Live! Recorded during a special Pipedreams Live! event at the Saint Paul Seminary Chapel in Minnesota.

We’re back in the saddle again, or if you prefer, on the bench and offering more unique performances recorded live. A continuation of the concert performances from last week, we are returning to the scene, IN CONCERT, Part 2.

A cross-section of instruments and performers in Minnesota, drawn from our considerable archive of live-concert recordings.

…revisiting some engaging mechanical-instruments in Minneapolis-Saint Paul neighborhoods.