1976 Rieger organ at Augustinerkirche, Vienna, Austria

It’s all about praise, joy and thanksgiving. Our next Pipedreams program provides music to gladden the heart and lift the spirits. We’ll have a celebratory Prelude by Franz Schmidt, a composer hailed in his native Austria, and almost totally unknown elsewhere. Max Reger contributes a tumultuous chorale-fantasy, Vincent Youmans provides some popular songs, Pierre Cochereau takes us to an Easter morning service at Notre Dame Cathedral, and the choir of Ascension Episcopal Church in Stillwater, Minnesota offers up a cheerful shout. Stimulate the senses and sooth the soul, with Serene Alleluias, this week on Pipedreams.

It had to start somewhere, even when it comes to new styles of writing for the keyboard. On our next Pipedreams broadcast, we’ll trace the art of the organ from the sixteenth to the twentieth century, from Antegnati to Ravanello, with recordings on some of the earliest playable pipe organs, solos, duets, saucy sonatas, romantic tone poems, and dramatic concertos. Influenced by the world at large, by court, church, theatre, and concert hall, these pieces by Gabrieli and Galuppi, Bergamo and Bossi, and Casella document a remarkable and colorful artistic progression an Italian Evolution, this week on Pipedreams.

A marvelous miscellany of colorful compositions which share little beyond their common format name.

…an audiophile’s audition of several of the best recent recordings of organ music, taped here and abroad.

…composers and performers from at home and abroad explore diverse compositions in celebration of the gift of Christmas.

…Whether in Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, the Netherlands or Germany, the music of Johann Sebastian Bach is always “at home.”

…The quarterly survey of recent album releases with commentary from program host Michael Barone.

…A tribute to the unique genius of early 20th century musician Jehan Alain, with comments from his famous sister and one of his many admirers and advocates, James Kibbie.

…Historic and modern repertoire for organ solo and in consort from Austria's capitol city.

…The Organ in Advent....music of expectation, contemplation, reverence and celebration, in anticipation of the Nativity.

…the energetic Viennese organist and conductor shares some of his innumerable enthusiasms.

An international collection of arrangements for instruments and voices.

Though symphonies and choral music have secured his fame, it was the organ he first loved and which remained a life influence.