T H E JULY 2021 - Seven Oaks Presbyterian Church Columbia, South Carolina Cover feature on pages 18-19
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
THE
D I A PA S O N
JULY 2021
Seven Oaks Presbyterian Church
Columbia, South Carolina
Cover feature on pages 18–19
PHILLIP TRUCKENBROD
CONCERT ARTISTS
ŚĂƌůĞƐDŝůůĞƌWƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚ
WŚŝůůŝƉdƌƵĐŬĞŶďƌŽĚ&ŽƵŶĚĞƌ
THE DIAPASON Editor’s Notebook
Scranton Gillette Communications
One Hundred Twelfth Year: No. 7, Future cover features
Whole No. 1340 As readers have noted over the last several years, cover
JULY 2021 features are not just for new organs! These opportunities intro-
Established in 1909 duce our readers to exceptional rebuilt or restored instruments, Stephen Schnurr
ISSN 0012-2378 as well. Likewise, college, university, and conservatory organ 847/954-7989; sschnurr@sgcmail.com
programs have a unique opportunity to place their institutions www.TheDiapason.com
An International Monthly Devoted to the Organ,
in the forefront of readers’ minds.
the Harpsichord, Carillon, and Church Music
Cover features for the 2022 year can be reserved today. choirs of all ages. The calendar section continues to increase
Please contact Jerome Butera to reserve a cover feature for in size, including a section of carillon recitals for the summer
CONTENTS your use or to discuss any of your advertising needs in tra- months. (Organ, choral, harpsichord, and carillon events can be
FEATURES
ditional print or modern digital platforms: 608/634-6253 or submitted for the magazine as well as at the website.)
Exploring the unknown of BWV 565, Part 2 jbutera@sgcmail.com. This month’s cover feature is the Lewtak Pipe Organ Build-
by Michael Gailit 12 ers, Inc., instrument for Seven Oaks Presbyterian Church,
Pipe Organs of La Grange, Illinois, and the In this issue Columbia, South Carolina. This is the first electric-action organ
Architectural Edifices That House Them Michael Gailit continues his exploration of the musical by this builder and will be dedicated in October.
Part 8: Grace Lutheran Church motives of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Toccata in D Minor, BWV
by Stephen Schnurr 15
565i, the second installment of his series. The eighth and final Share the benefits of learning.
NEWS & DEPARTMENTS installment of my series on the organs of La Grange, Illinois, As you enjoy this issue, please consider giving a gift subscrip-
Editor’s Notebook 3 details the organs of Grace Lutheran Church. tion for The Diapason to a colleague, student, or friend. If
Here & There 3 In “In the Wind . . .,” John Bishop relishes in the freedom to you know someone who would like a sample copy (digital or
Appointments 6 travel to see organs, organists, and organbuilders in the wake of print) as a potential subscriber, please contact me. Our digital
Nunc Dimittis 8
the advancement of society through the science of Covid vac- subscription is a bargain at $35 for one year, and our student
In the wind . . . by John Bishop 10
cines. The reviews section includes a return of choral sugges- rate is incredible at $20 for one year. Visit thediapason.com and
REVIEWS tions, as many readers will soon begin to reignite their work with click on subscribe or call 877/501-7540. Q
Book Reviews 9
Choral Music Reviews 9, 20
New Recordings 20 Announcing the second Gruenstein Award
CALENDAR 22 Siegfried Emanuel Gruenstein any other journal, and may not be under
SUMMER CARILLON CALENDAR 24 (1877–1957) consideration for publication by another
RECITAL PROGRAMS 25 The Diapason is pleased to announce journal. The topic(s) should be related
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING 26 its second Gruenstein Award to honor to the organ, church music, harpsichord,
S. E. Gruenstein, founder and first and/or carillon. Strict word count will not
editor of The Diapason, which com- be enforced, as some articles will need
menced publication in December 1909. numerous illustrations and may require
For the journal’s 110th anniversary in less text, or vice versa. It is suggested
THE 2019, The Diapason established the that essays be between 2,500 and 10,000
D I A PA S O N
JULY 2021 Gruenstein Award to recognize the words. Quality is preferred over quantity.
scholarly work of a young author who All accompanying illustrations must be
has not reached their 35th birthday. submitted in JPEG, TIFF, and/or PDF
The winner of the inaugural Gruenstein formats with text and must be of sufficient
Award was Alexander Meszler. quality to print (300 dpi or better), with
Submissions of article-length essays any necessary permission to print secured
will be accepted from September 1, 2021, in advance on behalf of The Diapason.
until January 31, 2022, and the winning The winning essay, upon publication in
article will be published in the May 2022 the May 2022 issue, becomes the copy-
Seven Oaks Presbyterian Church
Columbia, South Carolina
issue. Authors may not have reached righted property of The Diapason and
their 35th birthday before January 31, Scranton Gillette Communications, Inc.
Cover feature on pages 18-19
2022. Submissions must be original To submit materials or to direct ques-
COVER research and essays by the author, must tions, contact Stephen Schnurr, Editorial
Lewtak Pipe Organ Builders, Inc., Mocksville, not have been previously published by Director: sschnurr@sgcmail.com. Q S. E. Gruenstein
North Carolina; Seven Oaks Presbyterian
Church, Columbia, South Carolina 18
Here & There
Editorial Director STEPHEN SCHNURR
and Publisher sschnurr@sgcmail.com Events announces recitals Wednesdays at 12:15
847/954-7989 p.m.: July 7, Susan DeMarco, organ;
President RICK SCHWER
7/14, Ryan Boren, organ; 7/21, Erin
rschwer@sgcmail.com Brooker-Miller, harp, and Andy Miller,
847/391-1048 vibraphone; 7/28, Simon Gheller, organ;
August 4, Daniel Beliavsky, piano,
Editor-at-Large ANDREW SCHAEFFER
diapasoneditoratlarge@gmail.com and Yuri Beliavsky, violin; 8/11, Olga
Sklyanskaya, piano; 8/18, Michell Miller,
Sales Director JEROME BUTERA organ; 8/25, Jayne Latva, piano, Deborah
jbutera@sgcmail.com
608/634-6253 Hanks, clarinet, Elizabeth Tuma, cello.
Circulation/ St. John Cathedral houses organs by Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption,
Subscriptions THE DIAPASON Robert Noehren and Nichols & Simp- San Francisco, California, Ruffatti organ
P.O. Box 300
Lincolnshire, IL. 60069-0300 son, Inc. For information:
DPP@omeda.com www.stjohncathedral.org. organ; 8/22, Christoph Tietze, organ;
Toll-Free: 877/501-7540 8/29, Angela Kraft Cross, organ.
Local: 847/763-4933
The Cathedral of St. Mary of the St. Mary’s Cathedral houses a 1971
Designer KELLI DIRKS Assumption, San Francisco, California, Fratelli Ruffatti organ of four manuals,
kellidirksphoto@gmail.com continues recitals, Sundays at 4:00 p.m.: 89 ranks. These events are available
July 4, Michal Kopycinski, organ; 7/11, livestream. For information:
Contributing Editors LARRY PALMER
Harpsichord Kevin Navarro, piano, and Cheryl Cain, www.stmarycathedralsf.org.
soprano; 7/18, Michael Bower, organ;
KIMBERLY SCHAFER Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 7/25, Justin Brueggeman and Rodney Sinsinawa Mound, Sinsinawa,
BRIAN SWAGER Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Noehren organ Ward, organ; Wisconsin, announces its summer
Carillon
August 1, Michal Szostak, organ; organ recital series, featuring Casavant
JOHN BISHOP The Cathedral of St. John the 8/8, Kevin Navarro, piano, and Joshua Opus 2847, in the Queen of the Rosary
In the wind . . . Evangelist, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Hughes, baritone; 8/15, Roland Voit, ³ page 4
GAVIN BLACK
On Teaching THE DIAPASON (ISSN 0012-2378) is published monthly by Scranton Gillette Routine items for publication must be received six weeks in advance of the month of
Communications, Inc., 3030 W. Salt Creek Lane, Suite 201, Arlington Heights, Illinois issue. For advertising copy, the closing date is the 1st. Prospective contributors of articles
Reviewers Gail Archer 60005-5025. Phone 847/954-7989. Fax 847/390-0408. E-mail: sschnurr@sgcmail.com. should request a style sheet. Unsolicited reviews cannot be accepted.
Karen Schneider Kirner Subscriptions: 1 yr. $45; 2 yr. $83; 3 yr. $115 (United States and U.S. Possessions). Copyright ©2021. Printed in the U.S.A.
Canada and Mexico: 1 yr. $45 + $11 shipping; 2 yr. $83 + $16 shipping; 3 yr. $115 + $19 No portion of the contents of this issue may be reproduced in any form without the
John L. Speller shipping. Other foreign subscriptions: 1 yr. $45 + $31 shipping; 2 yr. $83 + $42 shipping; specific written permission of the Editor, except that libraries are authorized to make
3 yr. $115 + $50 shipping. Digital subscription (no print copy): 1 yr. $35. Student (digital photocopies of the material contained herein for the purpose of course reserve reading
only): $20. Single copies $6 (U.S.A.); $8 (foreign). at the rate of one copy for every fifteen students. Such copies may be reused for other
Periodical postage paid at Pontiac, Illinois, and at additional mailing offices. courses or for the same course offered subsequently.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE DIAPASON, P.O. Box 300, Lincolnshire, IL. THE DIAPASON accepts no responsibility or liability for the
60069-0300. validity of information supplied by contributors, vendors,
This journal is indexed in the The Music Index, and abstracted in RILM Abstracts. advertisers or advertising agencies.
WWW.THEDIAPASON.COM THE DIAPASON Q JULY 2021 Q 3
Here & There
³ page 3 Davis is represented in North America
by Phillip Truckenbrod Concert Artists.
For information: concertartists.com.
St. Olaf Conference on Worship, Theol-
ogy, and the Arts
p.m. CST. Based on the theme, “Scatter
the Imagination of Our Hearts,” this
preview invites participants to explore
how communities have been scattered in
Queen of the Rosary Chapel, Sinsinawa body, mind, and spirit by Covid-19 and
Mound, Sinsinawa, Wisconsin, Casa- structural racism. Registration is free.
vant Opus 2847 For information and to register: https:// Marcel Dupré
wp.stolaf.edu/cwta/.
Chapel, Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.: July announces its conference, “Marcel
7, Karen Black; 7/14, Elisa Bickers; 7/21, Dupré: Fifty Years On,” October 24–27.
Chuck Barland; 7/28, Josh Ring; August The event will include performances and
11, Jan Kraybill; 8/18, Greg Hand; 8/25, presentations by Bruno Chaumet, Scott Stephen Hamilton
Greg Zelek. For information: Dettra, Susan Ferré, Jeremy Filsell,
www.sinsinawa.org. Rebecca Filsell, and others. For infor- Stephen Hamilton presents recitals
mation: organ.music.unt.edu. and masterclasses, marking his 50th sea-
son of recitals: October 9–10: University
Conferences and festivals of Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa; November
The Canadian International People 21, St. Mark Lutheran Church, Marion,
Organ Competition (CIOC), in col- Iowa; December 6, St. Mark Catholic
laboration with the Granby Zoo and the Church, St. Paul, Minnesota;
Royal Canadian College of Organists February 27, 2022, St. Joseph Catho-
Organ Festival Canada Hamilton 2021, lic Church, Bronxville, New York; April
filmed an outdoor organ performance 10, Dupré, Le Chemin de la Croix, with
on June 22, featuring Jean-Willy Michael Barone, narrator, Cathe-
Kunz playing Camille Saint-Saëns’ Le dral of St. Paul, St. Paul, Minnesota;
Carnaval des animaux on the CIOC 4/19, Haydn, Little Organ Mass, First
Bach-Mobile. The video performance Lutheran Church, Marshall, Minnesota;
will premiere on August 10 as part of the July 10, L’Église de la Madeleine,
RCCO Festival. Following the festival, Paris, France; 7/13, St. Peter Cathedral,
the CIOC will release the performance Lynne Davis Trier, Germany; 7/16, Abbey, Otto-
on digital platforms in the fall of 2021. Hill Auditorium, University of Michigan, beuren, Germany; 7/22, Cathedral, Mag-
On June 6, the CIOC presented the Ann Arbor, Michigan (photo credit: Bryan Lynne Davis has been promoted to deburg, Germany; 7/29, St. Matthäus
Dunnewald)
world premiere of Cycle des territoires the status of full professor at Wichita Lutheran Church, Munich, Germany.
for soprano and organ by Maurice- State University, Wichita, Kansas, having For information:
Gaston Du Berger in collabora- The University of Michigan School served the university’s music department stephenjonhamilton.com.
tion with the Festival de la Poésie de of Music, Theatre, and Dance as a tenured associate professor since
Montréal. The event was available on announces its 61st annual organ con- 2006. She holds the Robert L. Town
Facebook and YouTube. The program ference, “Passions and Visions” for the Distinguished Professor of Organ chair.
featured soprano Andréanne Brisson future of organ, harpsichord, carillon, In addition to heading the organ pro-
Paquin and organist Jean-Willy Kunz. and sacred music, October 3–6. The gram, she is producer and artistic direc-
The poems and texts were by Claude conference will feature guest presenters tor of the Rie Bloomfield Organ Series
Gavreau, Anne Hébert, and Joséphine along with the university’s organ faculty Distinguished Guest Artists, which she
Bacon, and the musical sounds of the and students. All events may be viewed established in 1995, and the Wednesdays
Innu language. For information: ciocm. free of charge by webcast. Live audi- in Wiedemann series that she created in
org and rccofestival2021.ca. ence attendance will also be available for 2007, for which she performs monthly
select recitals. For information: smtd. half-hour organ recitals, recorded for You-
The St. Olaf Conference on Wor- umich.edu/departments/organ/. Tube. Visit: www.wichita.edu/calendar/
ship, Theology, and the Arts is offer- index.php?eID=4655 and www.facebook. Alan Morrison at Trinity United Method-
ing a virtual preview to its upcoming in- The University of North Texas com/watch/search/?q=wednesdays%20 ist Church, Atlanta, Georgia
person conference in 2022, July 20, 3:30 College of Music, Denton, Texas, in%20wiedemann.
Before arriving at WSU, Davis was Alan Morrison was featured May 9
professor of organ at the National on OneComposer.org for their monthly
Regional Conservatory in Caen, Nor- webcast featuring music of Florence
mandie, France, for nine years. She is a Price. He gave a lecture/demonstra-
recipient of the Excellence in Creative tion of the compositional process of
Activity award from WSU, the Bur- her Passacaglia and Fugue that was
ton Pell Award from the Wichita Arts recently published by ClarNan Editions
Council, and is Chevalier de l’Ordre des (see December 2020 issue, page 8). He
opus 135 ɲɿɲɲ — 75 ɻɷɼ
Arts et des Lettres, delivered from the then performed the piece along with
0HWKRGL&KXU˝
Republic of France. ³ page 6
)LU8QʱHG
LUBBOCK, TEXAS
FOLLOW
US ON
FACEBOOK
ǩǭǫǬǬ, av. Savoie, St-Hyacinthe, Québec -Ǫ7ǫ1ǩ
ɽ ǤǬǧǮǮǤǛǪǭǰǯ info@letourneauorgans.com
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT AUSTINORGANS.COM
LETOURNEAUORGANS.COM
t8PPEMBOE4U)BSUGPSE$5
4 Q THE DIAPASON Q JULY 2021 WWW.THEDIAPASON.COM
Allegro Elisa Jackson Robert Jeremy S. Tyler Vincent
con fuoco Bickers Borges Brewer Bruns Canonico Carr
Joseph Carson Shin-Ae Angela Theo. S. Laura Faythe Joy-Leilani
Causby Cooman Chun Kraft Cross Davis Ellis Freese Garbutt
Simone Margaret Justin Sarah
Gheller Harper Hartz Hawbecker
Jacob Christopher Jason Peter
Hofeling Jacobson Klein-Mendoza Krasinski
David Mark Colin Katherine Scott Shelly Brenda Joseph
Lamb Laubach Lynch Meloan Montgomery Moorman-Stahlman Portman Ripka
Vicki Patrick A. Thomas David Richard Beth Rodland Duo
Schaeffer Scott Sheehan Von Behren Webb Zucchino Organ & Viola
www.ConcertArtistCooperative.com
Faythe Freese, Director
512.470.7782
Colin Lynch, Assistant Director
ConcertArtistCooperative@Gmail.com
Beth Zucchino, Founder & Director Emerita
Here & There
Appointments
Daniel Hancock is appointed to the position of designer for Létourneau Pipe
Organs, St.-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada. Hancock practiced as an architect for
a decade prior to his five years at Quimby Pipe Organs, Inc., Warrensburg, Mis-
souri, where his responsibilities included sales, design, administration, and tonal
responsibilities. He has an interest in aspects of design and organbuilding that
extends to the playing of the instrument, its repertoire, and the tonal architec-
ture of the organ. As an organist, he is active in service playing, improvisation,
and, occasionally, concertizing. He possesses an interest in the history of the pipe Alan Morrison at the University of
organ—particularly in the North American context—and is committed to the Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa
advancement of the pipe organ in today’s global culture.
He has served in leadership capacities for the Organ Historical Society, the Hall in the Heritage Center of the Uni-
Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America, and local chapters of the American versity of Dubuque, Iowa. The concert
Guild of Organists. For information: letourneauorgans.com. included solo repertoire and orchestra/
organ works featuring the Columbus
Simon Johnson is appointed master of music for Westminster Cathedral, Lon- Symphony of Ohio, conducted by
don, UK, effective September 1. Johnson has been organist and assistant director Daniel Hancock Rossen Milanov. The concert was
of music at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, since 2008, during which time he has performed in front of a partial audience
played for all national events that have taken place there. Previously he was assis- and live-streamed on the Columbus
tant master of music at St. Albans Cathedral and director of music at All Saints’ Symphony YouTube channel. For infor-
Church, Northampton. mation: alanmorrison.com.
Johnson is active as a recitalist throughout the United States and Europe and is
also an orchestral conductor; his compositions are published by Oxford University
Press and Peters. In 2018 he addressed the symposium of the Pontifical Council Museums and collections
for Culture in Rome, and in the same year he worked with NASA and the Inter- Timothy A. Steinert and his wife
national Space Station in a sell-out performance of Holst’s The Planets at St. Paul’s Lixia Zhang have made a major gift
Cathedral. For information: simonjohnsonmusician.com. to the Yale Collection of Musical
Instruments at Yale University, New
Nicholas Quardokus is appointed canon organist and director of music for Haven, Connecticut. Steinert is the
Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston, South Carolina, effective August 1. Quar- great-great-grandson of Morris Steinert,
kokus has served as assistant organist at St. Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, New whose donation of musical instruments
York City, since 2019. Prior to that, he served as organ scholar at St. Paul’s, K to Yale in 1900 established the collec-
Street, Washington, D.C. In addition to duties at St. Paul’s, he was a part-time tion and who founded the New Haven
interim organist at Washington National Cathedral. He has held similar posts Simon Johnson (photo credit: Malcolm Symphony in 1894. With the new gift,
at Yale Divinity School’s Marquand Chapel, Trinity Church on-the-Green, New Crowthers) the collection will honor the Steinert
Haven, Connecticut, and Trinity Episcopal Church, Indianapolis, Indiana. He family’s legacy in perpetuity with a new
received his Bachelor of Music degree from Indiana University Jacobs School of name, the Morris Steinert Collection
Music, Bloomington, and his Master of Music degree from Yale School of Music/ of Musical Instruments.
Institute of Sacred Music, New Haven. This gift will enable Yale to reimagine
Quardokus has won prizes in competitions around the country, winning first and extend the scope of the collection as
prize and hymn-playing prize at the 2014 Albert Schweitzer Organ Competition a teaching museum where performance
in Wethersfield, Connecticut. In 2013, he took first prize in the American Guild of and scholarship are enhanced by in-
Organists Region V Competition for Young Organists. As a solo recitalist, he has person and digital access to the collec-
performed throughout the eastern United States, appearing at both regional and tion’s extensive holdings through new
national conventions of the American Guild of Organists, the Kennedy Center, curricular initiatives and concerts. The
and the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston. His solo performances have been endowment will also allow the museum
heard broadcast across the nation on public radio’s Harmonia Early Music and to forge new professional collaborations,
Pipedreams. He was the featured organist in the 2018 German documentary The bolster conservation efforts with the
Unanswered Ives, broadcast on French, German, and Czech television. As a col- help of key Yale University partners,
laborator, he has appeared with the Cathedral Choral Society, the Orchestra of St. and complete necessary improvements
Luke’s, and the Washington Master Chorale. He is a member of The Diapason’s Nicholas Quardokus (photo credit: Scott to the collection’s historic building. The
20 Under 30 Class of 2017. For information: gracechurchcharleston.org. Q Scheetz) collection’s holdings now include more
than 1,000 objects, and its keyboard col-
lection is considered one of the finest in
³ page 4 were made at Trinity United Methodist The organ was chosen for this project to the world. For information:
other shorter works including Pastorale Church, Atlanta, Georgia, which houses capture an authentic tonal representation music.yale.edu/collection.
and Cantilena. The video recordings 1912 Austin Organ Company Opus 362. of how the music would have sounded
with Price’s specific registration sugges-
tions. This summer, Morrison will record Organbuilders
two of her major works, First Sonata for The Organ Clearing House has
Organ and Passacaglia and Fugue, along relocated a Schantz organ built for Christ
with other character pieces. Episcopal Church, Avon, Connecticut,
On May 15, Morrison performed the which closed in 2012. The organ was
dedication concert of the new organ by purchased by St. Patrick-St. Anthony
Dobson Pipe Organ Builders, Ltd., Opus Catholic Church, Hartford, Con-
97, located in the John and Alice Butler necticut, Fr. Timothy Shreenan, O.F.M.,
$IWHU\HDUVZHWRR
DUHMXVWJHWWLQJVWDUWHG
1-800-621-2624
www.ruffatti.com foleybaker.com
Proud Member of APOBA
6 Q THE DIAPASON Q JULY 2021 WWW.THEDIAPASON.COM
Here & There
Schoenstein & Co., Benicia, Cali- Gordon Turk playing the five-manual,
fornia, is presently constructing a new 205-rank organ at the Ocean Grove
three-manual, 27-voice, 32-rank organ, (New Jersey) Auditorium, a beachfront
to be installed at St. Alban’s Episco- building constructed in 1894 to accom-
pal Church, Waco, Texas, as part of a modate audiences of 10,000 or more at
campus-wide expansion and renovation the Methodist camp meeting grounds.
of this growing parish. The main organ is Originally built in 1908 by Robert
in a north chancel chamber. Unenclosed Hope-Jones as “the largest organ in
stops for congregational support and the world” with fourteen ranks of pipes
children’s choir accompaniment along playing on wind pressures of up to fifty
with the Pedal Open Wood are in the inches and contained in four concrete
St. Joseph Catholic Church, Tiffin, Ohio, west gallery. swell boxes bearing thick, lead-covered
Schantz Opus 2337 Acoustical consultation is by Paul swell shades, the organ was enlarged
Scarbrough of Akustiks LLC, Norwalk, over the years to conform more closely
The mechanism, layout, and control Connecticut. The tonal design is focused to the expectations of musicians and
system are new. The façade pipes were on support of the Anglican service. The needs of the concert series that occurs
made in the Schantz shop, as well as the organist and director of music is Eugene every summer at Ocean Grove.
American walnut cases, utilizing portions Lavery. For information: As organist and artist-in-residence of
of the 1935 decorative elements. The schoenstein.com. the auditorium since 1974, Turk plays
Trompette en Chamade was added to this organ for twice-weekly recitals in
St. Patrick-St. Anthony Catholic Church, the gallery railing as part of the project. July and August and for Sunday services.
Hartford, Connecticut, Schantz organ A dedicatory event featuring John Whit- Recordings The disc includes works by Gigout, Karg-
low, organist, Paul Monachino (diocesan Elert, Guilmant, Meyerbeer, Debussy,
pastor, and Gabriel Löfvall, director of musician), Stephen Smith, and Curtis Dubois, and others. For information:
music and organist. It was dismantled in King was held on April 18. ravencd.com.
October 2020 and delivered and partially Schantz also announces a contract to
erected by the Organ Clearing House in rebuild the organ at Trinity Lutheran
the sanctuary. Beginning in January 2021, Church, Ashland, Ohio, Opus 2343. Publishers
Alex Belair and Michael Tanguay of Alex The organ has experienced a move and Banks Music Publications
Pipe Organ Service reassembled and several upgrades, incorporating pipes announces new organ music by Vernon
finished the instrument. The Schantz from the original M. P. Möller Opus 924 Hoyle: Festival Postlude on MENDELS-
organ augments a 1952 Austin Organs, (1908) with three projects by Schantz, SOHN (14103, £3.95, download £2.99);
Inc., instrument in the rear gallery. For including a re-actioning with additions in Improvisation on Crimond (14112,
information: organclearinghouse.com. 1930, a move with additions in 1963, and £3.50, download £2.99); In Memoriam
further additions in 1983. Twenty-seven (14111, £3.50, download £2.99); Prelude
Schantz Organ Company, Orrville, ranks from the existing instrument will on a Traditional Normandy Melody
Ohio, recently completed a project at be retained, while twenty new ranks will (14102, £3.50, download £2.99); Sortie
St. Joseph Catholic Church, Tiffin, be added, including a complete Great Héroique (14113, £3.50, download
Ohio, Opus 2337. The 35-rank organ has Principal chorus, five new reeds, and a Summer Echoes: Ocean Grove Audito- £2.99). For information:
been revoiced so that the twelve ranks speaking façade. A three-stop Antiphonal rium Organ banksmusicpublications.co.uk.
from the original Wicks organ (1935), division will be added, the console con-
the nine ranks from the modifications by trol system upgraded, and the mecha- Raven announces a new CD, Sum- Liturgical Press announces a new
Schantz/Muller (1975), and the fourteen nism and layout of the organ will be all mer Echoes: Ocean Grove Auditorium publication: Let the People Praise You:
new ranks organ all work cohesively. new. For information: schantzorgan.com. Organ (OAR166, $15.98), featuring ³ page 8
With the Studio 170 and the Studio 370, Johannus 4HE TWO MANUAL 3TUDIO HAS EVERYTHING YOU NEED
puts the organ within reach for both the novice and INCLUDING THE WORLD FAMOUS *OHANNUS SOUND 4HE
AUDIO SYSTEM CONSISTENTLY PROVIDES REALISTIC SOUND
professional organist. The series is complete, REPRODUCTION FOR WONDERFUL STOPS
accessible, and produces the highest quality sound.
!S AN ADVANCED ORGANIST PLAYING THE NEW 3TUDIO
YOU´LL ENJOY THREE MANUALS A COMPREHENSIVE STOPLIST
The sleek contemporary design is available in four
WITH STOPS AND A NUMBER OF LOVELY SOLO STOPS
colors and will perfectly suit any interior. 3TUDYING HAS NEVER BEEN THIS MUCH FUNß
WWW.JOHANNUS.COM
WWW.THEDIAPASON.COM THE DIAPASON Q JULY 2021 Q 7
Here & There
Nunc Dimittis
Ray McLellan died April 30. Born in 1958 in Florida, he learned to play the carillon while earning his Master of Music
and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees at the University of Michigan, and he later studied at the Netherlands Carillon School.
A carillonneur member of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America, McLellan served on a number of GCNA commit-
tees, including as an exam juror. He served as university carillonneur at Michigan State University starting in 1997, was an
active carillon recitalist in the United States and other countries, and was a faculty member of the North American Carillon
School. He taught organ and piano, served as director of music at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, Monroe,
Michigan, and was an accompanist for the Kol Halev Choir of Temple Beth Emeth, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Liuwe Tamminga, 68, died April 29. He was born September 25, 1953, in Hemelum, the Netherlands. Having studied at
the conservatory of Groningen, he then went to Paris to study with André Isoir at the organ of the abbey of Saint-Germain-des-
Prés. Thereafter, he relocated to Italy to tutor with Luigi Ferdinando Tagliavini, with whom he began a thirty-year collabora-
tion working with historic instruments. Ray McLellan
From 1982 until his death, he served as organist of the Basilica of San Petronio, Bologna, Italy, which houses historic organs
by Lorenzo da Prato (1471–1475) and Baldassarre Malamini (1596). For much of his time at this church, he shared his duties
with Tagliavini, who died in 2017. Tamminga was noted for his performances of early Italian music on organ and harpsichord.
He played and presented masterclasses throughout Europe and abroad, including the Academy for Italian Organ Music at
Pistoia, Italy, and the Haarlem Summer Academy for Organists, Haarlem, the Netherlands. He was a collaborative musician
with ensembles such as Odhecaton and Concerto Palatino.
Tamminga served as curator of the Tagliavini collection of instruments acquired in 2010 by Genus Bononiae in the Museum
of San Colombano, Bologna. The collection includes organs, harpsichords, clavichords, pianos, and automated instruments
from the sixteenth through nineteenth centuries. As a musicologist, he edited publications of the music of Marco Anto-
nio Cavazzoni, Jacques Buus, and others. His numerous recordings from 1991 through 2017 include two compact discs of
the organ works of Giacomo Puccini. Other recordings featured works of Frescobaldi, Mozart, Palestrina, Cavazzoni, and
Giovanni Gabrieli. Liuwe Tamminga
Reverend Ralph Verdi, C.PP.S., 76, died May 10 in Carthagena, Ohio. Fr. Verdi was born September 21, 1944, in New
York. He entered the Society of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood in 1962 at St. Joseph’s College, Rensselaer, Indiana, and
was ordained to the priesthood on June 19, 1971, at St. Charles Seminary, now St. Charles Center, Carthagena, Ohio.
After ordination, Fr. Verdi returned to St. Joseph’s College to teach in its music department. He later attended the Benjamin
T. Rome School of Music at the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., for graduate studies in music, earning a
doctoral degree in composition. He then continued in music and education at St. Joseph’s College, particularly with the Rens-
selaer Program of Church Music and Liturgy, teaching music theory and composition.
In 2005, he was appointed parochial vicar at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Cleveland, Ohio. In 2010, he served as
sacramental minister at St. Rita and Precious Blood Parishes in Dayton, Ohio, later becoming part-time chaplain for the Sisters
of the Precious Blood in Dayton.
Fr. Verdi retired to St. Charles Center in 2015. With his health declining, he launched his search for a kidney transplant,
which took place in late 2017. He faced numerous medical obstacles during his recovery, but eventually made his way back to
St. Charles Center, where he spent his last years.
Fr. Verdi incorporated music into his priestly ministry as a teacher and composer. He composed several hymns to the
Precious Blood as well as a “Votive Mass for St. Gaspar del Bufalo” and the Precious Blood Founders Hymn Collection. His Reverend Ralph Verdi, C.PP.S.
compositions were published by GIA Publications, Chicago, Illinois, including “Come, Let Us Adore,” “Psalm for Christmas,”
and “Psalm for Pentecost.” He served as a contributing editor to the publisher’s hymnals, Worship II (1975) and Worship, Third Edition (1986).
Reverend Ralph Verdi is survived by his brother Richard (Mary) of Bronx, New York; and his sister Barbara (Frank) Rakas of Yonkers, New York. A funeral Mass
was celebrated privately on May 14 at St. Charles Center with burial in the community cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Missionaries of the Precious
Blood, Cincinnati Province: cpps-preciousblood.org. Q
³ page 7 MorningStar Music Publishers digital) is scored for SATB with divisi. Archer; Scottish Legend (9780193533059,
Psalms for the Liturgical Year (978-0- announces organ works by Daniel Be Thou My Vision (50-6164, $2.25 print $10.95), by Amy Beach, arranged by Rob-
8146-6568-8 for printed book; 978-0- Ficarri, a member of The Diapason’s copy or digital) is for SATB and piano. ert Gower; Elegy for the Time of Change
8146-6592-3 for e-book, $17.95), by 20 Under 30 Class of 2019: Visions of the For information: morningstarmusic.com. (9780193560192, $12.25), by Robert A.
Karen Schneider Kirner. Settings for Holy Spirit (8987, $16), for organ and Harris; First Flight (9780193551497,
20 psalms are provided for congrega- narrator; and Suite No. 1 (8830, $14). $12.25), by Cecilia McDowall; Carillon
tional use with cantor and/or choir and New choral works by Mark A. Miller (9780193559233, $12.25), by Herbert
various instruments. For information: are also available. God’s Got the Whole Murrill; The Washington Post March
litpress.org. World (50-9861, $1.95, print copy or (9780193533301, $11.95), by John Philip
Sousa, arranged by Robert Gower; and
Fiducie (9780193550018, $12.25) and
Toccatina (9780193550117, $12.25), by
Ad Wammes. For information:
global.oup.com.
Zarex Scores, established in 2004 to
2020-2022 Projects print and distribute the original works
and organ transcriptions of Frederick
86$LU)RUFH$FDGHP\3URWHVWDQW&DGHW&KDSHOĆ&RORUDGR6SULQJV&R Hohman, is expanding the scope of its
Rebuild III/83 Moller/Holtkamp publications to include works by a variety
of composers and transcribers. The most
86$LU)RUFH$FDGHP\&DWKROLF&DGHW&KDSHOĆ&RORUDGR6SULQJV&R recent release is Toccata on an American
Rebuild III/33 Moller/Holtkamp Folk Tune (ZS1017) by the American
organist and church musician Arthur
7KH)R[7KHDWUHĆ$WODQWD*D Rhea (1919–2016).
Rebuild “Mighty Mo” Moller theater organ console A Stanford Organ Album Rhea had a career in church music,
serving Bruton Parish Church, Wil-
%URDG6WUHHW3UHVE\WHULDQ&KXUFKĆ&ROXPEXV2K
Oxford University Press announces liamsburg, Virginia, and Church of the
Build V-manual console with new windchests and more new organ publications: A Stanford Redeemer, Baltimore, Maryland. He
6W$QGUHZ(SLVFRSDO&KXUFKĆ)RUW3LHUFH)OD Organ Album (9780193529939, $25.50), studied composition with Paul Hin-
edited by John Scott Whiteley, containing demith at Yale University. The “folk tune”
New III/31 pipe organ
20 pieces of organ voluntaries, postludes, is known as Light, found in an 1832
St Simons Island Presbyterian ChurchĆ6W6LPRQV,VODQG*D preludes, and descriptive works; Intrada hymn collection, The Christian Lyre. For
New III/38 pipe organ (9780193552197, $12.25), by Malcolm information: proorgano.com. Q
3OXVPRUHSURMHFWVIRUQHZFRQVROHVQHZIDFDGHV
UHEXLOGLQJDQGUHVWRUDWLRQRIYLQWDJHLQVWUXPHQWV BACH AT NOON
Grace Church in New York
How can we help you?
ZZZSLSHRUJDQFRPĆ www.gracechurchnyc.org
8 Q THE DIAPASON Q JULY 2021 WWW.THEDIAPASON.COM
Reviews
Book Reviews Saint Paul of the Cross in Ruse in 1907. organbuilder in Bulgaria. Both men are prose style be adopted so that the won-
The latter organ is the oldest instrument skilled players and are recording Bul- derful information he provides may
still in active use in Bulgaria today. The garian organ literature. Velislav Zaimov stand out in high relief.
Bulgarian Hall in Sofia housed a four- principally wrote his fifteen pieces with —Gail Archer
manual Sauer organ believed to have the technique of specific colleagues in New York, New York
been the largest organ in Bulgaria with mind. He serves as professor of compo-
seventy-two stops. Both the Sauer organ sition at the National Academy of Music Gail Archer is director of music at
and the organ at Saint Ludwig in Plovdiv and as vice-president of the Union of Barnard College, Columbia University,
were destroyed by allied bombing raids Bulgarian Composers. Neva Krysteva New York City, where she conducts the
in the spring of 1944 during World War studied organ at Moscow Conservatory Barnard-Columbia Chorus and Cham-
II. The black and white photo of the and is a professor of polyphony and organ ber Singers. She is a member of the fac-
orchestra of Sofia on the stage in front at the National Academy of Music. An ulty at the Harriman Institute, Columbia
of the Sauer organ before the war is poi- active concert organist, she has written University, the Slavic studies center of
gnant and powerful. fourteen organ works. Overall, 132 of the the university. She also serves as college
The rest of Chapter 1 introduces existing Bulgarian organ works are for organist at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie,
the reader to the twenty-four organs solo organ, but some of the collaborative New York.
in Bulgaria, organized in chronological works are unique. Neva Krysteva’s Orga-
order. The author includes a photo of num calls for two female folklore singers,
each organ, the year of construction, a traditional soprano soloist, percussion, Choral Music Reviews:
the builder, the current condition, and and organ, while Simo Lazarov writes New Music for Challenging Times
the number of stops available on each his Modulations for organ and electronic Publishers are endeavoring to bring
instrument. For example, the two- playback of sea waves. forward voices of those who have been
manual organ at the Catholic Church The concluding chapter consists of repressed and under-represented and
Organ Music in Bulgaria?! in Ruse, built in 1907 by Heinrich Voit, interviews with sixteen composers, also present music with timely topics.
has thirteen stops. While the instrument organists, and organbuilders who are The reader will find all that and more in
Organ Music in Bulgaria?!, by Pavel V. is used regularly for services, it is cur- currently active in Bulgaria. The author the selections highlighted below. Now
Madzharov, e-book, 223 pages, $9.95. rently in poor condition. In contrast, the poses a series of questions delving into that choir members have largely been
Available from: imakemyownmusic. well-maintained Schuke organ, built in the reasons for an individual’s inter- immunized, it is refreshing to look at rep-
com/product-page/organ-music-in- the restored Bulgaria Hall in Sofia in est in the organ and in their interest in ertoire that can once again unite hearts
bulgaria-heck-yeah. 1974, is a three-manual instrument with writing new compositions for the instru- and voices around themes of peace,
Pavel V. Madzharov spent four years fifty-five stops, the largest organ in Bul- ment. He sheds light on the information unity, and action to rebuild our commu-
compiling information on the organs and garia today. Schuke also installed large needed to successfully create new organ nities ravaged by hatred and violence.
organ literature of his native Bulgaria, concert organs in Dobrich and Varna literature: technical features, keyboards,
publishing the results in his recent that are in good condition. At the other pedals, and stop combinations. The How Firm a Foundation, by Tom
e-book, Organ Music in Bulgaria?! The end of the spectrum, the Academy of interlocutor prompts the professionals Trenney. SATB and organ with
research was undertaken as part of Dr. Music, Dance, and Fine Arts in Plovdiv to reflect on the reasons that some organ optional assembly, Morning Star
Madzharov’s Ph.D. dissertation at the has a small one-manual practice organ of works are only performed once, that too Music Publishers, MSM-50-5180,
Bulgarian National Academy of Music. five stops built by Werner Bosch, which many Bulgarian composers write a single 2020, $2.25. Duration: 3:00.
The writer carefully documents was donated by a church in Switzerland. organ work, and that creative inspiration This is a five-verse arrangement of the
twenty-four organs in Bulgaria, includ- Fifteen of the twenty-four Bulgarian is needed to establish a strong tradition hymntune Foundation, refreshing as
ing photos and descriptions of each organs came to the country as donations of Bulgarian organ music. it has an extensive, bright part for organ
instrument, its condition, and the way in from neighboring countries. Only five of Dr. Madzharov is passionate about accompaniment with registration guid-
which the organ is used on a daily basis these donated organs are still used for his subject, including many detailed ance. It is clear that the composer loves
for teaching, study, service playing, or as religious purposes, as most of the instru- graphs and charts that cross-reference this American folk hymntune. Trenney
a concert instrument. Organists in West- ments are now used for teaching or as the information he provides about the serves as the dedicated minister of music
ern Europe and the United States are concert instruments. Another notable organs and the organ music. He hopes at First-Plymouth Church of Lincoln,
typically unfamiliar with the organ lit- small instrument is the Jens Steinhoff to stimulate a nation-wide conversation Nebraska. There is much joy in the You-
erature of Eastern Europe, so the inclu- organ at the Evangelical Methodist about the growth of interest among Tube performance of this piece recorded
sion of the 185 organ works by thirty-six Church in Varna. Built in 2004, the young people to study the organ and to with Trenney playing the organ and con-
Bulgarian composers, written between two-manual, mechanical-action organ compose new works for the instrument. ducting his large choir. Verse four is set
1972 and 2020, is a valuable resource for has fifteen stops and is used both for the There are clearly cultural, economic, and up as a three-part canon. Verse five has
organists in search of unique literature worship services of the faith commu- political obstacles to overcome in Bul- sopranos and tenors singing the descant,
to add to their repertoire. The Bulgar- nity and for local concerts. Should the garia in order to firmly establish a well- with the organist providing interjections
ian organ works are listed by genre: solo author publish a revised edition of the supported organ culture in the country. that add to the power of the text. This
works, pieces for organ and voices, and book, it is suggested that the specifica- This volume is a fine first step in that provides fun for the organist, choir, as
pieces for organ with other instruments. tions of each organ should be included direction. Should the author consider a well as assembly! The range reaches to
Helpful graphs and diagrams make the so that the reader knows the sonic revised edition in future, it is respectfully G5 for sopranos, G4 for tenors.
musical search process easy for the inter- possibilities of the instrument and the suggested that a more formal, objective ³ page 20
ested reader. repertoire that may best be performed
The book is divided into three sec- on each organ.
tions: Chapter 1: Bulgarian Pipe Organs;
Chapter 2: Bulgarian Organ Pieces; and
An important independent organ-
building project is now in progress for
Scattered leaves ... from our Scrapbook
Chapter 3: Interviews. The Bulgarian the Earth and Man Museum in Sofia
faith tradition of Orthodox Christianity, under the guidance of organbuilder
which Bulgaria adopted in 865 A.D., Rosen Draganov. When completed, the
is the first issue addressed in Chap- two-manual instrument will have thirty-
ter 1. The Eastern Orthodox Church one stops. Draganov studied organbuild-
celebrates a sung liturgy that does not ing in Germany and is a driving force
include the organ or any other instru- in the contemporary organ culture of
mental accompaniment. In my own trav- Bulgaria. The instrument will be the first
els in Russia and Ukraine, I discovered native-built organ and will be realized by
that there are many organs and organ Draganov alone, without any workshop
series in these countries that flourish to assist him.
under the auspices of the local philhar- The central chapter of the book inves-
monic orchestra. There is a hall for the tigates the organ literature of Bulgaria
orchestra and then a smaller chamber from 1972 to the present. The interna-
music hall that includes an organ. This tional organ community will find a rich
is also the case for many of the organs variety of works created in this period,
in Bulgaria, and it is the reason that the with the majority of the pieces written
organ culture to date has experienced between 1990 and 2009. Four compos-
modest growth. ers contributed a large share of the 185
However, there are some Western works: Sabin Levi, Rosen Draganov,
Christian churches. The first pipe organ Velislav Zaimov, and Neva Krysteva.
built in Bulgaria was installed in the Levi, age 50, and Draganov, age 40, are
Roman Catholic Cathedral of Saint Lud- young men in the hearts of their careers,
wig in Plovdiv in 1868 and later replaced and the author rightly singles them out
by a larger instrument in 1891. Sadly, this
instrument was destroyed by a disastrous
as vital to the growth of a distinctive Bul-
garian school of composers and perform-
Schoenstein & Co.
fire in 1931. Several new instruments ers. Levi edited and published twelve Established in San Francisco 1877
were installed at the Sofia Cathedral in volumes of organ music by Bulgarian www.schoenstein.com ❧ (707) 747-5858
1900, and then at the Catholic Church of composers, while Draganov is the only
WWW.THEDIAPASON.COM THE DIAPASON Q JULY 2021 Q 9
In the wind...
“Just can’t wait to get
on the road again.”1
For over fourteen months during the
extraordinary time of Covid, Wendy and I
stayed at our house in Maine, leaving our
apartment in virus-rich New York City
vacant. Until late in 2020, Lincoln County
where we live in Maine was counting
fewer than twenty new cases each week,
and we figured we would stay there until
vaccinated. Like so many people around
the country, we altered our working lives
using Zoom and FaceTime instead of
meeting in person. We set up our offices
as “Zoom Rooms,” sometimes wearing
“go to office” tops over jeans or shorts.
I received my first vaccination shot
on my sixty-fifth birthday in mid-March.
Once I was on the schedule, I started
planning a trip, and I hit the road sixteen
days after my second shot. I visited three
organbuilding workshops, a half-dozen
organs that were coming on the market,
a couple iconic organs (one can never see
enough of them), and a church where
my colleagues are helping install an
important new organ. I drove south on a
western route through Virginia and Ten-
nessee to Birmingham, across to Atlanta, Seven keyboards and 1,235 stop tablets, as big as they get.
and north on an eastern route home Midmer-Losh organ, Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey.
through North Carolina and Virginia to (Manuals I and II have 85 notes, Manual III has 75 notes, and
The John Brombaugh organ at Southern Adventist Univer- manuals IV, V, VI, and VII have the usual 61.) (photo credit: John
meet Wendy for a few days on the Jersey sity, Collegedale, Tennessee (photo credit: John Bishop)
Bishop)
Shore. It was my re-immersion in the
craft I have been working in for more gorgeous, intimate voices and carefully That’s a difference of 4,362 pipes, or the Gallery, playable from one console)
than forty-five years, and I came home balanced choruses, but the big bird of equivalent of a seventy-rank organ! was smaller in number of ranks, it was
refreshed and newly inspired. my trip was the behemoth all-American An 85-note rank of pipes allows a con- an important part of my understanding
organ in Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, tinuous scale from low CC of 8′ to high of large organs because of the weekly
Variety is the spice of life. New Jersey, an organ with single divi- c′′′′′′ of 2′, or as in the case of several ranks recital series there. Each Friday, I heard
Pipe organs come in all sizes, shapes, sions that include more than thirty stops. in Atlantic City, from low CCCC of 32′ to a different organist play the instrument.
and colors. We have organs that are large (See the cover feature of the November high c′′′′ of 8′. Unbelievably, there is a Some were bewildered, bamboozled,
and small, electric and mechanical, free- 2020 issue of The Diapason.) 64′ Dulzian Diaphone with 85 notes that even defeated by its complexity, but
standing in cases and enclosed in cham- In the May 2021 issue of The Dia- goes all the way to the top of 16′. Scrolling those organists who could make it sing
bers. We have organs based on ancient pason, pages 12–13, I wrote about the down the endless stoplist, I count one 64′ taught me how a large and varied organ
European concepts and models, and efforts of curator Nathan Bryson and his rank (85 notes), eight 32′ ranks, and sixty with divisions in four separate locations
organs that are purely American, and staff of assistants and volunteers to pro- 16′ ranks. A count like that makes a big could combine to produce expressive
my trip spanned the far reaches of the tect the organ during the recent demoli- organ. You can count for yourself. There sweeps, from thundering fortissimos to
organ world. I visited the workshops of tion by implosion of the adjacent Trump are comprehensive lists of ranks, stops, shimmering echoes that melted away
Noack Organ Co. (Georgetown, Massa- Hotel and Casino, so the organ was fresh console layout, and pistons and controls into the frescoed walls.
chusetts), Taylor & Boody Organ Build- on my mind when I started planning at www.boardwalkorgans.org. It would If a finely crafted organ with mechani-
ers (Staunton, Virginia), and Richards, my trip, and I invited myself for a visit. be difficult to calculate accurately, but cal action brings the intimacy of chamber
Fowkes & Co. (Ooltewah, Tennessee), Nathan was the consummate host for my it is my gut feeling that the Boardwalk music to the fingers of the organist, the
each of which works with a small staff of day in the largest organ in the world. Hall Organ weighs a lot more than the large romantic organ allows the musician
dedicated artisans building hand-crafted The organs at Boardwalk Hall and the Wanamaker Organ. to paint majestic landscapes. And the
organs in free-standing hardwood cases. Wanamaker Store (now Macy’s) have mega-monumental symphonic organ
Noack is currently working on an organ each been considered the largest in the Vulgar or beautiful? allows expression ranges unheard of oth-
with sixty stops, and I was lucky to see it world. Now that I have visited both with I have had a number of encounters erwise. What do you do with an eighty-
being loaded on a truck at the workshop their curators as my guides, I will take with the Wanamaker Organ over the past rank string division? Paint pictures.
followed by the beginning of its installa- the plunge and explain how an organ twenty years, both in intimate, personal,
tion at the Catholic Cathedral of Saint earns such a title. At the moment, the and comprehensive visits, and in swash- In the arena
Paul in Birmingham, Alabama. Taylor Boardwalk Hall Organ is about 53% buckling public performances. This was When I first arrived at Boardwalk
& Boody’s current project is a thirty- playable, so the Wanamaker Organ can my fourth visit to Boardwalk Hall, but Hall, Nathan “fired up” the organ using
eight-stop job for Wheaton College in safely claim to be the largest fully play- the first time I heard the organ.3 I was files made by Peter Richard Conte, the
Illinois, and Richards, Fowkes & Co. is able organ in the world. The Historic aware of both organs when I was growing Grand Court Organist of the Wanamaker
working on a thirty-one-stop organ for Organ Restoration Committee that up, long before either had any meaning- Organ, along with several other creative
Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Ann oversees the organ in Boardwalk Hall ful restoration, but as I was in the thrall players, and stored in the playback sys-
Arbor, Michigan.2 Besides a tour and rich has ambitious plans to bring the organ to of the “Tracker Organ Revival,” dutifully tem. Peter is unusual among organists
conversations in their workshop, Bruce fully functional condition. Stay tuned. I learning early fingerings at Oberlin, I was because of his affinity for these excep-
Fowkes and Ralph Richards took me to will report it when it happens. not creative or open-minded enough to tional organs. While most of us are used
see the spectacular four-manual organ by The Wanamaker Organ has 464 ranks make space for them in my musical com- to registering a chorale prelude with a
John Brombaugh at Southern Adventist while Boardwalk Hall has a mere 449, a prehension. I assumed that they existed cornet for the solo line and a few soft
University in Collegedale, Tennessee. I difference of fifteen ranks, the size of a to take part in the biggest-loudest-fastest flutes and a Subbass for accompaniment,
am heartened that during this uncertain modest organ, so it wins in the category competitions that lurk throughout our Peter is a sonic wizard with thousands of
time, these three outstanding firms are of most ranks. The Wanamaker organ society. How could something with more stop tabs and hundreds of other controls
all building substantial instruments at has 75 independent pedal ranks with than four hundred ranks be anything that allow him to command the dozens
the same time. You can see details about 32 pipes (29 notes fewer than manual more than the pipe organ equivalent of of divisions scattered about in the vast
each organ on the builders’ websites. ranks), while many of the ranks in the a freight train? Artistic content? Musical room. Sometimes he throws on a big row
These three builders are known for Boardwalk Hall Organ have up to 85 sensitivity? Phooey. I was wrong. of stop tablets as if he was playing a glis-
building tiny organs as well as instru- notes, accounting for extensive unifica- I was fortunate to have experience ren- sando on the keyboard, but more usually,
ments with sixty or more stops. Continuo tion and making use of the extended ovating larger electro-pneumatic organs he programs pistons with intricate com-
or practice organs with three or four stops lower three keyboards which have 85, 85, early in my career, and when I became binations using stops by the hundreds.
are the hummingbirds of pipe organs, and 75 notes, giving the organ a total of curator of the organs at Trinity Church Boardwalk Hall is 456 feet long and
and modest instruments with fewer 33,112 pipes compared to the impressive Copley Square and The First Church of 310 feet wide with a barrel-vaulted ceil-
than twenty stops are little gems with 28,750 pipes in the Wanamaker Organ. Christ, Scientist (The Mother Church), ing that peaks at 137 feet. Its seating
both in Boston, I was immersed in the capacity is over 15,000, and it is regu-
grandeur of super-sized organs. The larly used for rodeos with bull-riding
Aeolian-Skinner organ at The Mother competitions (they truck in enough dirt
Church is huge (237 ranks and 13,500 to simulate a prairie), indoor auto rac-
pipes), but less than half the size of those ing, ice hockey, basketball, soccer, and
in Boardwalk Hall or the Wanamaker even college football. It was the site of
Store. While the organ at Trinity Church the first indoor helicopter flight, and it
(actually two instruments, Chancel and is home to the Miss America Pageant. It
10 Q THE DIAPASON Q JULY 2021 WWW.THEDIAPASON.COMBy John Bishop
(photo credit: Félix Müller)
the wonderful work underway on organs
both old and new. If this is a taste of the
new normal, I am ready to ride. Q
Notes
1. Willie Nelson.
2. By coincidence, one of Wendy’s cousins
is on the organ committee at Saint Andrew’s.
3. In 2010, the Organ Clearing House
built the “Blower Room” set for the Saint
Amory Atkins, Joshua Wood, and Terence Atkin of the Organ Bartholomew funeral scene in the spy-thriller
Colossus. CCCCC of 32′ Open Diapason, Boardwalk Hall, At- Clearing House assembling the Swell box of Noack Opus 164, movie, Salt, starring Angelina Jolie and direct-
lantic City, New Jersey (photo credit: Scott Ball) Cathedral of Saint Paul, Birmingham, Alabama (photo credit: ed by Philip Noyce. All the sets including the
John Bishop) barge, the presidential bunker, and the CIA
offices were constructed in retired Grum-
was surreal to stand alone on the empty stops in the world. There are stops on Beyond the endless work of restoring, man aircraft hangars in Bethpage, New Jer-
floor of the semi-lit hall listening to the wind pressure of 100 inches on a water renovating, tuning, and maintaining this sey, where the Lunar Excursion Module was
organ do its thing with the help of Peter’s column, an absolute hurricane of air. organ, perhaps the most difficult and built. Our set included a couple big Spencer
bytes. The two main organ chambers are When the organ blowers are turned important work has been reintroducing blowers that we had in stock and a huge elec-
separated in space by the hundred-foot- on and the instrument fills with wind, the city and state governments to the tro-pneumatic switching machine borrowed
wide stage. The chamber lights were on, windchests expand visibly, as if the doc- ongoing stewardship of the instrument. from the “other” organ at Boardwalk Hall (a
and great swaths of expression shutters tor told you to “take a deep breath.” The A vast auditorium with such an unmu- four-manual Kimball in the adjacent theater).
I transported the machine in both directions
were in full view, swishing and fluttering fifteen-foot-long walls of the pressurized sical array of uses seems an unlikely in rental trucks. The set decorator thought the
like sensuous thirty-foot eyelashes. This room that houses the organ’s main electro- home for a pipe organ, and the people rig was complicated enough that I should be
was not “All Swells to Swell.” The many pneumatic switching equipment move so who have been working with and on the present for filming. I stood around while Ms.
sets of shutters were moving in contrary dramatically that I squinted, wondering organ have been effective ambassadors, Jolie jumped through walls dozens of times,
motion, each responding to the rises and why the thing does not burst. During sharing the unique qualities of the larg- until I heard over the PA system, “Organ guy
falls of individual voices in the complex renovation, several of the windchests on est organ in the world. If you would like to the crypt, organ guy to the crypt.” The lead-
arrangements. Waves of sound ebbed 100-inch pressure were replaced using to help, visit that website and look for the ing lady greeted me with hand outstretched,
“Hi, I’m Angie.” I described that she should
and flowed like the surf on the sandy more robust engineering, informed by “Donate Now” button. shoot the regulating chain to make the bel-
beach on the other side of the iconic the difficulty of building a wooden vessel lows go haywire and cause the mass cipher
boardwalk, cascades of notes morphed to contain such high pressure. Look to the future. that would disrupt the funeral. (We provided
into fanfares, melodies were “soloed Tuning those gargantuan ranks is a After fourteen months at home, it the hardware, and special effects provided
out” as if by a platoon of trombones or by three-person job, one at the console, one was a joy to be back on the road. My the action.) She said, “I can’t shoot that.” I re-
four dozen violinists playing pianissimo in the middle of the hall where it is pos- thanks to Didier Grassin of the Noack plied, “I’ve seen you shoot.” I watched the sin-
in unison. This is the very essence of the sible to hear pitches and beats, and the Organ Company, Ralph Richards, Bruce gle take on Mr. Noyce’s monitor and had the
honor of shouting “Action!” at his signal, my
symphonic organ, its dazzling array of third (with industrial hearing protection Fowkes, John Boody, and Nathan Bryson twelve seconds in Hollywood, another chap-
controls allowing the single musician to and audio headphones) manipulating for sharing their work and philosophies ter from the life of an itinerant organ guy. Cu-
emulate the actual symphony orchestra. the pipes. You could try using a starting with me, and above all, for sharing the rious? You can stream it on Netflix. And the
pistol to signal “next,” but you wouldn’t joy and pleasure of “knocking around nice thing about building a movie set? They
Sweeping a beach be able to hear it. about pipe organs.” Three cheers for all don’t require a warranty.
The Aeolian-Skinner at The Mother
Church taught me what is involved in
caring for a large organ. “Touching up
the reeds” can take all day—there are
forty-one of them. But that organ lives in
a building with perfect climate control.
When you have more than 450 ranks in
a building that is also home to rodeos
and auto racing, you have a hefty tuning
responsibility. Curator Nathan Bryson
manages a team of professionals and
volunteers who are methodically moving
through the organ rebuilding blowers,
releathering windchests, refurbishing
organ pipes, while maintaining the organ SPECIALISTS IN PIPE ORGAN LOGISTICS
for daily recitals and many special events.
The Boardwalk Hall Organ was built by
Midmer-Losh of Merrick, Long Island, • Rigging and Hoisting
New York, during the Great Depression • Special Commodities Trucking
at a cost of over $500,000 and was com-
pleted in December of 1932. It is housed • Dismantling and Installation
in eight chambers: Left Stage, Right • Extra experienced hands in
Stage, Left Forward, Right Forward,
Left Center, Right Center, Left Ceiling, your workshop
and Right Ceiling. You can see the layout
in a photo accompanying this column in Recent clients include Schoenstein & Company,
the May 2021 issue. Getting a handle Patrick J. Murphy & Associates, the Noack Organ
on which stops and which divisions are Company, Richards, Fowkes & Company,
located in which chamber is the first Paul Fritts and Company, Ortloff Organ Company
challenge of learning one’s way around
the vast instrument. The two Stage
Relocation of Halbert Gober Opus 5, Brooklyn, OH to Basehor, KS
Chambers comprise what I perceived to
be the main organ. They are huge and john@organclearinghouse.com • www.organclearinghouse.com • (617) 688 - 9290
jammed with some of the largest organ
WWW.THEDIAPASON.COM THE DIAPASON Q JULY 2021 Q 11You can also read
