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Performers were David Ball, Michael servatory, de Wolff followed his teacher Hey, Colin MacKnight, Griffi n McMa- to the Dutch capital, later continuing hon, Raymond Nagem, Benjamin Sheen, his studies with Anthon van der Horst. Janet Yieh, and Gregory Zelek. All of Van der Horst—whose students had also them are organ students of Paul Jacobs, included Piet Kee, Albert de Klerk, and chair of Juilliard’s Organ Department. Bernard Bartelink—was perhaps the most infl uential Dutch organist of the twentieth century and also an impor- tant composer and conductor, especially known for his annual performances of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion with the Dutch Bach Society. After completing his studies in Amsterdam in 1954 with the Prix d’Excellence (the highest distinction possible), de Wolff continued his studies, on van der Horst’s suggestion, with Jeanne Demessieux in Paris. From her, de Wolff learned to ‘only accept one’s very best’, as he said in an interview in 2008. Demessieux inspired de Wolff Arlyn F. Fuerst Carol Williams to go hear Olivier Messiaen at the Ste- Trinité on Sundays. Along with Bach, the in church music and organ from the Uni- Carol Williams has released the fi rst music of Messiaen became a constant in versity of Michigan in 1964. In 1971 he video about the Disney Hall organ in de Wolff’s career. In 1965, he won the received a Lutheran World Federation Los Angeles: TourBus goes to Disney Dutch Gaudeamus competition for con- scholarship and was granted a leave of Hall, the seventh DVD in the TourBus temporary music with a performance of absence from his position at Trinity Lu- Margaret Phillips series. The DVD tells the story of the or- Messiaen’s Livre d’orgue. theran Church for further studies at the gan, and features interviews with Frank That same year van der Horst died, Musikhochschule in Lübeck, Germany Margaret Phillips is featured on a Gehry, the architect of the hall and or- leaving ‘his’ Bach Society in the hands of and the University of Iowa. His teach- new recording, Volume VI in her series gan, and Fred Swann, who played the in- de Wolff, who had already gained signifi - ers included Warren Schmidt, Robert of Bach organ works on the Regent la- augural concert of the organ. In addition, cant experience as a conductor following Glasgow, Uwe Röhl, Kurt Thomas, and bel (REGCD307). Recorded on the Manuel Rosales leads a crawl into the or- studies with Franco Ferrara and Albert Gerhard Krapf. 1738 Christian Müller organ at St. Bavo, gan and shows the mechanical advances Wolf. A year later, de Wolff was ap- Fuerst was minister of music at Trinity Haarlem, and the 2004 Bernard Auber- of the instrument. Phil Smith, the organ pointed music director of the Noordelijk Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Madison, tin organ at St. Louis-en-l’Île, Paris, the conservator, demonstrates the instru- Filharmonisch Orkest, based in the Wisconsin, from 1964 to 2006. He or- two-CD set includes preludes and fugues ment, and Carol Williams performs on city of Groningen in the north of the ganized and directed an annual Renais- in E minor (BWV 548), B minor (544), both consoles music by Bach, Rimsky- Netherlands. De Wolff would stay with sance Festival for Advent and Christmas G major (550), concertos in C major Korsakov, Marchand, Kleive, and two the orchestra for a quarter century. In on the First Sunday of Advent for 25 (595) and D minor (596), trio sonatas in of her own compositions. Aerial scenes Groningen, he also led the choral society years from 1977–2001. The Trinity Choir G major (530) and E-fl at major (525), of the exterior of the building are also Toonkunstkoor Bekker (1961–1989). toured Europe under his leadership in fugues in C minor (574) and G major included. More details can be found at A difference of opinion about artis- 1979, 1986, and 1996. He represented (577), the Fantasia and Fugue in G Mi- <www.melcot.com>. tic matters between the Bach Society the city of Madison together with musi- nor (542), Toccata in E Major (566), and and its conductor in 1983 led to de cians from Trinity at the Madison Fair in many chorale settings. For information: Wolff’s leaving and the vast majority of Freiburg, Germany in 1994. He taught <www.regentrecords.com>. the semi-professional choir following as a presenter from 1974–88 for the Nunc Dimittis him. De Wolff and his choir contin- University of Wisconsin Music Exten- ued their annual St. Matthew Passion sion Series, and from 1979 to 1988 as a performances—as well as their regular presenter for the UW Series on Church performances of Bach’s other major cho- Music on the Statewide Communication ral works—elsewhere as ‘Holland Bach Network. Arlyn F. Fuerst is survived by Choir’, while the Bach Society started a his wife, Carolyn Fuerst née Wulff, three new, smaller choir and an orchestra with sons, nine grandchildren, and a brother period instruments. De Wolff stayed and a sister. with ‘his’ Bach Choir until 1998, return- ing briefl y a few years later. As an organist, de Wolff was strongly associated with the Schnitger organ (1721) at Zwolle. One of the fi rst of the large Dutch city organs to be restored with historic awareness (Flentrop 1954), the organ was regarded very highly by organists at home and abroad, especially in the 1950s and ’60s. The instrument Charles de Wolff was very dear to de Wolff, not only for the music of Bach, but also for Reger, Thomas Trotter Dutch organist and conductor Charles Messiaen, and other contemporary or- de Wolff died on November 23, 2011 in gan music, much of which he premiered Thomas Trotter is featured on a new Zwolle, the Netherlands, following com- in Zwolle. A minor stroke forced him to DVD recording, The Town Hall Tradi- plications from a fall in his home in Vier- give up organ playing in 2005. tion—Virtuoso Organ Showpieces from houten. He was born on June 19, 1932 Although a thoroughly passionate and Town Hall, Birmingham, on the Regent in Onstwedde near Stadskanaal in the in many ways single-minded musician— label (REGDVD001). The package in- Dutch province Groningen, where his who could easily practice for eight hours cludes a video of the program and an au- father was a minister of the Dutch Re- a day and study orchestral scores in the dio CD, and features works by Hollins, formed church. evening—he was also a down-to-earth Thalben-Ball, Ketèlbey, Coates, Ander- De Wolff studied piano, organ, and person, who enjoyed playing bridge son, Wagner, Tchaikovsky, Lemare, and music theory at the Utrecht Conserva- with friends, driving large classic cars, Trotter. For information: tory. When his organ teacher George and was never able to give up smoking. <www.regentrecords.com>. Stam ‘moved’ to the Amsterdam Con- Seemingly secular on the outside, he always kept a connection with the Re- formed Church and in later years played for weekly services, assisted by his son Gerre Edward Hancock Franco, a geriatrist. February 21, 1934–January 21, 2012 After a simple ceremony, de Wolff was buried in Enschede on November Gerre Hancock, one of America’s 28, 2011. most highly acclaimed concert organ- —Dr. Jan-Piet Knijff, FAGO ists and choral directors, passed away peacefully on January 21, surrounded Arlyn F. Fuerst died December 26, by his family, in Austin, Texas. The 2011 in Fitchburg, Wisconsin at age 69 cause was coronary artery disease. A from CLL (chronic lymphocytic leuke- gifted artist, teacher, and composer, mia), with which he lived since 2001. he was considered by many to be a gi- Born on May 25, 1942 in Holdrege, Ne- ant fi gure in twentieth to twenty-fi rst braska, he received a Bachelor of Music century American sacred music. He degree in church music at Wartburg Col- was known not only for his artistry, but lege in 1963 and Master of Music degree also for his energy, optimism, and love AUSTINORGANS.COM t8PPEMBOE4U)BSUGPSE$5 8 THE DIAPASON of the people he taught and for whom throughout the United States, Europe, organ works; one of her best-known ar- practice. He founded the Leonhardt he performed. South Africa, Japan, and Great Britain. rangements, “America the Beautiful,” Consort in 1955, for performance of At the time of his death, Dr. Hancock He also performed on occasion with his was sung many times by the Iowa All- Baroque repertoire, fi rst concentrat- was Professor of Organ and Sacred Music wife, Judith, including a recital at West- state Chorus. Sherrill Milnes of Metro- ing on then little-known composers like at the University of Texas at Austin, where minster Abbey. politan Opera fame, and Jon Spong, his Biber and Scheidt, and later including he taught along with his wife of fi fty years, Compositions for organ and chorus by accompanist, chose her “Take Joy Home,” works by Rameau, Lully, Campra, and Dr. Judith Hancock. Prior to this appoint- Dr. Hancock are published by Oxford as a closing work on many of their world- other Baroque composers. The group ment in 2004, he held the position of University Press, as is his textbook Im- wide concerts, including a White House collaborated with Harnoncourt’s Con- Organist and Master of the Choristers at provising: How to Master the Art, which concert. Over 40 of her works had been centus Musicus Wien to record, begin- St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue in New is used by musicians throughout the commissioned by churches, universi- ning in 1971, all of Bach’s church can- York City, where for over thirty years country.

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