THE DIAPASON OCTOBER, 2011 Cornell University Anabel Taylor Chapel Ithaca, New York Cover feature on pages 26–28 Oct 2011 Cover.indd 1 9/14/11 11:28:13 AM Oct 2011 pp. 2-18.indd 2 9/14/11 11:33:05 AM THE DIAPASON Letters to the Editor A Scranton Gillette Publication One Hundred Second Year: No. 10, Whole No. 1223 OCTOBER, 2011 St. Thomas Fifth Avenue gal pad endlessly redesigning the organ Established in 1909 ISSN 0012-2378 Will Carter (Letters, September 2011) and console layout—adding a Trompette An International Monthly Devoted to the Organ, seems to be confused as to whether the here, moving a Septième there. At the the Harpsichord, Carillon, and Church Music organ of St. Thomas Church in New York time I thought this was pretty terrifi c. is or is not still the work of G. Donald Nomenclature is not the real issue. Harrison. As one who has played recitals The signifi cance of this organ on so on it regularly since 1971, I contend that many different levels, and its preserva- CONTENTS Editor & Publisher JEROME BUTERA [email protected] it is not. The best documentation that I tion, are. 847/391-1045 can offer to support this is the letter of Much of Harrison’s basic conception, FEATURES March 21, 1968 from Philip Steinhaus, his console, his layout of divisions, his The organ and disaster relief: Associate Editor JOYCE ROBINSON Executive Vice President of the Aeoli- Great without chorus reeds, his Swell An American organist in Japan [email protected] by Roger W. Lowther 19 an-Skinner Company, to William Self, as main secondary division, his en- 847/391-1044 organist of St. Thomas, as recorded on semble build-up, his 32′ Grand Choeur Grinnell College Contributing Editors LARRY PALMER page 355 of Charles Callahan’s Aeolian- division—albeit altered—all still exist. Aeolian-Skinner Opus 1091 restoration 20 Harpsichord Skinner Remembered. In this letter, Although fi ve large Harrison-designed Steinhaus “reluctantly puts into written organs were fi nished at roughly the same Franjo Dugan JAMES MCCRAY Croatian Organist, Teacher, and Composer form” the request that G. Donald Har- time in New York*, each special, this one Choral Music by Chris Krampe 23 rison’s signature nameplate “[which] Mr. was always very special—considerably Harrison only agreed to using [on the or- more dramatic, more personal, seem- BRIAN SWAGER NEWS & DEPARTMENTS Carillon gans] with whose fi nishing he was deeply ingly his valedictory. In one of his last Editor’s Notebook 3 and personally involved” be removed letters he said, “I think this one is going Letters to the Editor 3 JOHN BISHOP from the console. Steinhaus goes on to to be a honey.” In the wind . say of the organ that “in all honesty . its It was a summarization of a lifelong Here & There 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12 character is not recognizable as the work involvement with the Organ Reform Appointments 6 GAVIN BLACK of Mr. Harrison, or the Aeolian-Skinner Movement. It also documented a person- Nunc Dimittis 10 On Teaching Company for that matter.” al triumph in a diffi cult nearly thirty-year In the wind . by John Bishop 12 I write not to pass judgment on the saga with Ernest Skinner, particularly so Reviewers John M. Bullard On Teaching by Gavin Black 14 qualities of the present St. Thomas or- in light of Skinner’s interference with John L. Speller Kevin D. Parizo gan, but only to call attention to the fact this project. Harrison’s design was, and REVIEWS Robert August that it is often referred to as an E. M. in some ways still is, a unique attempt Music for Voices and Organ 15 Jay Zoller Skinner or a G. Donald Harrison Aeoli- to aurally match a pipe organ within its Book Reviews 16 an-Skinner. Any objective assessment of contextual setting of French Flamboyant New Recordings 17 its present state should begin with the architecture. New Organ Music 18 acknowledgement that it hasn’t been a Restoration would serve the choir G. Donald Harrison Aeolian-Skinner for admirably, give the organist a resource THE DIAPASON (ISSN 0012-2378) is published monthly NEW ORGANS 28 by Scranton Gillette Communications, Inc., 3030 W. Salt at least 43 years, or an E. M. Skinner for of proven greatness, eliminate millions Creek Lane, Suite 201, Arlington Heights, IL 60005-5025. much longer than that. of dollars of additional fundraising, and CALENDAR 29 Phone 847/391-1045. Fax 847/390-0408. Telex: 206041 MSG RLY. E-mail: <[email protected]>. Harold Stover decisively halt the destructive cycle of ORGAN RECITALS 33 Subscriptions: 1 yr. $35; 2 yr. $55; 3 yr. $70 (Unit- Portland, Maine replacement. Diffi cult to do? If we can ed States and U.S. Possessions). Foreign subscrip- very successfully re-create a 1776 Lithu- CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING 34 tions: 1 yr. $45; 2 yr. $65; 3 yr. $85. Single copies $6 (U.S.A.); $8 (foreign). Will Carter replies: anian organ in Rochester we should be Back issues over one year old are available only from Like Elizabeth Taylor, and for many just fi ne restoring a 1956 Boston organ The Organ Historical Society, Inc., P.O. Box 26811, Rich- of the same reasons, this organ has had in New York. Cover: Anabel Taylor Chapel, Cornell Uni- mond, VA 23261, which can supply information on avail- versity Baroque Organ, Ithaca, New York; abilities and prices. numerous last names attached to it. I Best of all, we eliminate this name Periodical postage paid at Rochelle, IL and additional should have made it clearer that my re- problem. GOArt / Parsons / Lowe 26 mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE DIAPASON, 3030 W. Salt Creek Lane, Suite 201, Ar- marks refl ected on the Durufl é record- Will Carter lington Heights, IL 60005-5025. ing on YouTube, and the instrument at www.TheDiapason.com Routine items for publication must be received six that time. In fact, I remember watching *Cathedral of St. John the Divine, The weeks in advance of the month of issue. For advertising copy, the closing date is the 1st. Prospective contributors some of the un-Aeolian-Skinnerization Riverside Church, St. Bartholomew’s of articles should request a style sheet. Unsolicited re- of this organ fi rst-hand, sitting next to Church, Fifth Church of Christ, Scien- views cannot be accepted. This journal is indexed in the The Music Index, an- the then church treasurer with his le- tist, St. Thomas Church Send subscriptions, inquiries, and ad- notated in Music Article Guide, and abstracted in RILM Abstracts. dress changes to THE DIAPASON, Copyright ©2011. Printed in the U.S.A. 3030 W. Salt Creek Lane, Suite 201, Arlington Heights, IL 60005. THE DIAPASON accepts no responsibility or liability for the validity of information supplied by contributors, Here & There vendors, advertisers or advertising agencies. No portion of the contents of this issue may be reproduced in any form without the specifi c written permission For the second consecutive year, Schwarzwald, and Strassburg, with of the Editor, except that libraries are authorized to make photocopies of the material contained herein for the purpose of course reserve reading at the rate of one copy for every fi fteen students. Such copies may be reused for First Church in Boston is present- Bernard Haas; German-Danish organ other courses or for the same course offered subsequently. ing midday recitals on Thursdays from tour, November 2–9, Lügumkloster and 12:15–12:45 pm. There are four series, Flensburg, with Daniel Roth and Bine one for each Thursday of the month. Bryndorf. For information: Two of the series are co-sponsored by <www.organpromotion.org>. local performing arts organizations: Editor’s Notebook American Century Music and Boston St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, Opera Collaborative. For an up-to- New York City, presents its organ recit- date listing of performers, visit <www. al series on Sundays at 5:15 pm: Octo- In this issue only one of its kind in our fi eld. Each fi rstchurchbostonmusic.org>. ber 2, Nicole Keller; 10/9, John Scott; Among the offerings in this issue of year we publish the Directory and The schedule: fi rst Thursdays, harpsi- 10/16, Ulrike Northoff; 10/23 and The Diapason is Roger Lowther’s ac- mail it with the January issue of The chord recital series; second Thursdays, 10/30, Frederick Teardo; November 6, count of his concerts in Japan following Diapason. It includes complete infor- American Century music series, under Rhonda Edgington; 11/13, Tom Bell; the disastrous earthquake last March. mation on providers of products and the direction of Scott Parkman; third 11/20, Kevin Kwan; 11/27, Joby Bell; Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa, re- services related to the organ and all Thursdays, Boston Opera Collaborative December 4, John Cantrell; 12/11, Jo- cently completed restoration of its facets of church music. The deadline series; fourth and fi fth Thursdays, Works seph Ripka. For information: Aeolian-Skinner Opus 1091; Nicholas for advertising in the 2012 Resource in Progress series, up-and-coming per- <www.saintthomaschurch.org>. Thomas-Allen and Joseph Dzeda give Directory is November 1. formers from Boston and beyond. an account of their project, along with The listings are free, and if your com- The harpsichord series features: Oc- Washington National Cathedral comments by Grinnell’s president and pany is already listed in the 2011 Direc- tober 6, Matthew Hall; November 3, presents its recital series Sundays at college organist. Chris Krampe discuss- tory, please take a moment to check the Giuseppe Schinaia; December 1, Nick- 5:15 pm: October 2, Ines Maidre; 10/9, es the organ works of Croatian organist information.