SEPTEMBER, 2011 Golden Hall of the Music Society Vienna, Austria
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THE DIAPASON SEPTEMBER, 2011 Golden Hall of the Music Society Vienna, Austria Cover feature on pages 30–32 Sept 2011 Cover.indd 1 8/10/11 8:57:27 AM Due Solisti Peter Fletcher “Elegant chamber music at its best.” “Gracious virtuosity” (The American Organist) (Fanfare) CONCERTARTISTS.COM Į$WHUULŎFRUJDQLVWį “Gloriously passionate ” (Chicago Tribune) (The Morning Call, Allentown PA) Isabelle Demers HOULI Sept 2011 pp. 2-19.indd 2 8/10/11 8:59:53 AM THE DIAPASON Letters to the Editor A Scranton Gillette Publication One Hundred Second Year: No. 9, Whole No. 1222 SEPTEMBER, 2011 St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue fi re, brilliance, and clang characteris- Established in 1909 ISSN 0012-2378 John Bishop’s column is always ex- tic of the best Aeolian-Skinner organs. An International Monthly Devoted to the Organ, cellent, particularly the recent one on In that Ralph Adams Cram’s landmark the Harpsichord, Carillon, and Church Music his visit to St. Thomas Church in New building was a remarkable American re- York (“In the wind . .” The Diapason, invention of French Gothic architecture, June 2011, pp. 10, 12–13). But unlike Harrison’s landmark organ dramatically Mr. Bishop, I sincerely hope they do matched with a remarkable American CONTENTS Editor & Publisher JEROME BUTERA [email protected] not fi nd funding to replace this organ. re-invention of three centuries of French 847/391-1045 I have attended this church all of my organbuilding. This is our legacy. FEATURES adult life, have performed on this organ, Has anyone proposing a second facing On an unknown prelude and fugue by Associate Editor JOYCE ROBINSON and have heard it frequently. It seems organ case noticed that the entire build- Gottfried Kirchhoff: Recovering some [email protected] to me there is a lack of understanding ing is asymmetrical, from the bell tower lost pages of his output 847/391-1044 by Maxim Serebrennikov 20 that this organ, even in its present con- to the blank north wall to the galleried Contributing Editors LARRY PALMER dition, is an important part of American south chapel? Dear Harpsichordists: Harpsichord culture and history. The recent language Cram is quoted as being very proud of Why Don’t We Play from Memory? coming from St. Thomas Church is dis- this particular update on French Gothic by Paul Cienniwa 24 JAMES MCCRAY turbing—a new church video says they style. The single case visually balances all The Story of a Home Practice Organ Choral Music “don’t want to patch up an indifferent the decoration opposite. Another organ by Devon Hollingsworth 26 instrument.” Go to YouTube and listen case would throw this off completely. BRIAN SWAGER Carillon to Mme. Durufl é Plays Liszt, recorded There is a reason we have landmarks, NEWS & DEPARTMENTS in 1966. Indifferent is the very last word and one wonders why people want to Editor’s Notebook 3 JOHN BISHOP that comes to mind. radically improve them. Letters to the Editor 3 In the wind . They say it is inadequate, but it has We can all respect that the brilliant Here & There 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 accompanied the Anglican service for incumbent wishes for an organ with his GAVIN BLACK Appointments 6 nearly fi fty years in its present form. stamp on it, one containing stops found On Teaching They say it is limited, but the greatest on the previous Aeolian-Skinner. But Nunc Dimittis 10 organists of our time have been enthusi- we must remember history—and the Harpsichord News by Larry Palmer 12 Reviewers John M. Bullard John L. Speller astic about playing recitals on it. Pierre succession of organists. As three-time In the wind . by John Bishop 14 Neal Campbell Cochereau inaugurated it. Jean Langlais past dean of the New York AGO, I am On Teaching by Gavin Black 15 Jay Zoller performed the very fi rst recital I heard well aware of the controversy in the late Robert August on this organ. Marcel Dupré chose it 1970s, when the then organist worked REVIEWS to record his own works. It is the most hard to replace this organ with a Holt- Music for Voices and Organ 17 recorded instrument in New York, and kamp tracker. And I remember when his Book Reviews 17 has hosted many, many years of weekly predecessor supervised the compromise THE DIAPASON (ISSN 0012-2378) is published monthly New Recordings 18 by Scranton Gillette Communications, Inc., 3030 W. Salt recitals. The current instrument needs of the Aeolian-Skinner masterpiece. In New Organ Music 19 Creek Lane, Suite 201, Arlington Heights, IL 60005-5025. mechanical refurbishment (always did, 1948 his predecessor had Möller signifi - Phone 847/391-1045. Fax 847/390-0408. Telex: 206041 according to Senator Emerson Richards, cantly alter the instrument Ernest Skin- MSG RLY. E-mail: <[email protected]>. NEW ORGANS 32 Subscriptions: 1 yr. $35; 2 yr. $55; 3 yr. $70 (Unit- the historian), but it still contains a great ner considered his fi nest. ed States and U.S. Possessions). Foreign subscrip- deal of the genius and innovation of the Recently, large G. Donald Harrison CALENDAR 33 tions: 1 yr. $45; 2 yr. $65; 3 yr. $85. Single copies $6 most celebrated organbuilder in Ameri- organs have been deemed worthy of (U.S.A.); $8 (foreign). can history, who died while fi nishing this careful and artistic restoration in South ORGAN RECITALS 36 Back issues over one year old are available only from The Organ Historical Society, Inc., P.O. Box 26811, Rich- particular organ. Despite enormous ex- Carolina, Salt Lake City, Texas, New CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING 38 mond, VA 23261, which can supply information on avail- penditure on recent organs in New York, York, and, now, San Francisco. It is hard abilities and prices. St. Thomas remains the most distinctive to understand why this is not the course Periodical postage paid at Rochelle, IL and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes and perhaps the most loved instrument of action for what is widely considered Cover: Rieger-Orgelbau, Schwarzach, Austria; to THE DIAPASON, 3030 W. Salt Creek Lane, Suite 201, Ar- in the city. Even the church’s fi nan- Harrison’s crowning achievement and Golden Hall of the Music Society, Vienna, lington Heights, IL 60005-5025. cial plea speaks of “the Saint Thomas the absolute pinnacle of American Clas- Austria 30 Routine items for publication must be received six weeks in advance of the month of issue. For advertising sound.” How many churches anywhere sic organbuilding. copy, the closing date is the 1st. Prospective contributors can boast this? Will Carter www.TheDiapason.com of articles should request a style sheet. Unsolicited re- G. Donald Harrison was always mak- New York, NY views cannot be accepted. ing advancements, and this organ is P.S. A word about the $8–$9 million This journal is indexed in the The Music Index, an- notated in Music Article Guide, and abstracted in RILM his boldest—Grand Choeur Division, proposed cost. The contract for the sev- Send subscriptions, inquiries, and ad- Abstracts. Great on lowest keyboard, only unison en-manual, 449-rank organ for the At- dress changes to THE DIAPASON, Copyright © 2011. Printed in the U.S.A. couplers, the resultants from the radi- lantic City Convention Hall—the largest ant corroboration of mixtures as in Salt organ ever built—would translate to just 3030 W. Salt Creek Lane, Suite 201, THE DIAPASON accepts no responsibility or liability Arlington Heights, IL 60005. for the validity of information supplied by contributors, Lake City, the stunning solo stops, the over $5 million in today’s dollars. 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 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 other courses or for the same course offered subsequently. Here & There Editor’s Notebook In this issue 2012 Resource Directory In this issue of The Diapason, Max- Each year The Diapason publishes im Serebrennikov discusses a previously its Resource Directory. An organist’s unknown prelude and fugue and makes vade mecum, the directory includes a case for its authorship by Gottfried complete information on providers of Kirchhoff. Paul Cienniwa questions why products and services related to the harpsichordists do not play from memo- organ and all facets of church music. ry. (See Gavin Black’s argument against Mailed with the January issue, it fea- memorization in his column “On Teach- tures complete contact information for ing” in the July and August issues.) De- organ-related businesses and associa- von Hollingsworth chronicles the vari- tions, including phone, fax, e-mail, and ous incarnations and installations of his web addresses. house pipe organ. If your company is already listed in the In his column, Gavin Black tackles the 2011 Directory, please take a moment to topic of teaching interpretation. John check the information. You can update Bishop discusses the July heat wave, or- your listing by visiting our website and gan tuning, Stephen Tharp’s recital at the near the bottom of the left column click- Kotzschmar Organ, and the philosophy ing on “Supplier Login.” There you can of performance. Larry Palmer offers a revise current information, or—if your tribute to the late William Neil Roberts, company is not listed in the current Rossen Milanov and Peter Richard Conte harpsichordist and harpsichord maker. Directory—enter information as a new supplier. If you need assistance, con- Friends of the Wanamaker Organ No.