Organists' milestones

[GoneBaroque]

February 9 as an somewhat eventful day in the Organ World

1740 - Death of German composer, organist and teacher Vincent Lübeck at age 85 in Hamburg - Born Padinbüttel September 1654 – Lubeck’s Father and Son, both named Vincent were organists and his Son succeeded him as organist of St Nikolai upon his death.


Vincent Lubeck

The Stylus Phantasticus of Vincent Lubeck played byJoseph Kelemen on the Hus-Schnitger organ in St Cosmae and Damiani in Stade (perfectly restored by the legendary master Jurgen Ahrend); 1/5 Comma Mean tone, Chorton high pitch



1765 - Death of English composer, soprano, organist and painter Elisabetta de Gambarini in London – Born London, 9 FEB 1765 of an Italian Father she took part as a soprano in Handel's oratorio Judas Maccabaeus on 1 April 1747 - She left two books of harpsichord works, published in 1748



1924 - Birth in Bangor Wales of organist Dr. George Howell Guest - Died 20 NOV 2002 - Was organist and choirmaster for St. John's College, Cambridge - Under his tuition, Stephen Cleobury of King's College, John Scott of St Paul's, David Hill of Winchester, Adrian Lucas of Worcester, and Sir David Lumsden of New College, Oxford, began the careers that have produced a golden age in the English choral tradition

Dr. Guest conducts the Choir of St. John's College Cambridge in the Sanctus from one of my favorite choral works the "Requiem, Op. 9" by Maurice Durufle with one of his pupils Stephen Cleobury as Organist. This version is with organ only instead of orchestra

[GoneBaroque]

10 February 1841 Birth of English composer, organist and teacher Sir Walter Parratt in Huddersfield. – Died Windsor 27 MAR 1924 – He was knighted in 1892, became chair of music at Oxford University in 1908, taking over from Hubert Parry. In 1893 was appointed Master of the Queen's Musick - He became one of the foremost organ teachers of his day, with many important posts in Britain being filled by his students among whom were Ralph Vaughan Williams and Leopold Stokowski

[GoneBaroque]

Remembering the February 11 birth in Wolverhampton in 1930 of English organist and choral conductor Christopher Dearnley - He was organist and director of music at St Paul's cathedral from 1968-1990 – Died Australia 15 December 2000

Christopher Dearnley on the new reconstruction by Noel Mander of the organ at St. Paul's Cathedral plays his composition "Dominus Regit Me" -- "The Lord Is My Shepherd” in 1977

[GoneBaroque]

Today we remember the Death on 13 February 1693 of German organist, composer and choral director Johann Kaspar von Kerill in Munich. Born Adorf, Saxony, 9 April 1627

In his honor here is his lovely Passacaglia in d played on the 1675 Daniel Herz Organ in the Stiftskirche di Wilten, Innsbruck by Organist Manuel Tomadin

Enjoy

[Corno Dolce]

Hi GB,

A very profound thank you for sharing the dates of birth and death of organ composers and organ virtuosi - A excellent history lesson!

[Nikam]

Indeed! A very restful piece of music with some excellent shots of a beautiful building. Thanks GB.

[GoneBaroque]

On February 15 we remember the 1571 Birth of composer Michael PRAETORIUS in Creuzberg an der Werra, near Eisenach to family of early German musicians of Kreuzberg. He died on his birthday in 1621 in Wolfenbuttel

The 1621 Death of Praetorius in Wolfenbuttel on his birthday.

And the 1907 Birth of French composer and organist Jean LANGLAIS in La Fontenelle who died in Paris 8 MAY 1991

Listen as Langlais plays his Pièce modale number 1

[Nikam]

Found this Langlais pedal solo (though not played by the composer of course):

youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DM1zwYH1eqw#!

How 'neat' of Praetorius to pop his clogs on his birthday.

[GoneBaroque]

For February 16 let us remember

1709 The Birth or Baptismal in 1709 of English organist and composer Charles AVISON in Newcastle – Died Newcastle, 9 MAY 1770

The Death in 1779 of English organist and composer William Boyce - Born London 7 February 1779

Bob Swift plays The Larghetto and Allegro from the Voluntary #4 in G Minor.





The Death in 1968 of English organist, composer and teacher Healey Willan, at age 87 in Toronto where he had lived since 1920 –Born Balham, Surrey, 12 October 1880 – Willan often presented a dour, pious public image but liked to refer to himself as being "English by birth; Canadian by adoption; Irish by extraction; Scotch by absorption"

William Watkins plays the Healey Willan "Introduction, Passacaglia, and Fugue" on the 1949 Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ, Opus 1173, at First Presbyterian Church, Kilgore, Texas

[GoneBaroque]

February 17 marks the

Birth in 1444 of Dutch organist Rudolph AGRICOLA aka Roelof Huysman and the Death in 1732 of French organist and composer Louis Marchand, at age 63 in Paris - Born Lyon 2 February 1669

Michel Chapuis plays the Dialogue and Récitive on the Te Deum of Louis Marchand on L'Orgue De La Chapelle Royale De Versailles

[GoneBaroque]

February 18

1880 Birth in Lansing Michigan of American organist, conductor, composer and music critic Eric De LAMARTER. – Died Orlando Florida 17 MAY 1953 He was also a close friend and advisor to Leo Sowerby as well as a champion of Sowerby's music DeLamarter aided Sowerby in his becoming an accomplished organist


Clarence Dickinson plays Eric DeLamarter's "The Fountain" on the Skinner organ at Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City in this live performance for an American Guild of Organists convention in 1949

[GoneBaroque]

February 20 is the anniversary of

1649 Birth of English organist and teacher John BLOW in 1649 at Newark-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire – Died Westminster, 1 OCT 1708

John Blow's setting of The 100^th Psalm as a Lesson on the Johannus organ at St Andrew, Presteigne, Powy



1925 Death at sea of Italian organist and composer Marco Enrico BOSSI Born in Salò Lombardy 25 April 1861 - In 1881, Bossi became director of music and organist at Como Cathedral. Nine years later, he was appointed as professor of organ and harmony at Naples Conservatory In November 1924, Bossi embarked on a recital tour to New York and Philadelphia where he played the Wanamaker Organ. Bossi died unexpectedly at sea while returning from the United States on February 20, 1925, and was interred at Como

Here bis his Étude Symphonique, Op. 78 played by English organist Jonathan Holmes upon the magnificent 1889 Father Willis organ of the Parish Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, Ewell, Surrey




details of which can be found here: http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=D08165

[GoneBaroque]

On February 21 we celebrate the 1844 Birth of French composer organist Charles Marie WIDOR in Lyon. Died Paris 12 MAR 1937

As a break from the famous Toccata, Arthur Wills plays Widor's Marche Pontificale on the rebuilt IV – 70 – 95 1908 Harrison & Harrison organ at Ely Cathedral

[GoneBaroque]

February 22

1628 German organist and composer Samuel Scheidt becomes music director at Marienkirche, Halle.

Daniel Bouldjoua, organist of Freiburg's reformed church plays Samuel Scheidt's organ verse "Veni Redemptor gentium" (Come, o redeemer of peoples)

[GoneBaroque]

February 23


1648 Baptismal date of English composer and organist JohnBLOW in Newark Nottinghamshire – Died London 1 October 1708


1685 Birth of German-born British composer George Frideric HANDEL, aka as Georg Friedrich Händel, in Halle, Saxony. Died London 14 April 1759


1704 Death of Austrian composer and organist Georg Muffat at age 50 in Passau Germany - Born Mégève, France 1 June 1653

Kirk M. Rich performs Toccata Septima from Georg Muffat's Apparatus musico-organisticus (1690) on the Brombaugh organ, Op. 25 in Oberlin College's Fairchild Chapel. The instrument dates from 1981 and is tuned in meantone



1983 Death of English composer Herbert Henry Howells at age 90, in London David Houlder plays Herberet Howells "Master Tallis Testament on the organ of the Cathedral of Saint Corentin, Quimper