Search Results for: organ
The first pipe organ recording
Capable of producing sounds beyond the range of human hearing, the pipe organ presents the ultimate challenge for sound recording. The first known attempt was the Columbia Records recordings of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir from late August and early September … Continue reading
Comments Off on The first pipe organ recording
Filed under Instruments, Science
Mortuary pipe organs
The heyday of the mortuary pipe organ was the 1920s and 1930s; only a few have been built since World War II. A uniquely American product, the instrument’s characteristics departed significantly from those of the conventional church organ, despite its … Continue reading
Comments Off on Mortuary pipe organs
Filed under Curiosities, Instruments
The Britannic organ
The long-lost pipe organ that belonged to the steamship Britannic, the sister ship of the Titanic, was identified in the collection of the Museum für Musikautomaten in Seewen, Switzerland, when restorers in 2007 discovered the inscription Britanik engraved on each beam under … Continue reading
Filed under Instruments
The Wanamaker organ
A National Historic Landmark valued over $57 million, the Grand Organ of Wanamaker’s department store in Philadelphia has 465 ranks, six manual keyboards, and hundreds of other mechanical controls. Designed by the renowned organ architect George Ashdown Audsley, it … Continue reading
Filed under Instruments, Reception
OHS monographs in American organ history
In 2010 the Organ Historical Society Press launched its series OHS monographs in American organ history with Organbuilding along the Erie and Chenango Canals by Stephen L. Pinel. The book chronicles the careers of the organ builders Alvinza and George … Continue reading
Comments Off on OHS monographs in American organ history
Filed under Instruments, New series
Organ: Žurnal ob organnoj kul´ture
The Russian-speaking organ community has a new platform for professional information and dialogue on organ culture in Russia and abroad: the quarterly periodical Орган: Журнал об органной культуре (Organ: Journal of organ culture). Launched in 2009 by the Московское Музыкальное … Continue reading
Comments Off on Organ: Žurnal ob organnoj kul´ture
Filed under Instruments, New periodicals
Wine for the organist
The organ built by Gebrüder Oberlinger Orgelbau in 1997 for St. Martin in Cochem includes an innovative stop called Riesling 2fach. Pulling the stop opens a small cabinet holding two bottles of Riesling wine. This according to “Neue Orgel in … Continue reading
Comments Off on Wine for the organist
Filed under Architecture, Food, Instruments
Arte Organaria Italiana
Published by the L’Associazione Culturale Giuseppe Serassi, Arte Organaria Italiana was launched in 2009 to provide a forum for research on organs in Italy. Articles in the first issue include a discussion of pedaling in Frescobaldi’s organ works, a study … Continue reading
Comments Off on Arte Organaria Italiana
Filed under Architecture, Instruments, New series
Antichi organi mantovani
With the 2009 publication of L’organo Luigi Montesanti 1813 della chiesa di San Tommaso in Acquanegra sul Chiese, the Associazione Culturale Giuseppe Serassi launched the series Antichi organi mantovani. Edited by Federico Lorenzani, the book includes articles by Maurizio Isabella, … Continue reading
Comments Off on Antichi organi mantovani
Filed under Architecture, Instruments, New series
RILMiniscences
This post inaugurates “RILMiniscences,” a series in which long-time RILM staff members share their recollections. The first installment features retired RILM editor Jim Cowdery, who joined RILM in the summer of 1998 after earning his PhD in ethnomusicology from Wesleyan … Continue reading
Comments Off on RILMiniscences
Filed under RILM

