UPDATED 06/08/2008

FEATURED INSTRUMENT CONCERT   If you enjoy this concert, please donate by clicking on the button to the left! E.M. Skinner Organ, Opus 719 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel - Chicago, Illinois (1928) Samples by Brett Milan Bach, Johann Sebastian: Toccata and Fugue in F Major, BWV 540 The Toccata is an exuberant, energy-filled extravaganza with many deceptive cadences at the end. This relatively little-known double fugue is enjoyable in its own right, however. The first subject is chromatic and the ornaments are preserved throughout. The second subject enters on the Swell and is a jumpy little thing. When the first theme reënters in the alto, though, Bach surprises us by following it with a pedal entrance of the second theme. Uses 1.5 "Baroque" subset. [13:45] HW1 Reger, Max: Ich will dich lieben, meine Stärke, Op. 67, No. 17 The Chorale in the pedal is sounded on the Super Octave 4' coupled to the Choir French Horn at 4' Pitch, accompanied by flutes and strings of the Swell and Great. Uses the 1.5 GB Romantic subset. [1:48] HW1 Krebs, Johann Ludwig: Trio in F, Br II:33 To distinguish between the Trios in F, this is No. 33 in Volume II of the complete organ works of Krebs. Though the editors suggest Vivace, a slower but still bright tempo was preferred. The right hand is on the Choir Clarinet 8', the Left Hand on the Swell Oboe d'Amore, and the Pedal uses the Bourdon 16' coupled to the Great Harmonic Flute. 1.5 GB Subset. [3:7] HW1 Reger, Max: Jerusalem, du hochgebaute Stadt, Op. 67, No. 18 The chorale is played on the Great coupled to the Swell along with the accompanying voices, but stands out in stark contrast because it is much slower. Uses the 1.5 GB Toccata subset. [1:48] HW1 Handel, George Frederick: Air from Water Music Suite Transcription of a belovedly hypnotic movement of the famous suite, featuring the amazing French Horn stop about half way through. [5:48] HW1 Karg-Elert, Sigfrid: Herr, wie du willst, so schick's mit mir, Op. 65, No. 36 The Pedal is used mostly as an organ point, with beautiful expansive arpeggios on Choir and Swell surrounding the Chorale, which is sounded on the Great. [3:48] HW1 Gigout, Eugène: Absoute No. 3 from Ten Pieces for Organ, this compelling piece evokes the spirit of Louis Vierne. Online translation engines say "exonerated" or even "posthumous pardon," but in the liturgical context my guess would be "absolution." Registration is based on Fonds de 8 p. on all three manuals coupled, Fonds de 16 et de 8. p. on pedal, with reeds of all divisions added and subtracted and occasional addition and subtraction of manual to pedal couplers. [7:56] HW1 Franck, César: Poco lento in G minor Marked "Vieux Noël," the melody is played on the Swell Oboe with Choir Gamba celeste and Pedal Bourdon 16' coupled to choir. The Great Harmonic Flute provides an effective bass line in the middle. Uses the 1.5 GB Romantic subset. [1:27] HW1 Franck, César: Poco allegro in Eb Major Arpeggiation in the left hand is supposed to be on 8' stop, more sustained duet in right hand is meant to be 16' + 8, but because the piece ends with the right hand below the dividing point, 16+8 were used for both. Tremulants and celeste subtracted near the end. Uses the Choir subset. [1:21] HW1 Gigout, Eugène: En forme de Légende In three sections: Andante, Quasi Allegretto and Tempo Primo, with a grand climax near the end that gradually recedes to the quiet way it began. A custom organ was designed for this piece. [5:7] HW1 Dupré, Marcel: Ave Maris Stella IV, Opus 18, No. 9 Finale: an energetic toccata in the manuals, marked Staccato throughout with Chorale in the pedal. Uses the "Toccata" subset. [2:8] HW1 Bach, Johann Sebastian: Fugue in G minor ("Little"), BWV 578 One of Bach's most charming and well-known pieces, this piece flows like well-oiled baroque machinery. Some of the extra trills are the Phantom's idea, though. Uses the 1.5 GB "Baroque" model with the output volume set higher than the other demos for a closer perspective. [4:5] HW1 Krebs, Johann Ludwig: Trio in Em, Br II:31 Unusual shifting of keys, rhythmic variety, a rondo-like form, and a chance to enjoy the abundant intertwining of the Choir Orchestral Oboe with the Swell Flute 4' (subcoupled) supported by Pedal Bourdon 16' and Gedackt 8' (also two octaves of the same stop). [5:37] HW1 Stanford, C. V.: Prelude 5, Op. 101 No. 5 The score bears the inscription "Founded on an old Irish church melody" and said melody weaves its way through all voices and four divisions. Thanks to Tom O'Driscoll for the score. [2:52] HW1 Schumann, Robert: Fugue 1, Op. 60 This is marked "Langsam" ("slowly") and at Ms. 34 "Nach und nach schneller and stärker" (more and more rapid and loud) which does give quite an urgency to the next 25 measures. It would have been ludicrous to carry the accelerando to the very end, however. Uses the 1.5 GB Toccata subset. [5:51] HW1 Karg-Elert, Sigfrid: O Ewigkeit, Du Donnerwort, Op. 65, No. 42 Notes on score: "In Olden Style of the Suite" and "In the tempo of the dance-form called Rigaudon." [2:45] HW1