An American Organist’s Christmas

Performers and instruments in the United States transform a global collection of holiday melodies.

Listen to the program

Program Broadcast dates:

Week of December 19, 2005

Links and Resources:

Printable program listings

Music played in the program

( Key to abbreviations)

FELIX MENDELSSOHN (arr. Webster): Hark! the herald angels sing—Pittsburgh Symphony Brass; Richard Webster (1932 Aeolian-Skinner/East Liberty Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, PA) Four Winds CD-3022 (Four Winds Music)

DAN LOCKLAIR: Go, tell it on the mountain!, from A Spiritual Pair—Marsha Foxgrover (1992 Schantz/College Church, Wheaton, IL) Batavia CD-2001

NAJI HAKIM: Go, tell it on the mountain!—Elizabeth & Raymond Chenault (1992 Ruffatti/Spivey Hall, Clayton State University, Morrow, GA) Gothic CD-49084 (Gothic Records)

HELMUT WALCHA: Den die Hirten lobten sehre. LEO SOWERBY: The snow lay on the ground—Robert Benjamin Dobey (2003 Schoenstein/Grace Episcopal Church, Sheboygan, WI) Pro Organo CD-7175 (Zarex Incorporated)

ROBERT WETZLER (arr.): Still, still, still —Michigan State University Children’s Choir, Mary Alice Stollak, conductor; Judy Kabodian (Aeolian-Skinner/Cathedral of Christ the King, Kalamazoo, MI) MSU CD-408

TRADITIONAL (arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams, Dale Wood, and Jane Weidensaul): O little town of Bethlehem—Judith Bachleitner, flute; Jane Weidensaul, harp; Choir of Riverside Church; FREDERICK SWANN (Aeolian-Skinner Opus 1118/Riverside Church, New York, NY) Gothic CD-49131 (Gothic Records)

TIMOTHY TIKKER: Variations sur un vieux Noël (1993)—Timothy Tikker (1998 Glatter- Götz, Rosales/United Church of Christ, Claremont, CA) Raven OAR-670

STEVE NELSON: Frosty the Snowman—John Lauter. MEL TORME: The Christmas Song—Scott Smith, o. FELIX BERNARD: Winter Wonderland –Henry Aldridge, organ ADOLPHE ADAM: O holy night—Steve Ball, o. RICHARD LIEBERT: Under the Christmas mistletoe—Henry Aldridge (1927 Barton/Michigan Theatre, Ann Arbor, MI) MTF CD-2002

JOHN BEHNKE: Christmas Carol Preludes (Go tell it on the mountain; Veni Emmanuel; As with gladness men of old; O come, all ye faithful)—John Behnke (1989 Steiner-Reck/Concordia University Chapel, Mequon, WI) Behnke CD-2001 (John Behnke)

DIANE MEREDITH BELCHER: Lutebook Lullabye—Memphis Boychoir & Chamber Choir, John Ayer, conductor; Kristin Lensch Pro Organo CD-7169 (Zarex Incorporated)

ARTHUR POISTER: A Christmas Cradle Song—John Walker (1995 Reuter/Shadyside Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, PA) Pro Organo CD-7189 (Zarex Incorporated)

GERRE HANCOCK: Improvisation on Sleeper’s awake!—Gerre Hancock (2004 Holtkamp/Cathedral of Saint Louis, New Orleans, LA) MPR Archive (recorded 12/5/04)