2003 Berghaus organ at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Wilkes-Barre, PA

The Gem Polished

A visit to northeastern Pennsylvania to explore the renovated Berghaus pipe organ at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

Listen to the program

Program Broadcast dates:

• Week of February 13, 2006

Links and Resources:

• Printable program listings

Music played in the program

JOHN AYER: Fanfare in G*

ANTONIO VIVALDI (trans. Bach): Allegro, from Concerto in a (S. 593)**

CHARLES TOURNEMIRE: Choral-Fantasy, Victimae Paschali**

FELIX MENDELSSOHN: Organ Sonata No. 2 in c, Op. 65, no. 2*

MARCEL DUPRÉ: Antiphon, While the king sitteth, Op. 18, no. 1

HERBERT HOWELLS: Psalm Prelude No. 2 (Psalm 37)

J.S. BACH: Chorale-prelude, Herr Gott, nun schleuss den Himmel auf, S. 617

CRAIG PHILLIPS: Prelude on Hyfrydol

RULON CHRISTIANSEN: Prelude on Three Spirituals*

EDWARD DIEMENTE: Prelude No. 2*

MARK LAUBACH: Hymn Prelude, Jesus Christ is ris’n today

HEALEY WILLAN: Hymn-prelude, Gelobt sei Gott

DUPRÉ: Antiphon, I am black but comely, Op. 18, no. 3

DAVID WILLCOCKS: Fanfare on Gopsal

JOHN GOSS: Hymn, Lauda anima

EDWARD ELGAR: Imperial March

This 87-rank pipe organ, completed in 2003 by the Berghaus Organ Company of Bellwood, IL, is played by resident music director Mark Laubach, his former pupil Kevin O’Malia**, and colleague John Ayer* (Pro Organo CD-7125).

Michael Barone returns to ‘home territory’ (he was born in Kingston, Pennsylvania, just across the Susquehanna River from Wilkes-Barre) as host for a pair of Pipedreams Live! events, jointly sponsored by the Wyoming Valley and Scranton chapters of the American Guild of Organists, the University of Scranton, and WVIA Public Broadcasting. Join Michael and friends at the Houlihan-McLean Center of the University Scranton (former First Baptist Church) and Scranton’s Cathedral of Saint Peter (Saturday, February 25; afternoon and evening), and at Saint Stephen’s Church in Wilkes-Barre (Sunday, February 26; 4 p.m.).