2006 Fritts organ at Saint Joseph Cathedral, Columbus, Ohio

1738 Müller organ that was the inspiration for the case design of the Fritts organ pictured above.

A Class Act in Columbus (OH)

…the new 66-stop tracker organ by Paul Fritts at Saint Joseph Cathedral joins this city’s already rich local instrumental resources.

Listen to the program

Program Broadcast dates:

Week of September 10, 2007

Links and Resources:

• Printable program listings

Hear extended interview clips from Saint Joseph Cathedral organist Paul Thornock:

• How does a Cathedral Church comes to get a new organ?
• Why was this new instrument designed to look like an older European Instrument. Does that effect how it sounds?
• Does this instrument represent a new direction Catholic Church music may be taking or is it an odd anomaly?
• What do you think of the importance of profound music?
• Has the “new” worn off yet?
• How important was the aquisition of a new organ and how important was it to have it built by Paul Fritts?

Music played in the program

THOMAS OLIVERS: Hymn, Lo! he comes with clouds descending –Saint Joseph’s Cathedral Choir, Paul Thornock (recorded 12/15/06)

DIETERICH BUXTEHUDE: Praeludium in e (BuxWV 142) –Paul Thornock (recorded 1/28/07)

SIGFRID KARG-ELERT: Choral-Improvisation, In dulci jubilo, Op. 75. no. 2 –Timothy Edward Smith (recorded 1/28/07)

BENJAMIN BRITTEN: Kyrie, from Missa Brevis in D, Op. 63. SIR EDWARD ELGAR: Psalm 48, Op.67 –Saint Joseph’s Cathedral Choir, Paul Thornock, conductor; Robert Wisniewski, organist (recorded3/11/07; 6/28/07)

NAJI HAKIM: Mariales (1993). LARRY KING: Fanfare to the Tongues of Fire (1978) –James Hildreth (recorded 2/18/07)

CALVIN HAMPTON: Fanfares, from Suite No. 1 (1977) –Timothy Edward Smith (1972 Beckerath/First Congregational Church, Columbus, OH). SETH BINGHAM: Overture, from Baroques Suite. H. LEROY BAUMGARTNER: Idyl, Op. 5, no. 2 –Timothy Edward Smith (1931 Kimball/First Congregational Church, Columbus, OH) Raven OAR-900

GASTON LITAIZE: Cortege for Organ and Brass –Cathedral Brass; Paul Thornock, organ (recorded 1/28/07)

Filler– KARG-ELERT (see above)

Performances at Saint Joseph Cathedral were recorded during concerts from the new organ’s inaugural series. Thanks to engineers Dave Gelfer (WOSU-FM) Andrew R. MacGregor (NoiseFloor Productions) and Sam Ritchie (Conductor’s Point Audio). For a bit of contrast, we’ve included three selections recorded at First Congregational Church on to two very contrasting instruments.