Water Music

Whether searching for your lover Shenandoah across the wide Missouri, or settling into a fountain reverie, showering in the South Pacific or praying by the River Jordan, this week’s Pipedreams focus is “liquid lyricism.” You’ll hear about splashing water nymphs, a bathtub songfest, elusive rainbows, and challenges to seafaring men. The music of Handel, Bach, Richard Rodgers, Louis Vierne, and even Chopin will provide a cooling array of aural aquatic images. From the banks of the Jordan to the mighty Rhine, whether in sunshine or moonlight, on Babylon’s shores or in the lively South Pacific, it’s not your normal organ program. From folk traditions to timeless classics, it’s all about Water Music, this week on Pipedreams.

Listen to the program

Program Broadcast dates:

May 7, 2001

Music played in the program

G.F. HANDEL (arranged by John): Water Music Suite –Keith John (1978 Kleuker/Église Notre-Dame-de-Neiges, L’Alpe d’Huez, France) Priory PRCD235

LOUIS VIERNE: Naïades/Water Nymphs, Opus 55, number 4, from Fantasy Pieces, Book 4 –Olivier Latry (1868 Cavaillé-Coll/Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France) BNL 112742

J.S. BACH: Chorale-preludes, An Wasserflüssen Babylon, S. 685/684 –Peter Sykes (1999 Noack/Langholtskirkja, Reykjavik, Iceland) Raven OAR-520

NOÉL TREDINNICK: Hymn, Like a mighty river flowing –Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer, conductor; Rupert Gough (1857 Henry Willis; 1974 Harrison & Harrison/Wells Cathedral, England, UK) Hyperion CDA12101

PERCY FLETCHER: Fountain Reverie –Richard Elliott (1948 Aeolian-Skinner/Mormon Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, UT) Pro Organo CD 7036

MAGIDSON, WASHINGTON & CLEARY: Singin’ in the bathtub –Jim Riggs (1927 Wurlitzer/Alabama Theatre, Birmingham, AL) Rolling Pin Productions CD-1989

RICHARD RODGERS: I’m gonna wash that man right out-a my hair, from South Pacific –George Wright (1928 Wurlitzer/Paradise Theatre, Chicago, IL) Boston Skyline CD-129

BUD GREEN: Moonlight on the river –George Wright (Hollywood Philharmonic Organ/George Wright Residence, Hollywood, CA) Banda CD-99861

TRADITIONAL (arranged by Hazleton): Shenandoah –Tom Hazleton (Wurlitzer hybrid/Nethercutt Collection, San Sylmar, CA) Klavier K 11090

FRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN (arranged by Miller): Fantasie-Impromptu/I’m always chasing rainbows –Jelani Eddington (1926 Wurlitzer/Century II Convention Center, Wichita, KS) RJE Productions 1458

J.S. BACH: Chorale-prelude, Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kam, S. 684 –Kay Johannsen (1736 Bielfeldt/St. Wilhadi Church, Stade, Germany) Hänssler CD-92.101

LOUIS VIERNE: Sur le Rhin, Opus 54, number 5, from Fantasy Pieces, Book 3 –George C. Baker (1890 Cavaillé-Coll/Église Saint-Ouen, Rouen, France) Solstice CD-918

OLIVIER MESSIAEN: Les Eaux de la Grace/The Waters of Grace, from Les Corps Glorieux –Jennifer Bate (1979 Danion-Gonzalez/Cathédrale, Beauvais, France) Unicorn-Kanchana 9004

HERBERT SUMSION: Anthem, They that go down to the sea in ships –Choir of Saint Paul’s Cathedral in London, John Scott, conductor; Huw Williams (1872 Henry Willis; 1992 Mander/Cathedral of St. Paul, London, England, UK) Hyperion CDA67087

FRANK LOESSER: On a slow boat to China –Bill Vlasak (1929 Wurlitzer/Oakland Paramount, CA) WJV Productions CD-105