The Organ at Home

One problem a few lucky organists don’t have to deal with is knowing where they’re going to practice. This week, we go to the homes of several fortunate organists and organ lovers to experience the instruments that they have had installed. While some are modest and have only a few stops, others are as big as a house and even play themselves. Each providing incredible enjoyment to all who listen.

Whether in an English manor room, a musician’s private studio, or the parlor of a successful American businesman, our music comes from neither church nor concert hall. These are pipe dreams come true. Has the King of Instruments been domesticated? Find out, as we visit The Organ at Home.

Listen to the program

Program Broadcast dates:

September 22, 2003

Links and Resources:

Kibbie’s Letourneau studio organ
San Filippo Residence
Granogue Mansion
Read the article in Forbes Magazine about the Sanfilippo Wurlitzer by Alan Farnham.

Music played in the program

COLE PORTER: From this moment on –Chris Gorsuch (1927 Wurlitzer/Place de la Musique, Sanfilippo Residence, Barrington, IL) Maglab CD (private issue)

WALT STRONY: 1920s Medley –Walt Strony (1927 Wurlitzer/Place de la Musique, Sanfilippo Residence, Barrington, IL) Maglab CD, private issue

HUGO DISTLER: Variations on Wo Gott zu Haus nit gibt sein Gunst –James Kibbie (2000 Letourneau/Kibbie-Christensen Residence, Ann Arbor, MI) Kibbie CD

J.S. BACH: Canzona in d, S. 588; 2 Chorale-preludes, from Orgelbüchlein: Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, S. 604; Wir danken dir, Herr Jesu Christ, S. 628 –Patrick Hawkins (1995 Harrold/Kay-MacBird Residence, Brentwood, CA) Arkay AR6170

RUDOLF FRIML: Rose Marie. OLEY SPEAKS: On the Road to Mandalay –organ rolls (1923 Aeolian/Granogue Manor, Wilmington, DE) Granogue CD

HERMAN FINCK: In the shadows. RICHARD WAGNER: Lohengrin Prelude to Act 3 –organ rolls (1910 Aeolian/Dinmore Manor, Herefordshire, England, UK) Dinmore Records CD-003

MORITZ MOSZKOWSKI: Etude in F, Opus 72, number 6. JOHANNES BRAHMS: Neue Liebes-lieder Waltzer, Opus 65 –Ken Cowan, Peter Stoltzfus Berton (1931 Skinner/Elm Court, Butler, PA) JAV CD-123

JOHANN ERNST EBERLIN: Der Morgen und der Abend, selections –Gerd Pitzen (1985 Oberlinger/Genius Musiksaal, Mayen, Germany) OrganoPhon 90110

JOHN IRELAND: Vilanella –Mikael Wahlin (1996 Åkerman & Lund/Stora Sköndal, Stockholm, Sweden) ESH CD-0101

CARL MARIA von WEBER: Oberon Overture –Ken Cowan (1927 Wurlitzer/Place de la Musique, Sanfilippo Residence, Barrington, IL) Magneticlab CD, private issue