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 December 15, 2006

DIETERICH BUXTEHUDE: Praeludium in e, BuxWV 142 –Paul Thornock; recorded January 28, 2007

SIGFRID KARG-ELERT: Choral-Improvisation, In dulci jubilo, Opus 75. Number 2 –Timothy Edward Smith; recorded January 28, 2007

BENJAMIN BRITTEN: Kyrie, from Missa Brevis in D, Opus 63. SIR EDWARD ELGAR: Psalm 48, Opus 67 –Saint Joseph’s Cathedral Choir, Paul Thornock, conductor; Robert Wisniewski, organ; recorded March 11, 2007 and June 28, 2007

NAJI HAKIM: Mariales [1993]. LARRY KING: Fanfare to the Tongues of Fire [1978] –James Hildreth; recorded February 18, 2007

CALVIN HAMPTON: Fanfares, from Suite Number 1 [1977] –Timothy Edward Smith (1972 Beckerath/First Congregational, Columbus, OH) Raven OAR-900

SETH BINGHAM: Overture, from Baroques Suite. H. LEROY BAUMGARTNER: Idyl, Opus 5, number 2 –Timothy Edward Smith (1931 Kimball/First Congregational, Columbus, OH) Raven OAR-900

GASTON LITAIZE: Cortege for Organ and Brass –Cathedral Brass; Paul Thornock, organ; recorded January 28, 2007

Filler –SIGFRID 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 at WOSU-FM, Andrew R. MacGregor at NoiseFloor Productions and Sam Ritchie at 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.