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Diapason Review: <i>Two Landmarks in Columbus</i>. Timothy Edward Smith, organist.

Charles Huddleston Heaton

Two Landmarks in Columbus. Timothy Edward Smith, organist. 1931 W. W. Kimball organ, 66 ranks; 1972 von Beckerath organ, 73 ranks; First Congregational Church of Columbus, Ohio. Two CDs, Raven OAR 900; www.ravencd.com.

The first CD is played entirely on the Kimball organ, the second on the von Beckerath. The Kimball recording begins with Smith’s own clever arrangement of Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals. The fifteen brief sections give ample opportunity to showcase the wonderful sounds in this venerable organ. All are well played and arranged—the “Pianists” and “Final” are exciting. A Fantasy of Moods by the little-known Charles Edgar Ford probably was composed to show off an organ, which it certainly does under Smith’s realization of the frothy music, concluding with a dollop of chimes. How can you lose? The first movement of Yon’s involved Sonata Chromatica is given a very effective performance and is followed by two more atmospheric pieces: Frank Howard Warren’s Sea Sketch and the more familiar Idyl by H. Leroy Baumgartner. Listen closely for a dollop of harp! Mr. Smith thoroughly understands how to play this music. Seth Bingham’s five-movement suite, Baroques, with its familiar “Rhythmic Trumpet,” is the last composition on the Kimball disc, colorfully and beautifully played. I think the courtly Prof. Bingham would have been pleased.

The second disc (two for the price of one, by the way), played on the more recent 3-manual von Beckerath in the gallery, begins with a convincing performance of Mendelssohn’s Sonata in F Minor, followed by Buxtehude’s Ciacona in C Minor and three of the Brahms’s chorale preludes. The recording concludes with compositions by Alain (Le Jardin Suspendu) and Calvin Hampton (Fanfares), preceded by works of Jakob Praetorius, Nikolaus Hanff and J. S. Bach (BWV 550, G Major). Stylistically and musically Mr. Smith’s playing is equally fine at this organ, which is to say very good indeed.

Most churches would feel blessed to have one of these instruments in house, let alone both of them. First Congregational is fortunate indeed.

—Charles Huddleston Heaton

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Charles Huddleston Heaton
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French Eclat in the Roanoke Valley, Thomas Baugh, organist; 2004 Fisk organ, 32 stops, Christ Episcopal Church, Roanoke, Virginia. Raven Recording OAR 850,
www.ravencd.com.

It is always interesting to me to hear a recording of a modest sized-instrument of great effectiveness played with style and imagination, which is the case here. Thomas Baugh has been director of music of the church for twenty years. This varied program, well played, gives a convincing demonstration of the tonal possibilities, beginning with Gerre Hancock’s typically complex Toccata.
Following familiar de Grigny (Récit de tierce en taille) and Balbastre (Noël, Où, s’en vont ces gais bergers) is a very fine arrangement of Gabriel Fauré’s Pelleas et Melisande Suite, done by Mr. Baugh—it includes the charming “Fileuse” and the more familiar “Sicilienne.” This organ transcription should be published. Effective treatments of the hymn tune Nyland by Roanoke colleague Richard Cummins and Robert Roth’s Improvisation on “The Infant King” follow, then Searle Wright’s Introduction, Passacaglia and Fugue, an important work by any standard, is beautifully performed with imagination. Two works by Bach are the final selections: Wir glauben, BWV 740, and the Prelude and Fugue in C, BWV 547. It is worth noting that four of the twelve compositions have a premiere recording here. Kudos!

--Charles Huddleston Heaton
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
[email protected]

New Recordings

Charles Huddleston Heaton
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The Organ Music of Gerald Near; Steven Egler, organist; 1997 Casavant, 61 ranks, Central Michigan University. Disc 1: Choraleworks (complete), disc 2: Suite in Classical Style and Sonata in F-sharp Minor. White Pine Music, WPM 203,
www.whitepinemusic.com.

While CDs of the music of a single composer are plentiful enough from bygone eras (Bach, Franck, etc.), it is more unusual in the case of contemporary composers. Most active church organists will have played some of Near’s attractive music, much of which is of modest difficulty. The three sets of Choraleworks are based almost entirely on familiar hymn tunes or chorales. They are brief and usable as voluntaries or introductions to the singing and some would be effective in recital. Egler clearly enjoys these pieces, and his playing and the instrument show them to advantage. There are 28 of these imaginative chorales on the first disc.
Two substantial works comprise the music of the second CD. The Suite in Classic Style, with the excellent addition of the skilled flutist Frances Shelly, is the first, followed by the Sonata in F-sharp Minor. The Suite is beautifully written and performed here with exemplary style. It is a wonderful addition to the repertoire. The 2001 Sonata is a substantial work, with the sections entitled “Chaconne,” “Lento,” and “Fugue.” Dr. Egler’s colorful registrations and understanding of the styles show these compositions to ultimate advantage.

--Charles Huddleston Heaton
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
[email protected]

New Recordings

Charles Huddleston Heaton
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Ken Cowan plays the Quimby Pipe Organ at First Baptist, Jackson; Art of the Symphonic Organist, Vol. 4. JAV Recordings, JAV 169; www.pipeorgancds.com.
Wagner, Overture from Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg; Saint-Saëns, Danse macabre; Karg-Elert, Three Impressions, op. 108; Symphonischer Choral: “Ach bleib mit deiner Gnade,” op. 87, no. 1; Rubenstein, Kamenoi Ostrow; Moszkowski, Étincelles, op. 36; Concert Etude in F Major, op. 72, no. 6; Poulenc, Presto in B-flat Major; Bovet, Salamanca from Trois Préludes Hambourgeois; Dupré, Allegro deciso from Évocation (Poème Symphonique).
This massive instrument speaks from the front directly into the large sanctuary. Given its size it would seem to be an ideal organ for such as Wagner’s Overture to “Die Meistersinger” or Saint-Saëns’ Danse macabre, in arrangements apparently by Cowan. They are registered colorfully and performed with flair, although occasional ritards in the “Danse” seem to impede the flow a bit.
It is good to have four of Karg-Elert’s impressionistic compositions included, as his music for organ is somewhat neglected today. Cowan gives him his due, using the ample resources of the large instrument. A convincing arrangement of Anton Rubenstein’s Kamenoi Ostrow is included, followed by piano transcriptions of difficult pieces by Moszkowski and Poulenc. These will remind many why such arrangements are something of an acquired taste, and others will be absolutely delighted to hear them!
Two “real” organ compositions finish the disc; first, the exciting Salamanca by Guy Bovet, who writes that “Freedom, color, and fun should characterize performances of this music.” Ken Cowan’s superb performance fulfills that fiat completely, as does the “Allegro deciso” conclusion of Dupré’s Évocation.
Charles Huddleston Heaton
Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
[email protected]

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