Justin Richard Hartz dead at 60

Jürgen Ahrend

Jürgen Ahrend, 94, born April 28, 1930, in Göttingen, Germany, died August 1. He built new pipe organs and restored historic organs by Arp Schnitger and others. From 1946 until 1948 he apprenticed in organbuilding with Paul Ott, after which term he began employment with the firm. From 1954 until 1972 he was in partnership with Gerhard Brunzema in Leer-Loga, Germany, during which time they built more than fifty new organs and restored almost twenty. In 1972 Brunzema went to work for Casavant Frères, Limitée, in Canada, whereupon Ahrend continued work in his own company, Jürgen Ahrend Orgelbau. Since 2005 his son Hendrik Ahrend has run the firm.

Among the awards Ahrend received was an honorary doctorate from Monash University, Victoria, Australia, and the Buxtehude Prize from the City of Lübeck, Germany. Among Ahrend’s new instruments is the three-manual organ in the Musée des Augustins in Toulouse, France, and the four-manual organ for the University of Oregon, Eugene. The list of restored instruments includes the Schnitger organs of the Martinikerk in Groningen, the Netherlands; the Ludgeri-Kirche of Norden, Germany; and Ss. Cosmae et Damiani, Stade, Germany. A funeral was held August 9 in the Evangelisch-reformierten Kirche of Leer-Loga.

Justin Richard Hartz

Justin Richard Hartz, 60, organist and choir director of Levittown, Pennsylvania, died August 18 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was born in 1963 in Trenton, New Jersey. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree from Westminster Choir College, Princeton, New Jersey, and in 1987 a Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School, New York, New York. He was the recipient of awards, including an E. Power Biggs Fellowship of the Organ Historical Society.

In 1989 Hartz began his association with Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. There he performed recitals and sing-alongs as one of the holiday season organists. Hartz performed the dedication recital of the restored and relocated Skinner Organ Company Opus 248 at Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina. At Biltmore he recorded a Christmas CD, Deck the Halls. In addition, his performances were captured on MIDI, permitting the Biltmore Estate to demonstrate the organ at all times.

Hartz’s other recordings include the CD Hartz and Flowers (Pro Organo 7024) and a video on the Midnight Pipes series, both recorded at Longwood Gardens. His performances at Longwood are also featured on Historic Organs of Philadelphia from the Organ Historical Society. He can also be heard on the CD sets, Historic Organs of Pennsylvania, Historic Organs of Buffalo, as well as Historic Organs of Cleveland. He was on the roster of Concert Artist Cooperative for many years.

Hartz’s interests included historically informed performances on the piano and its predecessors. He was also an advocate for the reed organ. To that end, he was interviewed by National Public Radio affiliate WVIA, Scranton, for a recital he performed on a large two-manual and pedal Estey reed organ.

Justin Richard Hartz is survived by his brother Brendan and extended family. A memorial service was held September 21 at the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation, Yardley, Pennsylvania. Memorial gifts may be made in his memory to The Gift of Life Foundation (giftoflife.org) or the Organ Historical Society (organhistoricalsociety.org).