The study of the pipe organ (and its electronic imitation), its composers and repertoire, and the art of playing it, can occupy a lifetime. This outline looks at the art of practicing with activities to stimulate learning and retention from pre-practice to follow-up and assessment. I hope organ students young or old use these techniques to advance and find fulfillment in their improvement.
Step back in time as this hilarious silent movie is accompanied by organist Brian Ebie at the organ console of the Suffield United Church of Christ 1115 Ohio 43, Mogadore, OH 44260.
Brian will improvise a movie soundtrack as the film is projected, just like being at a movie theatre in the 1920's! Habeas Corpus is a short silent comedy film where Laurel and Hardy are hired by a mad scientist to rob a grave. Hilarity ensues, as only Laurel and Hardy can do it, as they sneak into a scary graveyard at night and try to start digging up the dead fellow to bring back to the mad scientist.
The M. P. Möller Organ Company was once the largest pipe organ builder in the United States.
Operating in Hagerstown, Maryland from 1875 - 1992, Moller built over 11,730 instruments, many of which are still playing in churches, universities, and elsewhere. Probably their nearest competitor in terms of output was Wicks Organ Company of Highland Illinois, with an opus list of nearly 7,000 instruments. Wicks still exists today, though not as large an organization as it once was, having significantly downsized in 2011.
his past Saturday, Laura and I went to buy a cello in Indiana, Pennsylvania.
We met the fellow selling it at Indiana University, Pennsylvania (IUP), where he is a student. In the room where he demonstrated the cello to us I was able to visit this AWESOME tracker pipe organ built by the RJ Brunner Pipe Organ Company. I found out that it was originally built for a private residence and the owners donated the pipe organ, along with the largest monetary donation in their history to the American Guild of Organists. This donation will go toward scholarships and other endeavors.
Below is a link to a video of the Reed Organ Society's fall gathering in Moline, Illinois. Laura and I appear at about 3:40" in the video for a short clip of our performance on the Staanke Pipe Organ in the Butterworth Center.
On Saturday, November 5, 2011 the Suffield Historical Society members and friends will gather to enjoy a screening of the 1927 silent film "The Phantom of the Opera" starring Lon Chaney as the Phantom. The musical score will be created and accompanied by Brian Ebie on the pipe organ, just as it was in theaters in the 1920's. Refreshments will be served. Seating is limited so contact the Suffield Historical Society for more details.
