1985 Fisk organ at Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Art of Marilyn Mason

She was the first American to record the Schoenberg Variations and has been a life-long advocate of new music for her instrument. On the next Pipedreams program, we visit with Dr. Marilyn Mason who has been on the faculty of the University of Michigan for more than half a century. She’s one of a kind, and her boundless energy continues to inspire through her teaching, her recitals, and the study-tours she leads to historic instruments abroad. She’ll reflect on her career, share some sage advice for living a good life, and play just a few of the many pieces in her expansive repertoire. At Lincoln Center’s Philharmonic Hall, the National Shrine in Washington, and at the Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor, we’ll celebrate The Art of Marilyn Mason.

She blows her own horn, but that’s OK since she has plenty of which to be proud a long list of commissioned works and premiere performances, several hundred successful students from her University of Michigan studio, and a life-time of achievement and personal satisfaction. We celebrate The Art of Marilyn Mason this week on Pipedreams.

Program Broadcast dates:

• January 8, 2001

Links and Resources:

• Fisk Opus 87, University of Michigan (C.B. Fisk, Inc.)

Music played in the program

VINZENZ GOLLER: Festival Prelude, Sursum Corda –Galliard Brass Ensemble; Marilyn Mason (1955 Aeolian-Skinner/Hill Auditorium, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI) MHS CD-513534

JOHANN PACHELBEL: Toccata in e; Chorale-prelude, Ein feste Burg; Magnificat Fugues, Quarti toni –Marilyn Mason (1985 C.B. Fisk/Moore Hall, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI) MHS CD-512393; MHS CD-5132761; MHS CD-514371

JOSÉ LIDÓN: Sonata con Trompetta Real. MARCEL DUPRÉ: Sketch Number 2 in e –Marilyn Mason (1964 Möller; 2001 Goulding & Wood/National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC) UMI CD-1672

ARNOLD SCHÖNBERG: Variations on a Recitative, Opus 40 –Marilyn Mason (1962 Aeolian-Skinner/Philharmonic Hall, Lincoln Center, New York, NY) Columbia M2S-767

JOHANN PACHELBEL: Chorale-prelude, Nun freut euch, Christen –Marilyn Mason (1985 C.B. Fisk/Moore Hall, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI) MHS CD-512823

WILLIAM BOLCOM: Sweet Hour of Prayer, from Gospel Preludes, Book IV –Marilyn Mason (1953 Aeolian-Skinner/Riverside, New York, NY) Pipedreams PD 1001

CALVIN TAYLOR: Go down, Moses, from Five Spirituals for Organ [1998] –Brenda Wimberly, soprano; Marilyn Mason (1955 Aeolian-Skinner/Hill Auditorium, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI) Pipedreams Archive recorded October 11, 1999

SIGFRID KARG-ELERT: Wunderbarer König –Galliard Brass Ensemble; Marilyn Mason (1955 Aeolian-Skinner/Hill Auditorium, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI) MHS CD-513534