Paul Manz

A Portrait of Paul Manz

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One of the bright lights of the American organ art shines on our next Pipedreams program. For decades, Dr. Paul Manz has served the Lutheran Church, in Cleveland, Minneapolis, Chicago, and throughout the nation, along the way creating dozens of fanciful and engaging Hymn-tune Preludes, and inspiring hundreds of thousands of the faithful to raise their voices in song during the festival services he leads. Faith, fellowship, and fine music are his Trinity, and he shares them all with us in thoughtful conversation and thrilling compositions as we honor his accomplishments and present a life of love made vibrant.

His motivation, his faith, his goal to pray through music, and our delight is the art of one of America’s best known and most-travelled church organists. We sample his compositions, share his reflections, and thrill to the energy of his hymn improvisations. A musical offering, it’s A Portrait of Paul Manz this week on Pipedreams.

Listen to the program

Program Broadcast dates:

• April 2, 2001

Music played in the program

Part 1

PAUL MANZ: Hymn Improvisation Suite in G: All Praise to Thee, Eternal God; Praise the Almighty; All glory be to God on high; If thou but suffer God to guide; Praise God, from whom all blessings flow –Paul Manz (1965 Schlicker/Mount Olive Lutheran, Minneapolis, MN) Manz Music CD-921

PAUL MANZ: Hymn Improvisation Suite in C: Jesus Christ, my sure defense; I will sing my maker’s praises; O Lord, how shall I meet thee –Paul Manz (1965 Schlicker/Mount Olive) Manz Music CD-921

Part 2

PAUL MANZ: Hymn Improvisation Suite in F: Now thank we all our God; O god, though faithful God; What God ordains; Now sing we, now rejoice; All praise to God, who reigns above –Paul Manz (1965 Schlicker/Mount Olive) Manz Music CD-921

PAUL MANZ: Blessed Jesus, at thy word. FLOR PEETERS: Aria –Paul Manz (1965 Schlicker/Mount Olive) Manz Music CD-2021

FLOR PEETERS: Hymn to the Sun, from Lied Symphony, Opus 66 –Paul Manz [recorded January 20, 1963] (1963 Schlicker/Lutheran Church of St. Luke, Chicago, IL) Archive LP

PAUL MANZ: Anthem, E’en so, Lord Jesus, quickly come –Valparaiso University Chorale, Christopher Cock, conductor; ALCM CD-04

Part 3

PAUL MANZ: Aria –Timothy Smith (1953 Aeolian-Skinner/Riverside, New York, NY) JAV CD-107

PAUL MANZ: Hymn Festival Improvisation, O that I had a thousand tongues –Valparaiso University Chorale, Christopher Cock, conductor; Paul Manz (1963 Schlicker/Lutheran Church of St. Luke, Chicago, IL) ALCM CD-04

PAUL MANZ: Hymn Improvisation Suite Number 2 in F: Dear Christians, one and all; All depends on our possessing; Lor Jesus Christ, be present now; Oh, that I had a thousand voices –Paul Manz (1965 Schlicker/Mount Olive) Manz Music CD-921

PAUL MANZ: Hymn Festival Improvisation, Praise God, Praise Him –Congregation of the LCA Minnesota Synod; Paul Manz (1961 Hilgreen-Lane/Christ Chapel, Gustavus Adolphus College, Saint Peter, MN) Pipedreams Archive recorded June 6, 1986

J.S. BACH: Chorale, Lord, Thee I love with all my heart –Valparaiso University Chorale, Christopher Cock, conductor; Paul Manz (1963 Schlicker/Lutheran Church of St. Luke, Chicago, IL) ALCM CD-04

PAUL MANZ: Hymn-improvisation, How brightly shines the morning star –Paul Manz (1965 Schlicker/Mount Olive) Manz Music CD-921

Filler –PAUL MANZ: O, that I had a thousand voices (see above)

Now in his 82nd year [born 1919], Dr. Manz continues with his enthusiastic love of music as prayer and the best sort of re-creation.