1912 Austin; Kotzschmar Memorial Organ organ at Merrill Auditorium, Portland, Maine

Portland’s Pipes

…we prelude the upcoming centenary of the oldest working municipal pipe organ in the United States, the famed Kotzschmar Memorial Organ in Merrill Auditorium, the pride of Portland, Maine!

Program Broadcast dates:

• Week of July 09, 2012

Interview Audio

• Printable program listings
• Kathleen Grammer talks with Michael Barone about FOKO, the Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ, the support-group that took over from the City of Portland to oversee the present and future of the 1912 Austin pipe organ.
  
  
  

Links and Resources:

• FOKO’s Kathleen Grammer talks about the upcoming 100th birthday festivities:
• Long-time Kotzschmar recital favorite John Weaver reminisces about his fifty years of recitals in Portland:
• Printable program listings

Music played in the program

Hour 1

WILLIAM FAULKES: Festival Prelude on Ein feste Burg –Ray Cornils, recorded in 1999. Pro Organo 7050

EDWIN H. LEMARE: Concert Piece in the Form of a Polonaise, Opus 80 –Thomas Murray, recorded in 1991. AFKA 515

EDWIN H. LEMARE: Chant Seraphique, Opus 75 –Frederick Hohman, recorded in 2004. Pro Organo 7117

W.A. MOZART (trans. Heywood): Rondo, from Horn Concerto No. 4 in E-flat, K. 495 –Thomas Heywood, recorded in 2009. Pro Organo 7236

RUDOLF FRIML: Veil Dance –Lyn Larsen, recorded in 2000. AFKA 110

CARL MARIA von WEBER: Oberon Overture –Ahreum Han, recorded in 2010. AFKA 120

RICHARD WAGNER: Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral, from Lohengrin –Kotzschmar Festival Brass; Ray Cornils, recorded in 2010. AFKA 120

Hour 2

PYOTR TCHAIKOVSKY: Polonaise, from Eugene Onegin –Thomas Heywood, recorded in 2009. Pro Organo 7236

WILL MacFARLANE: Evening Bells and Cradle Song –Ray Cornils, recorded in 1999. Pro Organo 7050

EDWIN H. LEMARE: Allegro moderato (i.), from Organ Symphony in g, Op. 35 –Frederick Hohman, recorded in 2004. Pro Organo 7117

WALFORD DAVIES: Solemn Melody –William Whitehead, recorded in 1998. AFKA 108

J.S. BACH: Fugue in e, BWV 548 –Felix Hell, recorded in 2010. AFKA 120

CESAR FRANCK: Cantabile –Kotzschmar Festival Brass; Ray Cornils, recorded in 2009. AFKA 119

EDWIN H. LEMARE: Marche Moderne, Opus 2 –Thomas Heywood, recorded in 2009. Pro Organo 7236

 

Municipal organist Ray Cornils reflects on the colorful background of this remarkable instrument and the important ongoing work of the Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ. Michael Barone will visit Portland as master-of-ceremonies for several events during the Kotzschmar Organ’s Centennial Celebration (August 17-22, 2012). Come out to visit…and experience this vital piece of American musical history live! (the organ, not Barone!).