Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

1999 Nicholson at Gloucester Cathedral, England

1954 Aeolian-Skinner at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York City

1928 Skinner at Woolsey Hall, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut

1843 Hill-1984 Mander at the Town Hall in Birmingham, England

1989 Jann at Waldsassen Basilica, Germany

1992 Fisk at Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, Texas

A Wagner Bicentennial Celebration

…showcasing music by the foremost 19th century composer who did not write for the pipe organ, Richard Wagner (1813-1883).

Program Broadcast dates:

• Week of May 13, 2013

Links and Resources:

• Printable program listings

Music played in the program

Hour 1

RICHARD WAGNER (trans. Westbrook): Die Meistersinger Overture –David Briggs (1999 Nicholson/Gloucester Cathedral, England) Priory 794

WAGNER (trans. Lemare): Parsifal Prelude –Anthony Newman (1954 Aeolian-Skinner/Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York City) Columbia M-33268

WAGNER (trans. Lemare): Magic Fire Music, fr Die Walküre –Peter Richard Conte (1928 Skinner/Woolsey Hall, Yale University, New Haven, TC) Pipedreams Archive (r. 3/25/01)

WAGNER (trans. Lemare): Pilgrims' Chorus, fr Tannhäuser –Thomas Trotter (1843 Hill-1984 Mander/Town Hall, Birmingham, England) Decca 436 656

WAGNER (trans. Lemare): Ride of the Valkyries, fr Die Walküre –Thomas Trotter (1843 Hill-1984 Mander/Town Hall, Birmingham, England) Regent DVD 001

WAGNER (arr. Fox): Song to the Evening Star, fr Tannhäuser –Virgil Fox (Aeolian-Skinner/Riverside Church, New York City) EMI Classics 65426

WAGNER (trans. Conte): Immolation Scene, fr Die Götterdammerung –Peter Richard Conte (1954 Aeolian Skinner/Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York City) Pro Organo DVD 7250

Hour 2

WAGNER (trans. Lemare): Lohengrin, Prelude to Act 3 –Ken Cowan (1954 Aeolian-Skinner/Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York City) Pro Organo 7253

WAGNER: Lohengrin Suite –Welte Organ Roll 642 (1914 Welte/Seewen Museum, Switzerland) Oehms Classics 840

WAGNER (trans. Albrecht): Forest Murmurs, fr Siegfried –Hansjörg Albrecht (1965 Kleuker/St. Nikolai Church, Kiel, Germany) Oehms 612

WAGNER (trans. Karg-Elert): Grand March, fr Tannhäuser –Harald Feller (1989 Jann/Waldsassen Basilica, Germany) Ars Musici 0970

WAGNER (trans. Eisenmann): Stehe still & Der Engel, fr Wesendonck Songs –Suzanne Thorp, soprano; Christoph Kuhlmann (1907 Mutin-Cavaillé-Coll/Iglesia del Salvador, Usurbil, Spain) Aeolus 10271

WAGNER (arr. Bourgeois): Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral, fr Lohengrin –Dallas Wind Symphony/Jerry Junkin, conductor; Mary Preston (1992 Fisk/Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, TX) Reference 112

For a bit of historical perspective, enjoy this link to a vigorous 1931 recording by George Thalben-Ball at North London's Alexandra Palace featuring Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries, another Edwin H. Lemare transcription.

And get a thumb-nail introduction to Wagner's epic drama (with many familiar themes woven together into Warner Brothers' on-target Merry Melodies spoof)!

And, of course, there's also Anna Russell's incomparable introduction to Wagner's Ring…15 hours of opera condensed into 29 minutes – Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3!

For more performances of Wagner's music on the pipe organ, check PIPEDREAMS Program #0312 ("Wagner at the Console").