Boston and New England focused America’s vital organ culture of the 19th and 20th centuries, with fine builders and a large group of great ones, inquiring and innovative composers and organists, a distinguished establishment of organ pedagogues who brought organ education into universities, and a creative capacity that led the stylistic development of the American organ.

This new 4-CD set is filled with the sounds of the magnificent organs that resulted from this culture, especially with 13 splendid organs built by the Hook firm, some quite large, and thus providing an informative and enjoyable perusal of its tonal evolution 1854-1900. Organs built by others in the same period demonstrate the significant differences among such fine firms as those of the Hooks, Wm. B. D. Simmons, Woodberry, Hutchings, Michell, Jardine and several others.

For the 20th Century, four fine Aeolian-Skinner organs are represented, including a remarkable small one and the gigantic one at the Mother Church as well as one that is entirely in the style of Ernest Skinner and another that was pivotal in G. Donald Harrison’s development of the American Classic organ. Modern organs by Fisk, Noack, and Bozeman round out the sampling of Boston builders, and there are a few others from all eras as well.

As usual, the playing is generally wonderful, with 31 organs, 35 performers, and 69 pieces of music as well as five hymns.

COMPACT DISC 1:
DEZSÖ D’ANTALFFY-ZSIROSS 1885–1945: Sportive Fauns
GABRIEL DUPONT 1878–1914: Méditation
LOUIS VIERNE 1870–1937: Impromptu (from Pièces de Fantaisie)
CLARENCE MADER 1904–1971: Afternoon of a Toad
JIŘÍ ROPEK b. 1922: Variations on “Victimae Paschali Laudes”
Cherry Rhodes, organist
1952, 1981, 2000 Aeolian-Skinner
The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston

HYMN: The Day Thou Gavest St. Clement
C. HUBERT H. PARRY 1848–1918: Nunc dimittis no. 2 in D
HYMN: O Trinity of Blessed Light Bromley
Mark Dwyer, organist
Edith Ho, director
Choir of The Church of the Advent
1936, 1964 Aeolian-Skinner, The Church of the Advent, Boston

FELIX MENDELSSOHN 1809–1847: Sonata in B-flat, Op. 65, No. 4
Gregory Crowell, organist
1854, 1860 E. & G. G. Hook/c.1890 Hutchings, First Parish (Unitarian), Jamaica Plain

HAROLD DARKE 1888–1976: A Fancy, Op. 39, No. 9
Mark Dwyer, organist
1936, 1944, 1947 Aeolian-Skinner, Central Congregational, Jamaica Plain

HYMN: The Royal Banners Foward Go Deo Gracias
Improvisation on “Salve Regina”
Leo Abbott, organist
1875 E. & G.G. Hook & Hastings, Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston

COMPACT DISC 2:
JOSEPH BONNET 1884–1944: Matin Provençal (from Poèmes d’Automne, 1908)
MAX REGER 1873–1916: Benedictus, Op. 59, No. 9
ROBERT SCHUMANN 1810–1856: Studies for the Pedal-Piano, Op. 56: III. Andantino in E; VI. Adagio in B
HENRI MULET 1878–1967: Carillon-Sortie
Thomas Murray, organist
1863 E. & G.G. Hook/1902 E. & G.G. Hook & Hastings, Church of the Immaculate Conception, Boston

HYMN: Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending Helmsley
ROBERT SCHUMANN 1810–1856: Fugue on the Name of BACH, Op. 60, No. 6
Peter Sykes, organist
1863 E. & G.G. Hook/1902 E. & G.G. Hook & Hastings, Church of the Immaculate Conception, Boston

JOHANNES WECK c. 1495–1536: Spanieler Tanz
HYMN: Blessed Jesus, at Thy Word Liebster Jesu
ARTHUR FOOTE 1853–1937: Postlude in C
Nancy Granert, organist
1886 Geo. S. Hutchings, Korean Church, Cambridge

JOHN COOK 1918–1984: Variations on “Alles ist an Gottes Segen” Marian Metson, organist
1972, 1995 Frobenius & Søn, First Church (Congregational), Cambridge

ROBERT SCHUMANN 1810–1856: Sketches for the Pedal-Piano, Op. 58: IV. Allegretto in D-flat; I. Nicht schnell in c; II. Nicht schnell in C
Kimberly Ann Hess, organist 1987 Bozeman, Eliot Church (Congregational), Newton

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH 1685–1750: I. Allegro (from Concerto in G after Duke Johann Ernst)
Gretchen Longwell, organist
1989 Noack, Church of the Redeemer, Newton

LOUIS-NICOLAS CLÉRAMBAULT 1676–1749: Suite du deuxième ton: Basse de Cromorne; Flûtes; Récit de Nazard; Caprice sur les grand Jeux
Yuko Hayashi, organist
1971 Fisk, Old West Church, Boston

MATTHIAS WECKMANN 1621–1674: Canzon in G
HEINRICH SCHEIDEMANN 1596–1663: Fantasia in C (WV 82)
Margaret Irwin-Brandon, organist
1981 Fisk, Houghton Chapel, Wellesley College, Wellesley

COMPACT DISC 3:
MAURICE DURUFLÉ 1902–1986: Prélude et Fugue sur le nom d’ALAIN, Op. 7
OLIVIER MESSIAEN 1908–1992: Alleluias sereins (from L’Ascension)
MARJORIE MERRYMAN b. 1951: Celebration (from Les Trés Riches Heures)
Julian Wachner, organist
1897 Hutchings/1968, 1997 Lahaise, The Mission Church, Boston

EUGENE THAYER 1838–1889: Concert Sonata No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 45
George Bozeman, organist
1860 E. & G.G. Hook, First Congregational, Woburn

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH 1685–1750: Pastorale (1st and 2nd movements)
LUCIEN H. SOUTHARD 1827–1881: Postlude (Pedal Study)
Scot L. Huntington, organist
1854 E. & G.G. Hook/c. 1898 Hutchings, St. Thomas Aquinas, Jamaica Plain

MARCEL DUPRÉ 1886–1971: Vêpres du Commun de la Sainte Vierge, Op. 18: Antiphon 5, How Fair and How Pleasant Art Thou; Antiphon 3, I Am Black but Comely
JULES MASSENET 1842–1912: Meditation (from Thaïs)
Kristin Farmer, organist
1880 E. & G.G. Hook & Hastings/1983 Hutchings, St. Patrick R.C., Boston

DUDLEY BUCK 1839–1909: Triumphal March
GARDNER READ b. 1913: David the King
ARTHUR FOOTE 1853–1937: Allegro comodo (from Suite in D)
Richard Hill, organist
1870 E. & G.G. Hook, First Parish (Unitarian-Universalist), Arlington

SAMUEL COLERIDGE-TAYLOR 1875–1912: Elegy
Kevin Birch, organist
Jonathan Tortolano, cellist
1857 Simmons, Most Holy Redeemer R.C., East Boston

CHARLES-MARIE WIDOR 1844–1937: Allegro vivace (from Symphonie V, Op. 42)
Stephen Roberts, organist
1892 Michell, Most Precious Blood R.C., Boston

COMPACT DISC 4:
CHRISTIAN TEILMAN: Festival March (1908)
PETER SYKES b. 1958: Rise Up, My Love
JAMES WOODMAN b. 1957: Rock of Ages
Victoria Wagner, organist
Nancy Armstrong, soprano
1853 Simmons, First Baptist, Framingham

SAMUEL SCHEIDT 1587–1654: Cantio sacra: Christ lag in Todesbanden
Frances Conover Fitch, organist
1958 Flentrop, Busch Hall, Harvard University, Cambridge

JAN PIETERSZOON SWEELINCK 1562–1621: Variations on the Dance Tune “Balletto del granduca”
Erik Wm. Suter, organist
1868 E. & G.G. Hook, Follen Community Church, Lexington

CHARLES AVISON 1709–1770: Concerto in D
Brian Jones, organist
1985 Andover, First Baptist Church, Newton Centre

JOHANNES BRAHMS 1833–1897: Fugue in G Minor
Robert Barney, organist
1883 E. & G.G. Hook & Hastings, First Parish (Unitarian), Roxbury

JOSEPH WILCOX JENKINS b. 1928: Six Pieces for Organ, Op. 50: 5. Rondeau; 6. Deo Gracias
Andrew Scanlon, organist
1862 E. & G.G. Hook, Christ Church Unity, Brookline

CHARLES-MARIE WIDOR 1844–1937: I. Moderato (from Symphonie Gothique, Op. 70)
Dana Robinson, organist
1892 Woodberry & Harris, St. Mary R.C., Charlestown

DUDLEY BUCK 1839–1909: Postlude on a Theme of Palestrina
L. Frederick Jodry V, organist
1938 Wicks, Most Holy Name R.C., West Roxbury

EDWARD ELGAR 1857–1934: Vesper Voluntaries, Op. 14: Voluntary V; Voluntary VIII
Libor Dudas, organist
1900 Hook & Hastings, St. Mary R.C., Waltham

HENRY M. DUNHAM 1853–1929: Fantasia in D Minor, Op. 19
Rosalind Mohnsen, organist
1894 Jardine, St. Catherine of Genoa R.C., Somerville

JOHANN HANFF 1665–1711: Chorale Prelude on “Wär’ Gott nicht mit uns dies Zeit”
DANIEL PINKHAM b. 1923: Pastorale on “The Morning Star”
Lois Regestein, organist
1859 E. & G.G. Hook, First Baptist, Jamaica Plain

FRANZ VON SUPPÉ 1819–1895: Poet and Peasant Overture
Peter Krasinski, organist
1933 Aeolian-Skinner, United Parish, Brookline