From the Portageville Chapel Retreat for Organists Portageville, in western New York State, is a hamlet with connections to a time when canoe portages were a necessity for Native Americans avoiding the falls of the Genesee River Gorge. Portageville Chapel, now without clergy or congregation, is a non-profit retreat center for organists who may enjoy the spectacular local scenery in Letchworth State Park, all the privacy they may desire, and a lovely restored building with a 1982 Schantz organ of twelve ranks and a 1915 Knabe grand piano. Portageville Chapel’s Executive Director Timothy Smith is well known as a talented organist and this recording sets forth a selection of hymns as the basis of skilful improvisations. The crisp sounds of the Schantz organ are heard in a fine acoustic and the settings are certain to inspire fresh views of these familiar tunes. There are also improvisations using the *Knabe piano. Ellacombe (I Sing the Almighty Power of God); Coronation (All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name); St. Clement (The Day Thou Gavest); Lasst uns erfreuen (All Creatures of My God and King); Laudes Domini (When Morning Gilds the Skies); Schonster Herr Jesu* (Fairest Lord Jesus); New Britain (Amazing Grace); Eventide (Abide With Me); Cwm Rhondda (Guide Me, O Great Jehovah); Kremser (We Gather Together); Praise My Soul [Lauda Anima] (Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven); Hyfrydol (Alleluia! Sing to Jesus); Henley* (I Love to Tell the Story); Lobe den Herren (Praise to the Lord, the Almighty); St. Columba (The King of Love My Shepherd Is); Diademata (Crown Him with Many Crowns); Lytlington (God Be in My Head)