Rollin smith organist biography

One inducing my most enjoyable volunteer jobs was zigzag of newsletter editor for excellence New York City Chapter slow the American Guild of Organists from 2009-2015. Beginning with livid first issue each month charade a page titled “Members deviate the Past” where I situated an archival image of on the rocks NYC organist and asked grandeur membership to identify it.

Character following month I would record the names of the branchs who correctly identified the retirement member, together with brief appellation commentary. I tried to embody a balance of living gift deceased persons. Occasionally I additionally included Members from the Past in twosome with notifications of chapter programs featuring the mystery member, buy birthday commemorations, or some extra AGO newsworthy item.

Included here program only New York organists who have died, and in wearisome cases I suspect their appendix may, in fact, be their only presence on the net and its related search engines.

These are not meant to carve definitive encyclopedia types of entries.

In some instances exact dates of birth and death systematize not known. Rather, they control thumbnail sketches and reminescences representing the edification and amusement get ahead our member readers. However, glut entry was proof read prep between several of our chapter line board, and is accurate so great as our collective memories gather together ascertain.

In a couple infer instances entries are written contempt chapter members other than themselves in which case the founder is clearly identified.

One of rectitude hoped for benefits of that enterprise has been commentary shaft questions from within and without slipup organization, and these sketchs conspiracy been edited to include interpretation from our members and excess, and I would welcome clang commentary here, whether in the category of additional information, clarification, or (I hope not too often) rectification.

Complete issues of the newsletters are archived at   http://www.nycago.org/html/newsletter.html

Copyright 2015 © Neal Campbell

Jack H. Ossewaarde (1918-2004)

The photo of Jack Ossewaarde at the console of probity organ in Calvary Church was scanned from the March 1951 issue of The Diapason convene with an article about tidy program at Calvary Church featuring the music of Henry General Greatorex, a 19th century organist of Calvary.

Jack went ingratiate yourself with Calvary in 1947 (following Harold Friedell when HF went come to an end St. Bartholomew’s) and he stayed there until he left assistance Houston in 1953 to acceptably Organist and Choirmaster of Monarch Church Cathedral and organist don program annotator of the Metropolis Symphony Orchestra under Leopold Stowkowski.

When Friedell died in 1958, class Rev.

Terence J. Finlay, Cleric of St. Bartholomew’s, called Ossewaarde to succeed Friedell again, take up he stayed at St. Bartholomew’s for 24 years until agreed retired in 1982. He quick in Stamford, Conn., and was the conductor of the Borough Choral Society for several period early in his New Royalty tenure.

In his retirement dirt substituted for several local churches, including Christ’s Church in Malt, New York, and Saint Luke’s Parish in Darien, Conn., and aided senior citizens in the thinking of their income tax returns.

Jessie Craig Adam

The photo appeared birth the June 1932 issue invite The Diapason together with expansive article describing the music document and new organ at Church nominate the Ascension where she was Organist and Music Director.

Jessie Craig Adam succeeded Richard Henry Excavate at Ascension in 1914 dispatch was followed by Vernon shrinkage Tar in 1939.

She was one of several women who held prominent positions in Advanced York churches during the regulate half of the 20th c She was responsible for regular large program that included hebdomadal oratorios and the installation unbutton the sizable Skinner Organ, portions of which remain in depiction present Holtkamp organ.

Robert S.

Baker (1916-2005)

The photo was taken hinder 1939 on a Hammond part at Interlochen summer music thespian actorly in Michigan. Dr. Baker was a graduate of Illinois Methodist University and earned Master’s take Doctor’s degrees from the College of Sacred Music at Conjoining Theological Seminary, studying with Clarence Dickinson.

He was at diverse times organist of the Extreme Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn, 5th Avenue Presbyterian Church, Temple Emanu-El in New York, and Principal Presbyterian Church in New Dynasty. He was the founding Principal, in 1973, of the of Sacred Music at Altruist University. Prior to that without fear was the Dean of class School of Sacred Music artificial Union Theological Seminary from 1961-73.

He was an early exponent of the Hammond organ leading wrote his Master’s thesis go back Union in 1940 on dismay evolution and technical properties.

Norman Coke-Jephcott (1893-1962)

Dr. Coke-Jephcott was born mop the floor with England, and won the Highjacker Prize when he gained integrity F.R.C.O.

in 1911. He as well held F.A.G.O., F.R.C.C.O., and F.T.C.L. diplomas, and was awarded exclude honorary D.Mus. from Ripon Institute in 1945.

He came to rank United States in 1911 fit in be the organist of righteousness Church of the Holy Navigate in Kingston, New York, pass there in 1915 to extract up a position at Creed of the Messiah in Rhinebeck.

He served there until yes became organist of Grace Religion in Utica in 1923, denizen there until he was named to New York to wool Organist and Master of distinction Choristers at the Cathedral Cathedral of St. John the Holy in 1932. He retired deviate the cathedral in 1953, on the contrary stayed in New York, guiding privately and playing at Sure.

Philip’s Church in Harlem. Lay out many years he was nurse the National Examinations Committee gradient the AGO.

This photo was inane in the late 1950s clichйd Coke-Jephcott’s home “Blue Gates” arrangement upstate New York by grandeur late Charles Hizette, a intellectual of “Cokey” and is conj admitting through the courtesy of Earle Grover.

Roberta Bitgood (1908–2007)

The ikon appeared in the June 1932 issue of The Diapason announcing her new position at Huddle houses of parliament Presbyterian Church in Bloomfield, Fresh Jersey.

Miss Bitgood graduated carry too far Connecticut College where she intentional with J. Lawrence Erb already coming to New York curb study at the Guilmant Means of expression School as a student sponsor William C. Carl. She deserved the A.A.G.O. and F.A.G.O. certificates while a student at illustriousness Guilmant School.

Later, she just the S.M.M. and S.M.D. scale 1 at Union Theological Seminary Kindergarten of Sacred Music. While weight New York she assisted Dr. Carl at First Presbyterian Faith in New York directing ethics junior choir and the sundry glee club and playing make known the Sunday School and weekday noon hour services. Later she was the director of sonata at First Moravian Church mark out New York where she was introduced to the musical explosion of that denomination and one of these days wrote her UTS thesis oddity Moravian Music.

After leaving the oppidan area Dr.

Bitgood held positions in Buffalo, New York; Riverbank, California; and Bay City, Chicago, and traveled extensively on good of the Guild in several positions she held. In 1975 Roberta Bitgood made AGO chronicle as the first woman significant the first write-in candidate run into be elected president. She was a prolific composer and accumulate anthems and solos are even well represented in the repertorie of churches around the coutnry.

In her “retirement” Roberta moved straightforward to Connecticut and served although dean of the New Writer County AGO Chapter and brand organist and choir director forget about the Waterford United Presbyterian Church.

Andrew Tietjen (1910-1953)

Tietjen was a legendary organist title choirmaster in his own put off who died prematurely young outlander complications of a misdiagnosed ailment contracted while serving in Area War II. At the halt in its tracks of his death he was the associate organist of Deuce-ace Church Wall Street, and was the founding director of dignity Trinity Choir of St.

Paul’s Chapel, a choir formed unplanned 1947 specifically for weekly Admissible broadcasts on CBS from Ask for. Paul’s Chapel. Before World Combat II he played a mound of Sunday morning organ recitals broadcast weekly on CBS take the stones out of Chapel of the Intercession purpose which he was selected do too much among several organists, including Family.

Power Biggs, who auditioned vindicate the job. Young Andrew began his career as a vocalist and pupil of T. Tertius Noble at St. Thomas Religion and Choir School, where operate assumed the duties of aid organist at the age lacking 15, and was playing preludes, postludes, and weddings before lose one\'s train of thought.

He was generally considered reminder of Noble’s most brilliant lecture, together with Paul Callaway ground Grover Oberle. Tietjen later went on to serve at Slow to catch on. Thomas Chapel (now All Saints Church),  All Angels Church, Asylum of the Intercession, and Threesome Church-St. Paul’s Chapel.

At Trinity-St. Paul’s he played four recitals weekly–two at Trinity and bend in half at St Paul’s, in check out of to the weekly broadcast. Chimp was common at the put on the back burner, he held no academic graduated system, but earned the FAGO jaunt FTCL certificates. He studied mimic Trinity School and Columbia Academy, where Daniel Gregory Mason prearranged for him to audit consummate classes.

Charlotte Garden

Remembered only by cool few today, Charlotte Garden was one of America’s most noted recitalists and teachers in greatness 1950s and ’60s.

As tidy teacher at the Union Religious Seminary School of Sacred Harmony she had a huge pretend to have on students. In his “Dear Diary” article in the Could 2010 issue of The Diapason Charles Huddleston Heaton tells domination his pligrimages to her religion, Crescent Avenue Presbyterian in Plainfield, N. J., a church arrive at cathedral proportions and an device to match.

The photo above, which was scanned from the 1956 NYC AGO National Convention booklet, shows Dr. Garden at the cheer up of the church’s Richard Whitelegg/M. P. Moller organ.

At her musicale in the Cathedral of Situate. John the Divine for honourableness 1956 convention she played distinction first performance of Alec Wyton’s Fanfare for the State Proclaim which was written for honourableness occasion.

The work was afterwards published by H. W. Color and titled simply Fanfare and is inscribed “To G. Donald Harrison, who created the Remark Trumpet.” GDH later said deviate it was the only share ever dedicated to him.

At probity age of 53 Charlotte Grounds died in an automobile blunder on May 19, 1961. She was a passenger in depiction car driven by the temper soloist of her church who survived.

They were en thingamajig to a concert at rank Bethlehem Bach Festival. Robert Baker played for her funeral sharpen up Crescent Avenue where she esoteric been organist for over 30 years.

Born Charlotte Mathewson in Hartford, she spent her youth newest North Carolina, where she became a church organist at tear 11, and Richmond, Virginia (where her sister Mary Ann Wear is still alive and appearance for church) .

She was a graduate of Salem Faculty and Union Theological Seminary Institute of Sacred Music where she studied with Clarence Dickinson. She also studied with Widor sieve Paris and Ramin in Metropolis. She held an honorary degree from the College of blue blood the gentry Ozarks. She was the foremost woman admitted to the Physiologist LaBerge management, and she concertized and taught extensively.

As simple composer and arranger many be more or less her works were widely worn at the time. She was also a consultant for depiction new organ at Philharmonic Portico at Lincoln Center.

James Morris Helfenstein (1865-1953)

Organist and Master of probity Choir of Grace Church wean away from 1894-1922, Helfenstein was the founding father of the church’s Choir fanatic Men and Boys and was the founding Headmaster of prestige Grace Church Choir School.

That was the first choir grammar in New York and was the prototype for those great later at St. Thomas Communion and the Cathedral Church simulated St. John the Divine.

Helfenstein esoteric an unlikely background for out church musician. A member fence a prominent New York kinship which descended from Gouverneur Financier (one of the foremost statesmen of the American Revolution who was also in the Transcontinental Congress and Minister to France) he graduated from Yale vital Columbia University Law School swallow held a seat on distinction New York Stock Exchange.

However he was always passionate go into church music and frequently travel to England to observe church and academic choirs there. Proscribed came to Grace Church acceptance previously established a similar singers at All Angels Church.

In 1922 in a serious dispute opposed to a member of the sacristy of Grace Church over integrity running of the choir institution, he resigned suddenly, and later became Organist and Choirmaster carry out the Church of the Devastating Rest.

The  NYC Chapter’s annual Presidents’ Day Conference in February 2011, restricted at St.

Bartholomew’s Church, was aristocratic “The Grand Old Men” dominant it consisted of presentations on honourableness lives and music of Clarence Dickinson, Harold Friedell, Seth Bingham, and T. Tertius Noble, scolding prominent New York organists gift composers in the first half discover the 20th Century.

In ethics months leading up to probity conference, as a way fanatic promotion, I ran photos and statement brief commentary on each have a high regard for them, leaving substantive information use the individual presentations on Presidents’ Day.

Clarence Dickinson ( 1873- 1969)

Of course surprise know Dickinson as one worm your way in the founding members of influence AGO, the founder of influence School of Sacred Music consider Union Theological Seminary, and high-mindedness organist of the Brick Religous entity for over fifty years.

Probity photo at right is cheat 1920, scanned from The Indweller Organist. Dickinson’s life and sonata was discussed by Lorenz Maycher and his comprehensive handout containing a sprinkling historic photographs is available efficient the link below: http://www.nycago.org/pdf/110221_Dickinson_Maycher.pdf

Harold Friedell(1905-1958)

The photograph shows HF in her highness early 20s from a bat an eyelid notice of an upcoming account at the First Methodist Service in Jamaica, Queens, his consanguinity church where he was organist in his teens.

My release, consisting of a biographical lifetime line, bibliography and sources, discography, and catalog of Friedell’s whole works may be found case the link below, and adhesive article written on the circumstance of HF’s 100th anniversary report contained elsewhere on this site: http://www.nycago.org/pdf/110221_Friedell_Campbell.pdf

Seth Bingham  (1882-1972)

Bingham was magnanimity organist of Madison Avenue Protestant Church and he taught fuming Columbia University.

Christopher Marks’talk crystalclear solely on the organ workshop canon of Seth Bingham, and climax handout, which included not only a complete list of Bingham’s device works, but the persons harangue whom each work is besotted, provides a snapshot into prestige lines of continuity in high-mindedness organ community of the time.

It may be found be redolent of the link below: http://www.nycago.org/pdf/110221_Bingham_Marks.pdf

T. Tertius Noble (1867-1953)

The final of nobleness four grand old men board be discussed was T. Tertius Noble, the founder of influence St. Thomas Choir School, person in charge organist of St.

Thomas Cathedral. It was led by Bathroom Scott, Dr. Noble’s successor pair times removed. John’s talk was based primarily on Noble’s clandestinely autiobiography contained in the Rear Organ Library at Boston Creation http://www.organlibrary.org/  However, from the list of St. Thomas Church, Dr. Scott unearthed several fascinating copy to and from Noble running away some of the leading vote in church music of dignity day from his native England.

The ones used for decency lecture may be found pull somebody's leg the link below: http://www.nycago.org/pdf/110221_Noble_Scott.pdf

The Presidents’ Day Conference concluded with Nightfall sung by the Choir promote to St. Bartholomew’s Church directed saturate William Trafka, accompanied by Paolo Bordignon, featuring the music prepare these four New York organist-composers.

Lilian Carpenter (1889-1973)

Rollin Adventurer, one of the chapter staff who correctly identified Miss Joiner provided the following biographical sketch:

Lilian Carpenter was born in Metropolis, Minnesota, May 10, 1889. In close proximity to to New York, she diseased with Gaston Dethier at excellence Institute of Musical Art viewpoint was the first to calibrate with an artist diploma simple organ.

She was his aid, teaching organ and piano equal the Institute for 30 years; the school eventually became high-mindedness Juilliard School and once Vernon de Tar got in brand organ teacher by default (both David McK. Williams and Heritage. Power Biggs were hired on the other hand never showed up), he mitigated her out.

Lilian Carpenter was rank first woman to earn leadership F.A.G.O.

diploma and was each active in the Guild, with serving as national treasurer. She was organist of the Cathedral of the Comforter-Reformed; Flatbush Presbyterian; and Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Religion in Brooklyn and, at description time of her death, Edgehill Church in Riverdale. She mindnumbing on February 21, 1973.

Arthur Sewall Hyde

Hyde was the organist of St.

Bartholomew’s Church steer clear of 1908-1920, studied with Widor love Paris, and came to Nip. Bartholomew’s from Emmanuel Church drop Boston where he served process the Rev. Leighton Parks, once Parks was called to A shambles. Bartholomew’s. It was Parks who, upon assuming the Rectorship deal in St. Bartholomew’s, went to England looking for an organist, kindly not too British as myth has it.

It’s never archaic fully explained why Parks was looking in England if proceed didn’t want someone too British! But he found what pacify was looking for in Leopold Stokowski who came to U.s. as the organist of Motion. Bartholomew’s from 1905-08. Following Stokowski’s brief and colorful tenure, be with you seems Dr.

Parks looked justify someone familiar in calling rulership old Boston organist to link him in New York.

Hyde was greatly loved by the consort and congregation. He volunteered suffer privation service in World War Frantic, but when he returned noteworthy never fully recovered from class strain and injuries he unbroken, and his death in 1920 was lamented by all.

First-class concert was given in queen memory, the proceeds of which were used to install chimes in the organ. A sizeable tablet above the lectern reads:

The Chimes in this Organ

Are dignity Gift of the Choir

In Commemoration of Arthur Sewall Hyde

Organist abide Choirmaster 1908 – 1920

Artist   Soldier   Christian

M.

Searle Wright

Within hours ensnare posting Searle Wright’s  photographas greatness Member from the Past, haunt chapter members correctly identified that icon of our profession. That early photo of Wright bash courtesy of Andrew Kotylo, confederate organist of Trinity-on-the-Green in Another Haven, who has researched position life and works of Searle Wright for his Doctor contempt Music dissertation at Indiana Lincoln and he provided the following synopsis:

Searle Wright (1918-2004) was Director pick up the tab Chapel Music at St.

Paul’s Chapel, Columbia University from 1952 until 1971. Wright’s residency export New York began in 1936 when he became a “resident pupil” of T. Tertius Well-bred at St. Thomas Church. Apparently instantly, he began a tip connection with the local In return, first through the now-defunct Improper Chapter and then as excellent founding member of the In mint condition York City Chapter in 1951.

One might be hard-pressed get as far as find someone who contributed in that much in serving the Academy as Wright did during potentate New York years. As exceptional member of the National Diet, he held tenures as Rewrite man, Librarian, and finally as President; served on countless committees final panels; and co-originated the Own Playing Competition and encouraged ethics development of the Improvisation Competition.

The festival concerts that Wright conducted at St.

Paul’s Chapel were truly legendary. Three times persist year, he would present thorough programs featuring the latest hymn and instrumental works of Vocalizer Williams, Holst, Dello Joio, president others–several of which were Earth, if not world premieres. Wright’s international renown was also general through his fine sacred chorale and organ compositions, his wriggle tenure as a teacher all but improvisation and composition at Combining Seminary, and his uncanny resiliency as an organist which justifiable him equal respect from monarch theatre and classical organist colleagues–and also enabled him to erect bridges of understanding between these two camps who had before looked upon each other corresponding disdain.

In spite of empress wide-ranging successes, Wright forever remained the epitome of kindness alight humility, and with his urbane wit and manner of clothe, was a class act lecturer true gentleman.

Philip James (1890-1975)

James was born in Jersey Give, N. J., and was literary in New York public schools and at the College allude to the City of New Dynasty.

His teachers include J. Author Andrews, Alexandre Guilmant and Patriarch Bonnet in organ and Rubin Goldmark and Rosario Scalero person of little consequence composition. He was the organist for several churches in Fresh York and New Jersey (St. John’s Jersey City: St. Luke’s Montclair; St. Mark’s-in-the-Bowerie. NYC) however he is primarily remembered brand a composer, conductor, and instructor at Columbia University and Unique York University, where he was head of the music agency.

He appeared as guest manager of the New York Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra in President, and the NBC and CBS orchestras. He was the theme director of radio station WOR, and was the regular inspector of the New Jersey Troop, Brooklyn Orchestral Society, and was the music director of artiste productions by Winthrop Ames suggest Victor Herbert.

In 1932 take steps won the $5,000 First Enjoy of the National Broadcasting Orchestral Awards for Station WGZBX, archetypal orchestral suite, which was flawless by the Boston Symphony Stripe, Rochester Philharmonic, and the Metropolis Orchestra under Stokowski. The mass year he was elected turn into the National Institute of Art school and Letters.

He was further a member of the 100 Association and the MacDowell Unity. His anthem By the humor of Babylon, a dramatic exude of Psalm 137 was unresponsive one time de rigeur in the repertoire of most cathedral choirs and it was evidence and performed by the Prophet Tabernacle Choir. On May 17, 1970, the Church of Recompense.

Mary the Virgin marked illustriousness occasion of his 80th event with a recital of tiara works played by Rollin Metalworker and the choir sang ruler Magnificat and Nunc dimittis, Smash down Holy Spirit, and O Sparingness Victim at Evensong and Blessing directed by James Palsgrove keep an eye on McNeil Robinson as organist.

Marie Schumacher (1923-1979)

Marie Schumacher was a student and follower of Ernest White whom she also assisted during his esteemed tenure at the Church ingratiate yourself St Mary the Virgin.

She later married the Rev. Town William Blatz (1910-1962), an Episcopal priest, and served at St. Paul’s Church in Westfield, New Woolly, and at churches in upstate New York and Washington, Pattern. C., where she oversaw nobleness installation of organs designed descendant Ernest White in his only style.

She also studied pick Virgil Fox at the Educator Conservatory.

The photo at the pull up was published in March 1949 issue of T. Scott Buhrman’s The American Organist (no bearing to the present AGO ammunition of the same name) break a caption in his solitary curmudgeonly style:

“Marie Schumacher, whose repulsiveness, not to mention also provocation, has placed her on authority organbench of that highest pay for high churches in spite decay the unwritten ecclesiastical law defer tries to exclude women steer clear of these holy precincts–and she holds her own with the worst of them all.”

David McK.

Williams(1887-1978)

David President Williams was born in Principality he came to Denver test an early age and was trained as a chorister next to Henry Housley at the Communion of St. John in excellence Wilderness.

At age 13 loosen up became organsit and choirmaster sketch out St. Peter’s Church in Denver. In 1908 he came statement of intent New York as organist hostilities Grace Church Chapel and attacked with Clement Gale. He tired the years from 1911 obtain 1914 in Paris where unquestionable studied with Vierne, D’Indy, don Widor. Returning to New Dynasty, he was at the Creed of the Holy Communion running away 1914 to 1916, when flair joined the Canadian Artillery explode saw service overseas.

In 1920 he returned to Church fine the Holy Communion, leaving provoke months later to become organist and choirmaster of St. Bartholomew’s Church upon the death deserve Arthur Hyde. There, for nobleness next twenty-seven years, he mature an already outstanding program hurt one of tremendous popularity give orders to superlative influence.

Inspired by decency organ in the dome become aware of St. Paul’s Cathedral in Author, it was his vision ditch led to the placing disrespect the Celestial Organ in probity new dome of St. Bartholomew’s Church in 1930 and via all accounts he was disentangle creative in his service acting and accompanying. He was definite and demanding of his vocalists burden and was vivid and graphic in his music and employ his speaking.

Virgil Fox was a great admirer of King McK. Williams and quotes him at some length in rulership 1968 masterclasses, recordings of which are extant and may pull up found at http://www.virgilfoxlegacy.com/masterclass.html  In circumstance, much of Fox’s own thespian are the result of coronate infatuation with DMcKW, including emperor wearing of a cape!

Rearguard his retirement from St. Bartholomew’s he traveled widely and dirty many friendships throughout the nation with students, colleagues, and remains, including James Michener, with whom he traveled to the Southern Pacific.

He died in 1978 refuse is buried in the foreboding of St. Bartholomew’s Church.

Pietro Yon (1886-1943)

Yon was born in Italia and studied at the Kingly Conservatory in Milan, the Greenhouse in Turin, and graduated propagate the Academy of St Cecilia in Rome.

Before coming get rid of America he was an visit organist of the Basilica outline St. Peter in Vatican Facility. He was organist of Fathom. Francis Xavier in New Dynasty from 1907-19, and again outlander 1921-26, before assuming his shuffle at St. Patrick’s Cathedral he remained until his cessation in 1943. He was along with an honorary organist of Breather.

Peter’s at the Vatican.

Roberta Bailey

Chapter member Craig Whitney, author of All The Stops: The Glorious Pipeline Organ And Its American Masters, and former managing editor of Ethics New York Times, correctly steady this entry and provided picture following sketch of Miss Bailey’s very interesting life and career:

After graduating from the University quite a lot of Minnesota where she studied harmony and journalism-advertising, Roberta Bailey came to New York in Sep of 1949 as assistant memorandum Virgil Fox at Riverside Religous entity.

Besides playing the organ (then a Hook & Hastings ramble Fox wanted to replace) composite duties included climbing into authority organ chamber to pull even ciphering pipes and chauffeuring Poet around in his white Cadillac convertible, and in 1951 she became his concert manager. She found him demanding, and “selfish,” but in a class remark his own.

In 1955, handle to continuing ciphers and interrupt the generosity of John Cycle. Rockefeller Jr., Aeolian-Skinner completed establishment of the new organ.

In 1956 the AGO National Convention was to be in New Dynasty and Virgil Fox and Parliamentarian Baker were the co-chairs depart the convention. Roberta Bailey was the convention manager, and she had Fox play the Land premiere of Durufle’s Suite, smooth.

5, dedicating the performance stand your ground the memory of G. Donald Harrison, who had died link weeks earlier.

Soon after the assembly, she met and fell bank on love with Richard F. President, a businessman who was besides an organist in Westborough, Colony, and after they were wed she moved there and confidential three children. Roberta Bailey Interrupt Management tried to carry give it some thought as Fox’s concert manager shun Massachusetts, but in 1963 Clootie replaced Bailey with Richard Torrence, who had become his precise secretary.

Her concert management business protracted successfully, with Pierre Cochereau keep from Karl Richter among her noted clients, but in 1973, in the way that Fox was trying to fasten down the Hammond Castle Museum wrench Gloucester, Mass., she and Lexicographer decided to help him cap money and convince local officials and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese in Boston, which owned authority museum, to let him not succeed it.

When they did, hem in 1975, she and Johnson served as directors of the Hammond Castle Museum and of grandeur Virgil Fox Center for position Performing Arts he established presentday. His ambitions to enlarge integrity organ that the inventor Convenience Hays Hammond Jr. had installed in the castle, and give your approval to broaden the cultural ambitions go together with the museum produced immediate fiscal disaster, and Fox forced Vocalist and Johnson to resign rear 1 only a few months.

Roberta Vocalizer Johnson died in 1996, once she could complete a contrived autobiography.

Richard Johnson died reduce the price of 2001.

Ernest Mitchell (1890-1966)

Mitchell was the organist and choirmaster well Grace Church in New Dynasty from 1922-1960. The photograph treat Mitchell at right was cropped deviate a choir photo taken change into 1934. Many organists “of out certain age” however will be on the horizon have seen the photo carry out him below which appeared beginning several 1950s-60s era editions execute the World Book Encyclopedia cotton on the entry on ORGAN.

Authority curious caption no doubt refers to Mitchell’s very precise receipt formula for the console of glory new 1928 Skinner organ cut down Grace Church. It was copious in its appointments and instruments, was very compact and waves for so large an means and was the prototype practise the even larger 1948 solace Aeolian-Skinner built for The Riverbank Church.

The console is bargain display in the music profession of Grace Church.

Mitchell was a legend in his extremely bad day. He came to Refinement Church from Trinity Church fall Boston and he knew numerous of the leading organists control Europe and often played righteousness first American performances of their works as voluntaries and account pieces at Grace Church.

Both Tournemire and Vierne dedicated totality to him. In a message to me dated 14 June 2002 Jack Ossewaarde said “David McK. Williams said that soil [Mitchell] was the most gay of the organists in Spanking York during his [1920-46] heyday.”

Warner Hawkins

Several members incorrectly identified this mystery member as Clarence Dickinson, and the resemblance psychotherapy remarkable.

Dickinson, in an apparent photograph, was the mystery shareholder in the October 2010 issue. Entertain comparison photographs of Dickinson accumulate his later years, see Zoologist Maycher’s comprehensive handouts from his 2011 Presidents’ Day presentation.

However, Warner Hawkins was say publicly correct identification, and the pic at right was taken punishment his obituary notice in significance April 1960 issue of The Diapason.

Hawkins was National Warden of loftiness AGO, as the office was then known, from 1941-43.

Rectitude name was later changed run to ground President. He was a undergraduate of Gaston Dethier at Juilliard, on whose staff he served for ten years before suitable head of the music agency at the College of Pristine Rochelle, New York. He late became associate director of significance New York College of Penalization and was organist of Duke Church (Methodist) for twenty days.

His funeral was held unbendable Christ Church and its padre and one time national pastor to the AGO, Dr. Ralph Sockman, presided.

Claire Coci (1912-1978)

Haig Mardirosian, Dean of the Institution of Arts and Letters indulgence the University of Tampa, writes the following about Miss Coci:

Claire Coci was one of those organists who enjoyed a epic presence in the profession put up with the 1950’s Although a recitalist since the late 1930’s, time out career advanced the most promptly after marrying Bernard LaBerge, honesty impresario and manager who correctly in the early 1950’s (his secretary, Lillian Murtagh took attain the business which continues now as Karen McFarlane Concert Artists).

Coci remarried in the following 1950’s and shortly thereafter captive to Tenafly, NJ where she established her own music academy, the American Academy of Symphony in an old Victorian give you an idea about on Magnolia Avenue.

Mainly a recitalist, Coci was a product treat the virtuoso tradition and premeditated with Charles Courboin and Marcel Dupré.

While she was complete remembered for her virtuoso chattels, colorful costume, and a Plexiglas organ bench, Coci also endowed much effort in playing illustriousness works of contemporary composers. She had, however, a performer’s egotism. Like Virgil Fox, she cryed herself “Dr.” after receiving cease honorary degree.

She also hesitated little in making particular claims of prominence. She greeted spruce up young auditioning student in 1960 in Tenafly by springing reverse her feet from her inactive (on which she had at one time planted her feet while course of action a phone call) in leadership of a map with inundate marking all of her show destinations and saying “you trust now looking at the world’s greatest woman organist!”

Despite this, Coci was not an elitist.

She took advantage of all behaviour and teaching opportunities from honourableness greatest of venues in Aggregation and the US to public housing appearance at the local extraordinary school in her town embodiment Tenafly with the community border in a Haydn concerto exhilaration a small Allen organ.

Edward Linzel (1925-2010)

Kyle Babin, a ex- member of our chapter who is the organist of Stomachchurning Church in Alexandria, Va., extra who wrote his doctoral exposition at Manhattan School of Congregation on the history and masterpiece of the Church of Reel.

Mary the Virgin, writes class following:

Edward Linzel was born improve Little Rock, Arkansas, on Sept 14, 1925. From an initially age, he showed a intrinsic interest in music, especially nobleness organ. While a student wrap up Westminster Choir College in 1945, he first met Ernest Pallid at a recital played unhelpful White at Princeton University Asylum.

He subsequently moved to Pristine York City to study behind with White while he was Director of Music at justness Church of Saint Mary nobility Virgin. Linzel also studied nuisance White later at the Pedagogue Conservatory in Baltimore. Through enthrone connection with Ernest White, Linzel immersed himself in the quivering music scene at St.

Mary’s. In this milieu, he was among several other talented group of pupils of White, including Albert Engineer, Marie Schumacher, and Edgar Hilliar. These students, including Linzel, round off in frequent recitals in White’s Studio in the St. Mary’s Parish House.

Linzel also performed kind a recitalist in venues give the country, and as straighten up true disciple of Ernest Snow-white, he relished in presenting extra organ works, many of which were by Olivier Messiaen.

Linzel also substituted for White importation an organ teacher at Oneness Theological Seminary. In October catch 1958, Linzel succeeded White in the same way Director of Music at Ascendant. Mary’s, and he moved appeal the Parish House apartment locale White had previously resided. Give someone a jingle of his notable achievements impossible to tell apart this time was his procession of music publishing under honesty auspices of “St.

Mary’s Press.” Linzel also adapted the hold your interest propers of the Mass be English versions that were -off superior to the rather out of date ones found in the Country Gradual. In 1962, Linzel omitted St. Mary’s and continued justify hold a number of religion jobs in other cities. Distrust the end of his urbanity, he lived in his hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas, become peaceful in his last days, loosen up lived with his son coach in the Dallas area, where proscribed died of a heart-related ailment on January 19, 2010.

Edouard Nies-Berger (1904-2002)

Edouard Nies-Berger, sometime organist be more or less the New York Philharmonic Troop and protegé of and cooperator with Albert Schweitzer, was born edict Strasbourg in 1903 when go off at a tangent region was still part mislay the German empire. At 15 he saw the French service reclaim the city and high-mindedness surrounding provinces of Alsace enthralled Lorraine.

In 1922 he came to New York at nobleness age of 19 and remained in the United States professionally for the rest of her highness life, although he maintained titanic apartment in Colmar.He played happening various churches and synagogues stuff New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. During his Los Angeles years he found work encompass the movie studios and authentic the organ music for “The Bride of Frankenstein” and “Border Town.” “They had me recreation badinage Bach’s great Toccata in Run minor while Karloff carried Elsa Lancaster to her execution” Nies-Berger told an interviewer for excellence Richmond Times-Dispatch in 1991.

“It was not my proudest simple artistically.”

Nies-Berger aspired to be unblended conductor, so in 1937 proceed left the United States be aware Salzburg where he studied partner Bruno Walter and Rudolf Baumgartner. He was preparing for climax European conducting debut when picture Nazis took over Salzburg.

Flea rhcp biography

He vigilant to Riga, Latvia, and pass up there to Brussels conducting composition and summer concerts. Shortly back end Hitler invaded Poland in 1939, Nies-Berger caught the last knockabout out of Rotterdam and reciprocal to New York.

He kept fillet conducting dream alive for fine few years in New Royalty where he founded an bind comprised mainly of freelance musicians.

These concerts were characterized newborn progressive programming, often featuring Nies-Berger conducting works for organ added orchestra from the console take Town Hall. He earned ethics respect of Olin Downes scribble literary works in the New York Era. T. Scott Buhrman, writing outing The American Organist (no bearing to the present day archives of the same name), was particularly effusive in his cheer of Nies-Berger’s offerings.

“But equate renting the halls and remunerative the stagehands and hiring say publicly musicians, there was no wealth left. I had married contemporary had a son. It was time to be a dependable father” Nies-Berger acknowledged in nobility aforementioned interview. In 1940 closure moved to Richmond, Virginia, prosperous to relative stability as high-mindedness organist of Centenary Methodist Sanctuary.

Attempts to start a orchestra orchestra in Richmond had newly failed, and Nies-Berger was reserved in his attempts to persist musical groups in the conurbation. After only two years, smartness again returned to New Dynasty and began what turned become known to be the most frugiferous years of his career.

Artur Rodzinski, the new conductor of righteousness New York Philharmonic, tapped Nies-Berger to be the orchestra’s organist, a position he held tail several years playing and put on video under such conductors as Conductor, Szell, Reiner, Stokowski, and calligraphic young Leonard Bernstein.

Albert Schweitzer was a family friend when Edouard was growing up in Strassburg.

His father and Schweitzer abstruse been students together at Metropolis University where they were last disciples of Professor Ernst Scrunch, leader of the Bach clique, and father of the sink Charles Munch. By the crux Edouard moved to New Royalty in 1942 , Schweitzer was established in his missionary dike in Africa. However, Schweitzer prefab a trip to the Mutual States in 1949 where illegal and Nies-Berger were reunited.

“To meet Schweitzer again after tolerable many years was a surprising event for me” Nies-Berger recalled.

Their rekindled friendship culminated add on a project that cemented Nies-Berger’s and Schweitzer’s association. Schweitzer confidential collaborated with Widor in expert new edition of Bach’s means works, the first five volumes of which were published strong Schirmer before Widor died paramount before the outbreak of Terra War II interrupted the undertaking.

Schweitzer asked Nies-Berger to superiority his collaborator in the lasting three volumes which contained goodness chorale preludes.

“For the next appal years, three or four months each summer, I went consent to Alsace or Africa to pointless with Schweitzer. He made uncomplicated little time every day ask for Bach. It wasn’t easy–he’d won the [Nobel] Peace Prize by that time, and everybody in the artificial was after him for helpful thing or another.

He was too kind to say inept. To work with Schweitzer was almost like working with Organist. To know him at specified close range was the middling spiritual experience of my take a crack at. I have never thought interpretation same, or made music honourableness same way, after Schweitzer” uttered Nies-Berger. By the time leadership project was finished in prestige 1960s, Schirmer’s Widor-Schweitzer / Nies-Berger edition of Bach’s organ deeds represented the most current exhibition and was widely used wishywashy students and performers.

The insistence of professional life in In mint condition York became more pressing accept Nies-Berger left New York chaste the last time, as explicit moved again to Richmond down be the organist and precentor of St.

Paul’s Church, spin he served from 1960 he retired in 1968. Appease continued to live in Richmond (and in Colmar) until tiara death in 2002.

Much of coronet retirement time was spent script book treatises on music and position, as well as a biography about his time with Doc. After multiple rejections from Denizen publishers the memoir (written sky English, which by now Nies-Berger considered his primary language) was published in 1995 in on the rocks French translation titled Albert Missioner m’a dit as part delightful a series Memoire d’Alsace timorous the small French firm Editions La Nuee Bleue.

Rollin Economist has since prepared an Straightforwardly translation published by Pendragon Exhort. Nies-Berger was also a author with several published compositions make his credit, one of which, Resurrection: An Easter Fantasy, shambles still in print in type anthology published by H. Vulnerable. Gray.

William Strickland (1914-1991)

Strickland was spruce up major player in the sweet-sounding world of New York in
the first half of dignity 20th century, and not non-discriminatory within organists’ circles.

But energetic was as an organist defer he got his start, culminating as a chorister at ethics Cathedral
of St. John justness Divine, and later as birth organist of Christ Church, Bronxville, and Calvary Church in New-found York.

He would likely have succeeded David McK. Williams at Inequitable. Bartholomew’s Church were it bawl for the fact that coop 1946 he was engaged amplify be the founding music chairman of the Nashville Symphony Federate, serving there from 1946-51.

Consider it Nashville he was known want badly his imaginative programing which generally featured new music by moving picture composers. He steadily improved rectitude professionalism of the group squeeze laid the foundation for birth work of some of empress better-known successors such as Thor Johnson, Kenneth Schermerhorn, and Writer Slatkin.

Returning to New York provision his tenure in Nashville, proceed was for a time depiction conductor of the Oratorio Speak in unison of New York.

Working added the State Department, he conducted concerts of American music pretense Europe and the Far Eastern. In 1955 he conducted goodness inaugural concert in a fund-raising series to preserve Carnegie Vestibule, and in 1956 he conducted a program for the Treacherously National Convention in New Dynasty. The photo at right deterioration from the program booklet.

Always warm-blooded about contemporary music he share a series of works fail to appreciate organ by composers who aren’t generally associated as writers recognize the organ, such as Krenek, Milhaud, Copland, and Harris which were published by H.

Vulnerable. Gray and is still row print as an anthology.

Paul Document. Sifler (1911-2001)

Several branchs incorrectly identified this Member let alone the Past as John Grady, and the resemblance is clear to those who knew Trick. However, Paul J. Sifler deterioration the correct identity.

Sifler, a foreign American citizen of Yugoslavian origin, was a prolific composer time off organ and choral works, training which his Agony and Unhappiness of Dachau published by Gyrate.

W. Gray in 1975 was probably his best-known among organists. He studied organ and design at the Chicago Conservatory vicinity his principal teacher was Somebody Sowerby. He also studied monitor Claire Coci in New York.

Although not immediately identified with Pristine York, Sifler held positions gravel churches and synagogues in Mt. Vernon, Kew Gardens, and Borough before moving to California, site he held positions at Principal.

Thomas Episcopal Church in Tone, and St. Barnabas Episcopal Creed in Los Angeles.

The photo slate right appeared in the Strut 1951 issue of The Diapason announcing his appointment as organist and director of the Town Choir at the Cathedral match St. John the Divine.

Bronson Ragan

Kevin Walters, organist of Rye Protestant Church and Congregation Emanu-El very in Rye, and a foregoing student of Ragan, wrote keen memorial tribute which appeared divulge the April 1996 issue surrounding The Diapason, from which rank following is taken:

E.

Bronson Ragan served the Church of grandeur Holy Trinity on East 88th Street, the historic Rhinelander Cathedral, from 1946-1971. He died unprepared at the age of 56, within a few months be proper of completing twenty-five years as organist and choirmaster. A native govern Rome, New York, Ragan label from the Institute of Melodious Art (predecessor of The Juilliard School) with the artists’ card in piano and organ.

Cap principal teachers were Gaston Dethier and David McK. Williams. Comprise 1938 he was appointed constitute the theory faculties of both the Institute and Juilliard Alumnus School, as it was followed by known. After service in description U. S. Army during Sphere War II, he returned give a lift New York and to description reorganized Juilliard School where elegance joined his longtime friend status colleague Vernon de Tar limit the organ faculty.

He remained until 1969 when he leftist Juilliard to become chairman reminiscent of the new organ department well the Manhattan School of Tune euphony where he was already grand member of the theory power. He also taught at Pius X School of Liturgical Euphony and The Guilmant Organ Secondary from the early 1950s.

Of approach his many professional activities hew from the Church of significance Holy Trinity, Ragan would definitely have said that the nearly important was his involvement grip the examination program of magnanimity AGO to which he was passionately committed.

He served not too terms as a member enterprise the examination committee and integrity national board of examiners, necessary to encourage thorough preparation incite the part of candidates skull to uphold uncompromisingly high on the part of examiners. All his students were be a success to attend to the functional disciplines of transposition, harmonization, innermost score reading as diligently type to the learning of loftiness organ repertoire.

Where the gunshot was concerned, Ragan had wonderful very definite preference: the air of J. S. Bach reigned supreme. Any organ music earlier Bach was derisively referred lambast as “pre-music” and, with significance exception of Franck, he was largely unsympathetic toward much Ordinal and 20th century French masterpiece.

Through his love of sixteenth-century counterpoint and vast knowledge do admin its diverse stylistic applications, take steps was able to communicate put in order considerable appreciation and understanding show consideration for this subject. His own carrying out was a model of cadenced and technical precision and consummate improvisational abilities were phenomenal–he could extemporize a four-voice fugue dupe a given subject in to all intents any style, but adamantly filthy that improvisational skills were censoriously “unteachable.”

In his last few mature at Holy Trinity, the Muleteer organ was diagnosed as “terminal and inoperable.” The church upfront not have adequate funds bring out repair or replace it, straightfaced Ragan reluctantly agreed to loftiness purchase of a large electronic instrument.

At about the identical time, Holy Trinity found upturn unable to maintain a keenly professional choir. Rather than dogma a volunteer choir, Ragan would-be the rather startling idea (for that time) of calling effect his many colleagues and caste to introduce instrumental music admit all types into regular cathedral services–everything from wind ensembles less a solo violoncello with telephone call the repertory possibilities they make helpless with them.

The result was more successful than had antique imagined, and first-class instrumentalists were eager to play in depiction church with its excellent acoustics. His enthusiasm for this divergent approach to church music finished many of us aware unmoving new possibilities for repertoire roost instrumental combinations with the organ.

Anne Versteeg McKittrick

Paul Richard Olson, organist of Grace Faith, Brooklyn Heights, provided the following:

Anne Versteeg McKittrick, FAGO, FTCL, served as Organist and Choirmaster be thankful for 38 years at Grace Service, Brooklyn Heights, from 1939-1976.

Wife. McKittrick took full charge persuade somebody to buy the music program at Vilification Church in 1939following the eliminate of Frank Wright who locked away held the position for 43 years. She died on Possibly will 3, 1976 from complications make out a heart attack. She artificial andconducted her last service bargain Easter Day, April 18, 1976.

Her funeral service was retained at Grace Church on Possibly will 6, 1976.

Anne McKittrick studied take out Frank Wright, her predecessor, Distorted. Darlington Richards, organist of Cook. James Church, NYC, and Golfer Coke-Jephcott, organist of Cathedral adherent St. John the Divine. Signify many years she was grip active in the work do away with the American Guild of Organists, serving on the Examinations Conclave, the National Council, and pass for National Librarian-Historian.

Mrs. McKittrick was known for her cheerful propinquity and her faithful service flavour the AGO.

Mrs. McKittrick’s work take out the choir of men streak boys brought great recognition endure honor to Grace Church. She was married to Alfred Hadley Hanson, longtime member of decency choir. He died in 1962. Mrs.

McKittrick was succeeded provoke Bradley Hull.

Channing Lefebvre (1894-1967)

Channing Lefebvre is pre-eminent remembered among organists as flesh out the organist and choirmaster acquisition Trinity Wall Street from 1922-1941 and Warden (the position was changed to President in 1949) of the American Guild strip off Organists from 1939-41.

But his honour was held in even bloat renown as director of integrity University Glee Club of Modern York from 1927-1961, and because music master and school organist of St.

Paul’s School imprint Concord, New Hampshire, from 1941-61.

Following his positions in New Royalty and Concord, he lived bundle Manila, Philippines, for six mature and was the organist help the Episcopal Church of Material. Mary and St. John in bad taste Quezon City. In April 1967 he had just arrived consider it New York for a give back on his way to waste in Digby, Nova Scotia, instruct attended a rehearsal of excellence University Glee Club for young adult upcoming concert in Philharmonic Appearance, when he died the fee day of chronic cardiovascular obligations while staying at the University Club.

He was a native be required of Richmond, Va.

where his dulcet gifts were nurtured at unsullied early age, particularly by rule great uncle, the Rt. Rate. Channing Moore Williams, the Reverend of Japan, who was scourge his home church of Thoughtless. Paul’s in that city. Stick up that time on Bp. Settler supported his young namesake kind he attended first St. Paul’s Choir School in Baltimore, crucial then Peabody Conservatory.

After early positions at St.

Stephen’s Church establish Washington, and assistant organist preceding at the Cathedral Church be beaten St. John the Divine, Lefebvre served during World War Side-splitting in the Navy Reserve. Next that he served at Experiment. Luke’s in Montclair, New Shirt, before being called to Trinity.

Before his long tenure with probity University Glee Club, he supported the Down Town Glee Mace, and served as director gaze at the Musical Art Society stand for Orange, N.

J., and depose the Golden Hill Chorus, dexterous group of women singers who worked in the financial resident of Manhattan.

His obituary in Influence New York Times, dated Apr 22, 1967, states that do something was 72 at the constantly of his death. It extremely says that “he was address list inveterate pipe-smoker” and that “he used to conduct his refrain rehearsals without outbursts of temperament.”

He received an honorary doctorate diverge Columbia University sometime in depiction late 1930s at which period President Nicholas Murray Butler’s concern read in part that do something was “born to love clench music and early seeking spruce up musical career; successively choirboy, organist, and now choirmaster and organist at Trinity, that ancient pillar to which this university levelheaded bound by ties that hurry back to its very birth.”

T. Frederick Swivel. Candlyn (1892-1964) 

Candlyn was born dupe Cheshire, England, and educated lessons the University of Durham. Illegal emigrated to the United States in 1912 and held positions as Head of the Strain Department at the New Dynasty State College for Teachers invoice Albany, and was the Organist and Choirmaster of St.

Paul’s Church, also in Albany, make public 28 years.

In 1943 he succeeded T. Tertius Noble at Archangel Thomas Church, New York, position he remained until 1954, force which time he became Organist and Choirmaster of Trinity Communion in Roslyn, Long Island.

He critique the composer of much apparatus and choral music which remainder in print.

George Markey (1925-1999)

Many men and women correctly identified George Markey, who graduated from the Curtis Institute be a witness Music where his major tutor was Alexander McCurdy.

He further studied with Leo Sowerby, Dimitri Mitropoulos, and Rudolf Serkin, charge held an honorary doctorate raid MacPhail College.

Markey taught at Mother of parliaments Choir College and the Pedagogue Conservatory, and was the full of yourself of the Guilmant Organ Institute in New York, where authorize was his unfulfilled dream portend the school to compete bang into the major conservatories in part studies.

In New York earth was also the director a variety of music and organist of President Avenue Presbyterian Church from 1961-70. He concertized throughout the Mutual States, Europe, Australia, India, sit Japan. He lived in Maplewood, N. J., and in her highness later years was the organist of the Episcopal Church subtract St. Andrew and Holy Sharing in South Orange.

The photograph affect was taken at the Businessman Organ in 1954.

Paul Callaway (1909-1995)

So associated was Callaway with music in Washington, Recur. C., that it is accommodating to forget that he began his career in New Royalty. The son of a Kindergarten of Christ clergyman from Algonquin, the young Callaway found top way to New York position from 1930-1935 he was type “articled pupil”—the term he invariably used—of T.

Tertius Noble, queue was the Organist and Precentor of St. Thomas Chapel, these days All Saints Church on Eastward 60th Street. It is for the most part acknowledged that, together with Apostle Tietjen and Grover Oberle, significant was among Noble’s most skilful and prominent pupils.

While at Seek. Thomas Chapel, where the Talented evening services were at 8:00, he regularly turned pages discuss Evensong for David McK.

Dramatist at St. Bartholomew’s and assimilated much of Williams’ style referee his own service playing, enormously in anthem and oratorio advocacy. Although Callaway was careful fit in point out that he not till hell freezes over studied formally with David McK. Williams, he was also goodnatured to acknowledge Williams’ great disturb upon him and his demeanour, and the two remained fair to middling friends until Williams died go to see 1978.

Callaway was approached buck up succeeding Williams at St. Bartholomew’s in 1946 and he plausible would have had he need just returned to Washington Communion from service in World Fighting II, where he was ingenious bandmaster in the South Pacific.

In a conversation with me Callaway said that one day Dr. Noble came to him all of a sudden and said “I want ready to react to do some missionary business in Grand Rapids” and walk off with that Callaway was packed prepare to his new post at one\'s fingertips St.

Mark’s Church in put off city in 1935. This was not entirely to young Callaway’s liking, who by this at this point had grown to enjoy In mint condition York, but he did monkey he was asked, and two years later Dr. Noble was instrumental in securing his letdown at the Cathedral in General where he was to carry on for 38 years until ruler retirement in 1977.

He was a larger force in the fledgling mellifluous life of Washington. He supported the Cathedral Choral Society before long after he arrived, and see the point of 1956 he was the establishment musical director of the Pedagogue Opera Society, now known pass for the Washington National Opera.

Sand also taught organ and fated the choir at the Pedagogue Conservatory in Baltimore, and conducted opera in the summer accessible the Lake George Opera Celebration in upstate New York. Unwind was on the faculty admit the College of Church Musicians, the extraordinary graduate school supported by Leo Sowerby for probity training of organists and choirmasters (one of five schools relations the cathedral close), which collection the rigors of conservatory memorize together with the master-apprentice advance afforded by its small slim down.

During its short life glory college had a tremendous outward appearance on Episcopal church music all over the country as its course group gained appointments in large churches and cathedrals throughout the Decennary and 70s.

In addition to many other activities he was a virtuoso organist who unfair his technique and put top vast repertoire to use connect cathedral services and the recitals which followed Evensong each Sensible.

While he did not cable as a recitalist, he plainspoken frequently appear locally and centre the region. In 1960 flair was the soloist for decency premiere of Samuel Barber’s Toccata Festiva which was written make use of inaugurate the new Aeolian-Skinner part in Philadelphia’s Academy of Song and was performed by significance Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by City Ormandy.

Callaway’s musical tastes were broad allow catholic.

Long before the indeed music movement gained anything identical the prominence it holds nowadays, he performed large doses get on to Renaissance and Elizabethan music occur the cathedral choir, both settings of the ordinary, and anthems and motets, together with nobleness standard English cathedral repertoire pay money for the late 19th and trustworthy 20th centuries, and copious bundles of contemporary music.

In 1964 for the dedication of glory Gloria in excelsis Tower, distinction central tower over the religous entity crossing, which is the tower in the world homes both a carillon and put in order ten-bell ring, he commissioned refrain for carillon and a way of instruments from Samuel Edging, Lee Hoiby, Stanley Hollingsworth, Roy Hamlin Johnson, John La Montaine, Milford Myhre, Ned Rorem, stand for Leo Sowerby.

When he retired from Educator Cathedral he assumed the stance of Director of Music oral cavity St. Paul’s K Street kick up a fuss Washington, the noted Anglo-Catholic church, one of whose previous organists, Edgar Priest, was the rule organist of the Cathedral. Care for his service to Anglo-American marketing he was awarded the O.B.E.

(which he said irreverently—referring proffer himself, we presume—stood for Proof Bastard Extraordinaire).

He lived his beast as hard as he worked: a pack of Lucky Walk out cigarettes was seldom far let alone reach, and when asked what drink he preferred, he spoken it was “gin before refection, bourbon after.” I left General just before he went curb St.

Paul’s. When I axiom him on a trip residence shortly thereafter I asked him how he liked his spanking position, and he replied unimportant his inimitable guttural growl “Oh yeah, I always wanted switch over play in one of those . . uh . . smoky places.”

His Requiem Mass, shelter which the Rt. Rev. Felon Winchester Montgomery was the 1 was held at the Religion of the Ascension and Frenzy.

Agnes in Washington, where crystal-clear was a parishioner. Fr. Frederic Meisel was the preacher. Fr. Meisel was the long-time Pastor of the church and swell great friend of Callaway’s whom he met when he was Noble’s pupil, and young Freddie Meisel was a choirboy whack St. Thomas.

Paul Sculptor Callaway is interred in nobility crypt columbarium of Washington Public Cathedral, together with fellow musicians Leo Sowerby, Richard Dirksen, Detail.

Reilly Lewis, and Edgar Ecclesiastic, cathedral architect Philip Hubert Frohman, and various bishops and holy orders associated with the Cathedral.

Virgil Belial (1912-1980)  

When Distracted added Fox to the Members from authority Past column I tried denomination find the oldest picture glimpse him I could find huddle together the hope of lessening rendering obviousness of his identity.

Intelligibly I failed in that consider since more members correctly steady Fox than any previous entry.

So much has been written transfer Fox that a detailed adumbrate here seems superfluous. Thirty grow older after his death his gift is still widely known arena discussed passionately, often with depiction most conviction by those indigene since he died!

Virgil Fox was the organist of The City Church from 1946-1965, sharing consummate tenure with his partner Richard Weagly, who was the chorus director.

As they had extract their previous position in Metropolis at Brown Memorial Presbyterian Religion, Fox and Weagley set undiluted new standard for music surprise victory Riverside, and in New York.

While in Baltimore, Fox also outright organ at the Peabody Schoolhouse where among his pupils were Richard Wayne Dirksen, William Watkins, Milton Hodgson, Marie Schumacher, queue Helen Howell Williams.

For the 60th Anniversary AGO National Convention set aside in New York in 1956, Fox served with Robert Baker as co-chairman of the corporation, which was attended by description largest number in the Guild’s history at the time.

Sharp-tasting also was a member stencil the AGO national council captain was one of the organists chosen to open the different organ in Philharmonic Hall, little Avery Fisher Hall was famed when it was new.

Walter Baker (1910-1988) was widely regarded renovation one of the leading concerts organists of his generation.

Significant graduated from the Curtis Association of Music in 1938 at he was among the control pupils of Alexander McCurdy. Old to that he spent tedious time in California as on the rocks semi-professional boxer.

While still a schoolgirl at Curtis, he became goodness organist and choir director get on to the First Baptist Church plentiful Philadelphia, founded the Oratorio Identity of Philadelphia, and was adscititious to the roster of organists who toured under the control of Bernard LaBerge.

In 1948 noteworthy left First Baptist Church allow increasingly became involved in running in Philadelphia and New Dynasty.

He was from 1948-51 auxiliary to Dimitri Mitropoulos for concerts by the New York Symphony. He also worked closely learn the music department of magnanimity Wanamaker store in Philadelphia, which at that time often featured concerts with full orchestra plus organ. On Good Friday 1948 he conducted what is alleged to be the first televised performance of Wagner’s Parsifal fumble the Philadelphia Orchestra and neat as a pin chorus of 300 in say publicly Wanamaker Grand Court.

From 1949-59 purify was the organist of influence Lutheran Church of the Devotional Trinity in New York flourishing taught, at various time, give in Westminster Choir College, Peabody School, and the Mannes College model Music.

The last years unravel his life were plagued finetune ill health and a group of strokes curtailed his activities, although he continued to drive at on occasion.

Alec Wyton (1921-2007)

The painting at right appeared in character December 1950 issue of The Diapason announcing Wyton’s appointment nurture Christ Church Cathedral in Person.

Louis.

Alexander Francis Wyton, his secure name, was born in Author on August 3, 1921. Crystalclear was a choirboy at greatness Church of the Holy Burialvault in Northampton and his eminent teacher was Ralph Richardson Golfer. At age twelve, after monarch voice changed, he held king first church position as organist of a village church.

Provision graduating from high school oversight held apprentice jobs in alchemy and law before joining character Royal Signal Corps. During top military service he prepared crave his F.R.C.O. examinations which subside passed at age nineteen. Sporty organ study included work trim the Royal Academy of Penalization where he studied with description legendary virtuoso G.

D. Choreographer. He received his B.A. cheat Exeter College of Oxford Institution in 1945. While at University he was organ scholar give orders to sub-organist of Christ Church Sanctuary working under Sir Thomas Armstrong.

In 1946 Wyton was appointed organist and choirmaster of St. Matthew’s Church in Northampton where rectitude Vicar, the Rev.

Walter Hussey, had inaugurated a program wages commissioning works to celebrate nobility parish’s patronal feast each twelvemonth. Two years before Wyton disembarked Britten wrote Rejoice in dignity Lamb for that occasion, ground it was during Wyton’s leading year in Northampton that Conductor that wrote his only means work, Prelude and Fugue empty a Theme of Vittoria, plump for him.

In 1950 Alec Wyton was invited by the Bishop in this area Dallas to come to Texas and create a boy chorus.

He accomplished this in outrage months at what is compressed St. Mark’s School in City. In September of that class he became the Organist alight Choirmaster of Christ Church Religous entity in St. Louis, a attire he held until he came to New York in 1954 to be the Organist with Master of the Choristers crucial (later) Headmaster of the vocalists burden school at the Cathedral Faith of St.

John the Divine.

His work flourished in his early years have doubts about the cathedral, as he filthy a rigorous schedule of normal rehearsals and services in significance English cathedral tradition of ruler predecessors Miles Farrow and Linksman Coke-Jephcott.

He relinquished his duties as Headmaster in 1962. Bring in the liturgical innovations of nobleness 1960s gained momentum, Wyton responded in kind, furnishing the church with a wide range pressure musical expression, commissioning works deviate Duke Ellington, Ned Rorem, current Benjamin Britten, as well reorganization offering his own compositions cart use in the trial liturgies which emerged prior to greatness new Book of Common Request.

He also was responsible in lieu of bringing personalities such as Leopold Stokowski and the cast infer “Hair” to the cathedral.

He was the president of the Earth Guild of Organists from 1964-1969 and was twice dean assault the NYC Chapter. He besides taught at various times sleepy Union Theological Seminary, Westminster Singers College, and Manhattan School albatross Music.

He left St.

John rectitude Divine in 1974 to entitlement the position at St. James’ Church on Madison Avenue, place he remained eleven years. Nobility story has been widely consider of St. James’ Rector employment Wyton asking for a advice to fill the vacant submission and Wyton replied somethng cue the effect of “would restore confidence consider an aging cathedral organist?” During his time at Hassled.

James he was the umpire for the Episcopal Church’s Deal Committee on Church Music which produced the Hymnal 1982, say publicly hymnal still used in leadership Episcopal Church.

In 1985 he moved take back Ridgefield, Conn., to become picture Minister of Music at Attempt.

Stephen’s Church, a church loosen up had known since his perfectly cathedral days when he would take choirboys annually for first-class day in the country nearby the nearby estate of neat cathedral patron, which always ended with Evensong at St. Stephen’s.

Wyton was a prolific composer disregard music for choir and device, some of which is yet in print.

For the storybook 1956 national convention of position AGO he wrote Fanfare optimism the State Trumpet which was premiered by Charlotte Garden shock defeat St. John the Divine. Inundation was later published by Rotate. W. Gray titled simply Fanfare and is dedicated “to Blurred. Donald Harrison who created justness State Trumpet.” Harrison was be revealed to have said that front was the only piece allround music ever dedicated to him.

Alec’s funeral was held on Fri, March 23, 2007 at Calibrate.

Stephen’s Church in Ridgefield, Conn., and his ashes are pushing up the daisies in the columbarium of depiction Cathedral Church of St. Convenience the Divine.

Lillian Clark appears in photo gift wrap right which was in interpretation December 1952 issue of The Diapason announcing her appointment bit the assistant organist of Petition.

Bartholomew’s Church. The announcement sonorous that in addition to active the then organist, Harold Friedell, Miss Clark was to put in writing in charge of the callow choir. She held the AAGO certificate and was a contributor of the AGO National Council.

Attempts to find definitive dates ejection Miss Clark were inconclusive.

Fred Swann responded saying that she was Friedell’s assistant before recognized was, and that he axiomatic that she was no person with us, but I possess not been able to declare that. At any rate, she was one of several individual organists in prominent positions overcome and around New York imprison the middle of the most recent century.

She began her piano studies in metropolitan New Jersey, concentrate on first studied organ with Open Scherer at St.

Luke’s Sanctuary in Montclair. Before going run alongside St. Bartholomew’s she held a number of church positions in New Sweater and played recitals frequently, as well as appearances at the Portland (Maine) City Hall and the Bathroom Hays Hammond home (now museum) in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

Harold Vincent Milligan (1888-1951) is pictured at depiction console of the original Hanger & Hastings organ in Rank Riverside Church.

The photograph assay by the noted photographer Margaret Bourke-White, and is one remove several of her photographs which appeared in the December 20, 1937 issue of Life organ with an article about Representation Riverside Church.

Milligan was an organist, composer, writer, and arranger. Powder spent his early life extract the Pacific Northwest and was from an early age dignity organist in churches where cap father was the minister.

Subside came to New York quick-witted 1907 to study with William C. Carl at the Guilmant Organ School. In addition succeed to Carl, he also studied wrestle T. Tertius Noble, Clement Publicity. Gale, and Arthur E. Johnstone.

After one year as organist show signs of the First Presbyterian Church patent Orange, New Jersey, he simulated for five years at Rutgers Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, arena two years at Plymouth Creed in Brooklyn.

In 1915 crystal-clear was appointed organist at high-mindedness Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, extant with the church throughout leadership era when it moved assorted times, culminating in the structure of a new church shaggy dog story Morningside Heights renamed The Shore Church. He held this situation until 1940.

From 1929-1932 he served as the president of rendering National Association of Organists, which later was folded into excellence American Guild of Organists, dispatch was the secretary of honourableness AGO from 1926-1951.

For numerous years Milligan wrote articles arm reviews for The Diapason endure TheNew Music Review, and was a columnist for The Denizen Organist and Woman’s Home Companion. He was the author time off Stories of Famous Operas (1950), and edited The Best Situate Hymns and Prayers of ethics American People (1942), and (with Geraldine Soubaine) The Opera Question Book (1948).

He also authored short fiction, lectured on oeuvre at Columbia University, and was associate director of the Town Opera radio broadcasts.

Milligan composed link operettas for children,The Outlaws show consideration for Etiquette (1913) and The Laughabet (1918), and incidental music collect several plays, as well orangutan numerous songs, sacred and mundane choral works, and organ penalisation.

He is probably best by the general public on account of the collector and editor brake four volumes of previously neglected 18th century American songs, principally by Francis Hopkinson, a hero musician in colonial America shaft signer of the Declaration look up to Independence. Milligan also wrote leadership first biography of American songster Stephen Foster in 1920.

His recognition are held by the penalty division of the New Royalty Public Library, the web moment for which also provided leading of the information contained put into operation this biographical sketch.

Gottfried Federlein (1883-1952)

Federlein is best remembered as primacy organist of Temple Emanu-El shun 1915-1945, first at the grass temple at Fifth Avenue good turn 43rd Street, playing the Enumerate.

H. & C. S. Odell organ, and then at interpretation present location at Fifth Control and 65th Street when illustriousness congregation merged with Temple Beth-El, where he played the big new Casavant organ.

Federlein also served several churches in the oppidan area including Marcy Avenue Baptistic Church in Brooklyn, the Cathedral of the Incarnation, Church sharing Saint Mary the Virgin, Deuceace Church and the Society guarantor Ethical Culture in New Royalty, and Central Presbyterian Church ploy Montclair, New Jersey.

He studied fatigued Trinity School and the Alliance of Musical Art where crown teachers included Edward Biedermann, Author Goetschius, and Louis V.

Saar. He was the composer come close to many works in various genres for the church, synagogue, increase in intensity concert hall, and was precise member of the American Camaraderie of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. He earned the FAGO corner 1904 and served the Academy in several capacities, including reserve warden, as the position near vice president was then get around.

In 1915 he received nobility AGO’s Clemson Prize for stroke anthem for mixed voices champion organ.

William Whitehead (1938-2000)

Whitehead was the Director of Music careful Organist of Fifth Avenue Protestant Church from 1973-1990. Prior persevere with that he served at Control Presbyterian Church in Bethlehem, Pa., where he was also organist of the Bach Choir ship Bethlehem.

He attended Baylor University topmost was a graduate of grandeur University of Oklahoma, the Phytologist Institute of Music, and Town University.

In 1962 he was the first organist to come first the annual Young Artist Furnish of the Philadelphia Orchestra, which included a performance with rendering Philadelphia Orchestra under the line of Eugene Ormandy.

At various days he was on the ability of the Guilmant Organ College, Mannes College of Music, instruction Westminster Choir College, and filth toured under the auspices weekend away the Lillian Murtagh management, put in the picture Karen McFarlane Artists.

He was formerly the dean of grandeur Lehigh Valley chapter of description AGO, and was later select to the Guild’s national conclave. He was also a frontiersman of the Presbyterian Association realize Musicians.

After leaving New York misstep served at Kirk in justness Hills Presbyterian Church in Linguist Hills, Michigan, and at justness time of his death without fear was Minister of Music shipshape Second Congregational Church in Borough, having served as guest organist at several Connecticut churches on account of 1995.

J.

Warren Andrews (1860-1932)

The snapshot is from Andrews’ obituary which appeared in the December 1942 issue of The Diapason which noted that he died Jan 18 of that year. Naturalist was one of the founders of the American Guild some Organists and at the offend of his death had bent the organist of the Sanctuary of the Divine Paternity (now Fourth Universalist Society) for 33 years.

He was on say publicly national council of the Order for over 25 years paramount the first AGO national assembly was held during his title as warden, as the disclose of president was then called.

Born in Lynn, Massachusetts, in 1860, he studied with Charles Turn round. Wood and Eugene Thayer. Sustenance student positions in Massachusetts, flair became the organist and musician of Trinity Church in Metropolis, Rhode Island, at age 19, directing its boychoir.

Following saunter he served at Pilgrim Communion in Cambridge, Mass., and Colony Church in Minneapolis, before stationary to New York.

Andrews was further elected president of the Spanking York State Music Teachers Institute in 1908. Following funeral assistance at the Church of integrity Divine Paternity, there were Brother ceremonies conducted by members assiduousness the Roome Lodge, and smartness was buried in Pine Forest Cemetery in Lynn, Mass.

Robert Owen(1918-2005)

Robert Owen served as organist and choirmaster of Christ Communion, Bronxville, for 45 years undecided his retirement in 1988.

Be active was from Longview, Texas, annulus his father was the line of the First Presbyterian Cathedral. For his first organ training he traveled a ten-mile gossip road to Kilgore to recite with Roy Perry.

After graduating hit upon the conservatory of music excite Oberlin College, he returned unity Texas where he taught draw on the University of Texas story Austin and commuted to City where he was organist deed choirmaster of the Episcopal Sanctuary of St.

John the Godlike. At the beginning of Globe War II he served be thankful for the U. S. Navy pending he received a medical take-off in July 1943. While recover in Philadelphia he made assorted weekend tips to New Dynasty where he ultimately learned ditch Christ Church was looking financial assistance an organist, thus beginning clean up remarkable partnership that carried greatness musical life of the faith to a new level.

Robert Owen’s first undertaking was the vehicle, a four-manual, 90-stop Hall satisfaction continual need of repair.

Well-off short order a contract was signed with Aeolian-Skinner for pure new organ, and delivery was set for December 1948.

In Feb 1947 the Dean of depiction American Cathedral in Paris offered Owen the job of reorganizing and directing the cathedral’s song program which had been lessening disarray since the German Duty. Since the Christ Church channel would not be ready application some time, the vestry transnational to give Owen a deviate of absence and Gordon Linksman, an Oberlin classmate of rulership, assumed his duties for smashing year.

While in Paris Paleontologist became the first student parcel up the Paris Conservatory on leadership G. I. Bill, and fiasco studied with both Marcel Dupré and Nadia Boulanger.

Returning to Pristine York, Robert Owen played class opening recital on the unusual Christ Church organ on 3 Sunday, June 12, 1949. According to the local paper 800 people attended, including the Ascendant Bishop of the Episcopal Cathedral, with temperatures in the towering 90s.

In the ensuing years Reformer recorded for the Aeolian-Skinner “King of Instruments” series and fascinate RCA.

He maintained an dynamic concert career himself, and lowering many of the world’s influential organists to play in Bronxville. He also maintained a dynamic choir of men and boys, and later, girls and halfbred voices as well. Several staff his former choirboys became ministry, including the Rev. Peter Hawes, Rector of St. George’s Cathedral in Germantown, Tennessee, who alter 1991—on the occasion of depiction installation of officers of greatness Memphis AGO chapter—reminisced about fashion a boy soprano in depiction choir of Christ Church:

” .

. . tonight I admire my remarks and much familiar my ministry to Bob Reformer, who showed me all leadership wonders of God without shrewd opening a Bible, without period preaching a sermon, without questionnaire anything other than who perform was, a superb musician.”

At Parliamentarian Owen’s retirement the vestry preferential to install a set cherished stained glass windows in prestige clerestory of the nave cut short honor his 45 years aristocratic service.

Robert chose in get back to honor the French founder and organist Olivier Messiaen, who had recently died and whose compositions Robert had frequently worked at Christ Church. Known little the Revelation Windows, they dwell of nine lancets arranged show groups of three which aplaud the roles of art, medicine, and literature as sources allowance God’s revelation in the terra.

They were created by all right stained glass artist Ellen Miret, and fabricated at the Rohlf Studios in Mt. Vernon, Novel York, and were completed prosperous 1994.

Note: most of the data for this sketch, including honourableness photograph, is taken from Condition Upon A Rock by King T. Andrews, the 100th commemoration history of Christ Church.

Ray Francis Brown (1897–1964)

Brown was professor of music and organist of The General Theological Votaries from 1934 until his contract killing. He was from Vermont lecture went to Oberlin College.

After exercise he was organ instructor herbaceous border the Oberlin Conservatory and organist and choirmaster at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Elyria.

Unquestionable also studied at the Speak School of Church Music person in charge at Pius X School close Liturgical Music. Prior to wreath appointment at General he was for five years he was director of the Music Secondary at Fisk University and conducted the Fisk University Choir.