The University of Alabama Organ Department hosted the 25th anniversary of the Holtkamp concert hall organ, opus 2005, and alumni reunion on October 12, 2013. The organ in the concert hall of the Frank Moody Music Building was created by the Holtkamp Organ Company of Cleveland, Ohio, at the instigation of Warren Hutton, then professor of music and university organist. The instrument was funded entirely by private donors. There are 86 ranks of pipes and over 5,000 pipes in the instrument. Key action is mechanical, and the stop action is electric. There is mechanical intermanual coupling, but also additional electrical coupling for Swell to Great, Positiv to Great, and Swell to Positiv. These three special couplers are designated with an “E,” so there is a “Swell to Great E” coupler as well as the usual “Swell to Great” coupler. Walter Holtkamp, Jr., the builder, described the physical organization as follows: “The Solo, an enclosed division, is located directly above the console. Above the Solo is the Great and at the top of the central section we placed the Swell. Flanking the Great and Solo is the Pedal. Above the Pedal, on each side, is the Positiv.”
The 25th-anniversary events commenced with a University of Alabama alumni masterclass coached by Mary Lou Nowicki, Class of 1957. Dr. Nowicki offered valuable expertise and insight into the works performed by eight of the eleven current students in the UA organ studio of Dr. Faythe Freese, professor of organ. The students performed the following works: J.S. Bach: Sei gegrüsset, Jesu gütig, BWV 768; Prelude in D Major, BWV 532; Prelude in A Minor, BWV 543; Toccata in D Minor (Dorian), BWV 538; Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten, BWV 642; Guilmant: Sonata in C Minor, op. 56, Preludio; Dupré: Variations on a Noël; and Vierne: Symphony VI, Scherzo.
Following the gourmet luncheon, Chris Holtkamp, president, Holtkamp Organ Company, Class of 1987, lectured on the installation and tonal philosophy of the Holtkamp organ, opus 2005.
An Alumni Decade Recital took place at 3 pm with the following alumni performers: Mary Williamson, Class of 1969; David Buice, Class of 1976; Jonathan Biggers, Class of 1982, 1984; Jeff McLelland, Class of 1992; and Donald Given, Class of 2009. Works performed were: L. Couperin: Chaconne in G Minor; J.S. Bach: Kommst du nun, Jesu, vom Himmel herunter, BWV 650, Prelude and Fugue in B Minor, BWV 544; Frescobaldi: Toccata nona from Toccata e partite, Book I, 1615/37; Buxtehude: Praeludium in G Minor, BuxWV 149; Reger: Phantasie über den Choral ‘Halleluja! Gott zu loben, bleibe meine Seelenfreud,’ op. 52, no. 3; and Franck: Choral in B Minor.
