Pasi Pipe Organ Builders, Inc., Roy, Washington; Saint George’s Episcopal Church, Arlington, Virginia
When all the stars line up as they have for this project, a happy outcome is almost a sure thing. Right from the beginning, several years ago, when I was invited to submit a proposal for a new organ at Saint George’s Episcopal Church in Arlington, Virginia, all the different components of a good chance were there.
Jean Langlais (1907–1991) was one of the best-known organist-composers of the twentieth century. He rightfully holds a place of prominence in the French school alongside his contemporary and friend, Olivier Messiaen. Langlais, who was blind from the age of two, studied organ first under André Marchal at the Institut National des Jeunes Aveugles (National Institute for Blind Children). Later, in the early 1930s, he studied organ with Marcel Dupré and composition with Paul Dukas at the Paris Conservatory.
It is one thing to love a pipe organ, but to be buried under one is another thing. Yet that is exactly what Josef Anton Bruckner did. He designed his own sarcophagus and had himself placed under his favorite organ in Saint Florian Monastery in Austria.
The National Association for Olmsted Parks announces results of its “Inspired by Olmsted,” a carillon composition competition designed to celebrate the legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted. The competition is part of the association’s “Olmsted 200” celebration of the 200th birthday of Olmsted in 2022. First prize is awarded to Geert D’hollander, Winter Haven, Florida, for Four Miniatures (“Spring Flowers at the U.S.
Mary Louise Simmons, 91, died in Evanston, Illinois, on January 30. She was born Mary Louise Day in Centralia, Illinois, on February 22, 1930. As a young child she was discovered to have perfect pitch and began taking piano lessons at the age of six when the family moved to Carbondale, Illinois.
