December 2000

Cover

Our Savior's Lutheran Church,
Rockford, Illinois

Buzard Pipe Organ Builders,
Champaign, Illinois

Opus 23

Builder's statement

Mark Stevenson

British harpsichord maker Mark Stevenson died of cancer on
July 4, 2000, aged 56. Born in Cambridge in 1943, Stevenson studied art history
at St. John's College. By age 30 he was working full-time as a builder of
harpsichords. More than 200 of his finely-crafted, historically-inspired
instruments are in use in many countries throughout the world.

One of the delightful aspects of being a concert organist is
that there are tremendous opportunities to visit various parts of the world and
to savor the local culture. But one either loves living out of a suitcase or
hates it and, fortunately, I adore it!

“There is nothing remarkable about it.
style="mso-spacerun: yes">  All one has to do is hit the right
notes at the right time, and the instrument plays itself.”
—Bach’s reply to compliments on his organ playing (The New Bach
Reader [New York: Norton, c.1998], p. 412, #404).

Karen McFarlane has announced her retirement from
twenty-four years of active concert management, effective January 1 of this
coming year. Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc., which in 2001 will mark its 80th
anniversary, was originally founded by Bernard R. LaBerge. In 1962, his
long-time secretary, Lilian Murtagh, took over the agency, which was
transferred to Ms. McFarlane shortly before Mrs. Murtagh's death in 1976.