June 2002

Vernon Gotwals, Jr., 77, of Stonington, Maine, died on January 12, 2002, at the Blue Hill Hospital. Born in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, on November 12, 1924, he graduated from Friends' Central School, Philadelphia, in 1941, and then attended Drew University. His undergraduate education was interrupted by service in the U.S. Army in the South Pacific during World War II. Following the war, he finished his bachelor's degree at Amherst College, graduating in 1947, and continued his education at Princeton University, obtaining an MFA in Music in 1951.

A harpsichord miscellany: Dutilleux, Violet Gordon Woodhouse, Handel House, Chopin, and Early Music

A harpsichord miscellany: Dutilleux, Violet Gordon Woodhouse, Handel House, Chopin, and Early Music

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Buzard Pipe Organ Builders, Champaign,Illinois

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Denver, Colorado

From the builder

The Stevens Piano and Organ Company of Marietta, Ohio occupies only a small niche in the pantheon of American organbuilders. Nonetheless, it illustrates many of the characteristics of the industry and the instrument during the turn of the twentieth century including entrepreneurial response to growing markets, capital investment, product innovation and labor mobility. They form a fascinating chapter in the glorious history of the King of Instruments in America.

In March 2000 two of my organ-builder friends independently sent me notice of the availability of a small English pipe organ, suggesting that it might be suitable for use in the chapel of Central Presbyterian Church. At the time, the organ was located in a private home near Grants Pass, Oregon. I contacted my friend there, Forrest Radley, an organ buff in the process of restoring an historic theatre organ at his home. Forrest kindly visited the organ in question and reported back. Over a period of many months Forrest continued to serve as a valuable link in this project.

A computer makes keeping shop records easy

I can say from personal experience that it is possible to
voice and regulate organ pipes without keeping any notes or data
whatsoever--voicing by the "seat of the pants," hoping that you will
stumble upon a solution to the particular problems of that day. Unfortunately,
this method leads to a kind of mental blackout when one tries to analyze just
what it is that one has done or is trying to do.

The Augustana Arts - Reuter Undergraduate Organ Competition took place the first week of March at Augustana Lutheran Church, Denver, Colorado. This new national competition is unique in three ways: it is open only to undergraduates; the competitors are required to perform a concerto; and
it includes hymn playing. Now in its second year, the competition is a joint
effort by the Reuter Organ Company of Lawrence, Kansas, and Augustana Arts, a
performing arts series in Denver, Colorado, based at Augustana Lutheran Church.