November 1997

Profile: McDonogh School

The McDonogh School is an independent, endowed,
non-denominational, college preparatory school for boys and girls. The spacious
775-acre country campus with colonial and contemporary brick buildings lies to
the northwest of Baltimore, Maryland. Established in 1873, John McDonogh had
provided for this school for promising boys who would not otherwise have been
able to obtain an education. Paying students were admitted for the first time
in 1922, and in 1975 the school became coeducational.

Gladys Farmer Brodt, co-founder of Brodt Music Co., died in Charlotte, NC, on September 23. She started Brodt Music Co. in 1934 with her late husband Cecil Brodt, and continued the business until her retirement in 1992, when it was purchased by Lee Northcutt. Born in Marshall, NC, Mrs. Brodt was a member of Myers Park Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, for over 50 years. She was nationally known through her membership in the American Bandmaster Association, and was a long-time supporter of the Charlotte Symphony.

The Berghaus Organ Company, Bellwood, IL, has recently completed a new 28-rank organ for St.
Mary's of the Hills, Rochester Hills, MI. It is completely free standing, having
no casework except for the red oak Swell enclosure in the center of the
instrument. The three-manual and pedal console is movable with multiplex
circuitry enabling a very small cable, and is fully MIDI compatible with sound
modules and a sequencer built into the console. Manual keys have maple naturals
and blackwood sharps.

In recognition of the tercentenary year, eight books have been published between 1994 and 1996; seven of these will be discussed in these pages in two installments.3 The books in the first group, general in outlook, present the historical background of Purcell's time, provide a picture of his life from scattered sources, and establish a credible context for his compositional genres.

Part 1 of this interview appeared in the October issue of
The Diapason, pp. 16-21.

Q: I just wonder how you get all your energy.

A: Well, maybe it's because I'm from Oklahoma. I do exercise
a lot. I walk quite a bit and I used to bike a lot, too.

Q: Does everybody in Oklahoma have energy like that?

A: It depends on the genes. They're always friendly, I know
that.

Q: What suggestions do you have for young organists?

Books about the phenomenon known as the 20th-century
harpsichord revival continue to appear. Among recent publications, none is so
engrossing as Violet: The Life and Loves of Violet Gordon Woodhouse, written by
her great-niece Jessica Douglas-Home (The Harvil Press, 84 Thornhill Road,
London N1 1RD; £20).