Frederick Hohman is featured on a new recording, Methuen Century (double-disc DVD and CD package), on the Pro Organo label (CD 7324).
The recording celebrates the 100th anniversary of the opening of Serlo Hall (now known as Methuen Memorial Music Hall) and its world-renowned organ, the first pipe organ in an American concert hall.
Hohman has appeared six times in concert at Methuen over the past 20 years. Methuen Memorial Music Hall served as one of 24 locations visited in Hohman’s Midnight Pipes TV/video series (1996).
The new 67-minute main DVD program offers a history of the hall, as well as a tour explaining the primary functions of the Methuen organ console. A 22-minute tour of the entire Methuen organ is led by Andover Organ Company technician Matthew Bellocchio.
Also in the video, Hohman performs 25 minutes of works by Widor, Vierne, Grieg, and Bach. In the “Extras” section of the DVD, there are 17 minutes of video from Hohman’s September 1996 Methuen concert, digitally remastered for this DVD, and a menu-driven, pictorial specification of the Methuen Memorial Music Hall organ.
The DVD also includes a 16-page booklet and a 79-minute CD, with a different music program from the video (Franck, Sowerby, Dupré, Mozart, Schumann, Handel, Brahms).
The CD is a remastered version of Hohman’s CD Forever Methuen (previously issued as Pro Organo CD 7066) plus one additional track not on the original CD. For information:
ProOrgano.com and enter 7234 in the “Search” box.
July 26, 2010
THE DIAPASON
