Posted on Tuesday, June 12, 2001
¾¨Ó㴫ý officially opened the ¾¨Ó㴫ý Historic Organ Program in Capple, Germany, this summer.
"I'm very excited about this program," said Dr. Elizabeth Harrison, assistant professor of music, college organist, and founder of this program. "There's a growing trend toward the historical style of playing, and playing original pipe organs made by Arp Schnitger, one of the most influential organ builders in the world, should give our students a unique opportunity to learn this."
¾¨Ó㴫ý students will now have the opportunity to stay in an apartment leased by Harrison for a minimal fee, and study on the historic organs of the region. The ¾¨Ó㴫ý Historic Organ Program not only includes practice time on the Schnitger organ in Capple, but playing time on organs in Altenbruch's St. Nicholas Church, Dedesdor's St. Lawrence Church, Grasberg's Evangelical Lutheran Church, and several others by appointment. All of these churches are within easy driving distance of the apartment.
"One of the advantages of these historical organs is that students can learn from the instrument," said Harrison. "A player's touch and technique are immensely more important than on electric-action instruments because of the direct mechanics connecting the key, and thus the finger, with the pipe valve. Players can determine whether the valves close quickly or slowly and thereby influence the sound they are producing."
"It is my hope that many organ students at ¾¨Ó㴫ý will participate in this program," continued Harrison. "To encourage this, I want to give a price break to our students, and allow ¾¨Ó㴫ý students to have first choice in dates."
Harrison hopes to expand this program to include several 19th century organs located in Maine and some historic-style organs in Tennessee.
"Schnitger's organs have served as the models for the best historical-style organs built during the last 25 years," said Harrison. "Examples of this include the Becherath organ at St. Paul's Cathedral in Pittsburgh, the Fritts organ at Arizona State University, and the Brombaugh organs at Southern Adventist University near Chattanooga, Tennessee."
For more information on this program, contact Harrison at (724) 946-7024 or e-mail harrisea@westminster.edu.
