Christmas Pipe Organ Fantasy-St Mary's, Dayton, Ohio Part 1

This is part one of a two-part video taken during the December, 1996, pipe organ re-dedication concert - played by Frederick Hohman - of a 1920s vintage Austin pipe organ at St. Mary's Church in Dayton, Ohio. The organ was restored through combined efforts of professional guidance by Peebles & Herzog of Columbus, Ohio and the labor of the people of St. Mary's Church.

The work being played is by Gaston Dethier, who once taught organ at the Juilliard School in New York City. This work, entitled "Christmas - Fantasy on Adeste Fideles" was composed about 1900 and was published in 1902.

This 15-minute virtuoso organ work is a virtuoso piece that starts with a free fantasia, followed by a pastorale and then several variations, where textures and organ stop colors are contrasted.

The late organ virtuoso Virgil Fox made this piece familiar to concert goers beginning in the 1940s, however, in the recorded examples we have of this piece as played by Virgil Fox, extensive cuts were made, including both the simple pastorale sections as well as some of the most difficult variations. Gaston Dethier was also not always credited as the composer of the piece in Fox's programs and recordings. The piece as seen in this 2-part video is played complete as published about 1902.

This video shows concert footage, as well as many scenes - taken during the daylight hours just prior to the evening concert - showing the vintage stained glass windows and other religious art and statues that adorned the sanctuary at St. Mary's in December of 1996.

Frederick Hohman has recorded Dethier's "Christmas" on a CD audio recording on an organ in San Francisco, and was released as Pro Organo CD 7040 entitled "A Saint-Saens Sort of Christmas." This CD is presently sold out and out of print. This performance of Dethier's "Christmas" was included in episode #11 of the original Midnight Pipes television series, which was produced and aired between 1996 and 2000.

For information about seasonal pipe organ concerts by Frederick Hohman, contact fred@zarex.com or visit www.frederickhohman.net

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Christmas
• pipe
• organ
• Adeste
• Fideles
• Come
• All
• Ye
• Faithful
• Dethier
• Hohman
• Classical
• Religious
• Art
• St
• Mary's
• Dayton
• Ohio

[Fozzymaple]

kinda interesting looking for an Austin Console, doesn't quite look like Austin.

[midnightpipes]

Thanks for writing. Good observation. The pedal pistons (toestuds) and swell shoes are Austin for certain. Stop tablets appear to be Austin, too. But I believe the console was refashioned during the 1995 restoration, hence the different look. Peebles-Herzog of Columbus, Ohio directed the fine rebuilding of this 1920s organ.

[jbutler303]

@Fozzymaple The manuals are English, made of wood - much nicer to the touch than plastic. The swell-shade indicators are now LED. The stop tabs are Austin.

[somesortanaughty]

phew..the kinda stuff one would miss out on if not subbing someone elses channel! Not that this has anything to do with religion for me (being agnostic)..but hey, incredible musician are incredible musicians. Just imagine the kind TRAINING and commitment that has gone into learning to play such an instrument! Wooouuuhh! to blow your mind!

[TheCLPVideos]

The Peebles-Herzog Company out of Columbus, OH has several gifted techniticians on staff who do a fine job of maintaining older pipe organ instruments. Their work is first rate, and their pricing is very fair for the quality that they deliver. The care and tuning of older pipe organs is a science, and these folks have mastered that science.

[Grasshoppa065]

that looks complicated. And I thought drums were hard, he's also playing with his feet!?

[issueagent]

December 1996 :D My first Xmas...

[mystifier78]

what kind of action is this organ, is it tracker, pneumatic, or electric

[codeman2008]

Get a load of that footwork. Once again, Mr. Hohman impresses me with great music, which, for some reason, I've never heard before! :D

[jpwsml]

It's all in its original configuration pipe wise. The console is pretty much the biggest change. They still have the original console at the front of the church it's in pretty rough shape.

[wurlitzer3]

This organ sounds so good, not wooley at all. If this is all original it should encourage more rescues of significant instruments of the '20s and earlier.

[Fozzymaple]

I think Peebles-Herzog may have changed the manuals (or at least the coverings) and may have changed the indicators (are those indicators between the top manual and the tablets?). But the console shell is definitely 1920s Austin.