William Watkins plays the Healey Willan "Introduction, Passacaglia, and Fugue" on the 1949 Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ, Opus 1173, at First Presbyterian Church, Kilgore, Texas, recorded in April, 1956 the same week as the landmark Aeolian-Skinner King of Insturments Volume X, "Music of the Church," album was recorded. William Watkins gave one of the first recitals on Opus 1173. The Willan Introduction, Passacaglia, and Fugue was on his program, and it has remained associated with this organ and Watkins, who recorded it in Kilgore twice (both recordings are available from www.vermontorganacademy.com). Vintage photos in this video are of William Watkins, G. Donald Harrison, First Presbyterian Church, Kilgore, Texas, Aeolian-Skinner Opus 1173, and Roy Perry, who designed and did the tonal finishing on Opus 1173 and who was organist at First Presbyterian Church, Kilgore, Texas for forty years. For information on this and other recordings of Aeolian-Skinner pipe organs, visit www.vermontorganacademy.com. For written information associated with this and other East Texas Aeolian-Skinners designed and finished by Roy Perry, visit www.easttexaspipeorganfestival.com
I so appreciate you fellows and your work through the academy. The East Texas Festival was fabulous. It certainly reflected all of your hard work and excellent planning. Thank you so very much! And thank you for posting this wonderful rendition on a marvelous organ.
AS909c 1 month ago