A cathedral organist.

An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists. In addition, an organist may accompany congregational hymn-singing and play liturgical music.

Classical and church organists[link]

The majority of organists, amateur and professional, are principally involved in church music. The pipe organ still plays a large part in the leading of traditional western Christian worship, with roles including the accompaniment of hymns, choral anthems and other parts of the worship. The degree to which the organ is involved varies depending on the church and denomination. It also may depend on the standard of the organist. In more provincial settings, organists may be more accurately described as pianists obliged to play the organ for worship services; nevertheless, some churches are fortunate to have trained organists capable of more elaborate "voluntaries" (the solo music before, during and after the service) and improvisation. As most churches can afford to employ only one musician, the organist is usually also responsible for directing and rehearsing the choir(s). In the twentieth-century, many pipe organs were replaced by pipe-less electronic and digital organs, often as a low-cost alternative to rebuilding older pipe organs.

In the English cathedral tradition the organist is now generally called "Director of Music", although his or her function is mainly in the training and direction of music rather than actual playing; there will generally be one or more assistant or sub-organists who play for most services and some recitals. Sometimes the organist will be assisted by an organ scholar. The post of organist at most of the great cathedrals includes recital work and choral training. Musicians such as Malcolm Archer, John Scott and Barry Rose are accomplished organists as well as choral directors. Another function of an organist is often as teacher to future players. Few organists hold historically special positions such as Carol Williams who is the Civic Organist of San Diego, the last true Civic Organist position still active in this the USA.^[1]

A concert organist

Since the strengths and weaknesses of the organ are difficult to understand without a good deal of playing experience, most music composed for organ has been written by organists. Since the majority of pre-twentieth-century organs were installed in churches, classical organ literature was almost exclusively written for liturgical use.

Many composers, therefore, are equally known for their performance talents, some historical examples being Johann Sebastian Bach, Dieterich Buxtehude, Felix Mendelssohn, Franz Liszt, César Franck, Charles-Marie Widor, Louis Vierne, and Marcel Dupré. In Europe, the historical importance of churches as employers of musicians meant that many composers who now are very seldom remembered for their association with the organ were, nevertheless, engaged as professional organists: for example, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Camille Saint-Saëns, and Edward Elgar.

For a list of organists, see List of organists.

Ancient titles still in current use[link]

In English churches, chapels and cathedrals the Organist may also be known as Master of the Choristers, Choirmaster or Director of Music; however, there are some ancient titles still in current usage:

• Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Newark-on-Trent - Master of the Song School
• Magdalen College, Oxford - Organist and Informator Choristarum
• Southwell Minster - Rector Chori
• York Minster - Master of the Music
• Westminster Cathedral - Master of Music
• Chichester Cathedral - Organist & Master of the Choristers
• Armagh Cathedral - Organist & Master of the Boys

Theater organists[link]

The theater organ has a separate repertoire and playing style, and in its heyday (during the first third of the twentieth century) there were considerable numbers of organists employed. A few carry on the tradition today.

Organists in popular music[link]

There are many organists employed in the production of popular and jazz music. In the United States most of them play the Hammond organ, and many are classically trained, often in piano rather than organ. In England and Japan, one of the most popular series of instruments is the Yamaha Electone; while Electones of recent decades are more properly characterized as digital synthesizers rather than as organs, the player interface, and the skills and coordination required to play, mean that it is effectively an organ in these respects.

Organizations [link]

The Royal College of Organists (RCO) in the United Kingdom is the oldest institution of organ studies. From that sprang the American Guild of Organists (AGO), the Gesellschaft der Orgelfreunde e.V. (GdO) in Germany, and the Royal Canadian College of Organists (RCCO). All these institutions are oriented toward the organist involved in classical music rather than popular music. There is also the American Theatre Organ Society.

See also [link]

• List of organists
• List of jazz organists
• Organ recital
• Organ shoes

References [link]

1. ^ Jennifer Medina, "Year That Began Like a Dirge for San Diego’s Organist Ends in Joy," New York Times 26 December 2011[1]

Further reading [link]

• Organ playing and teaching in the Encyclopedia of Music in Canada

External links [link]

• American Guild of Organists (AGO) (US)
• American Theatre Organ Society (ATOS) (US)
• The Royal College of Organists (RCO) (UK)
• Royal Canadian College of Organists (Canada)
• Gesellschaft der Orgelfreunde (Germany)
• Professional Organists Webring
• Concert Organist website (UK)
• Incorporated Association of Organists in the UK
• Organists' Review The leading journal for organists with a worldwide readership
• Young Organists on YouTube - A playlist of organists under 20 years of age
• Civic Organist of San Diego

Cameron Carpenter
Cameron Carpenter in Hong Kong (2011)
Background information
Born	1981
Occupations	Organist
Instruments	Organ
Labels	Telarc SeeMusicDVD
Website	CameronCarpenter.com

Cameron Carpenter (born 1981) is an American organist known for his virtuosity,^[1] showmanship, technique and arrangements for the organ.^[2][3]

Biography[link]

Carpenter has bachelor's and master's degrees from The Juilliard School in New York, having studied with Gerre Hancock, John Weaver, and Paul Jacobs. Though he is not religious,^[4] Carpenter was from 2008 to 2009 the artist-in-residence at Middle Collegiate Church^[4] in New York's East Village, where he played a four-manual virtual pipe organ that he designed for the broad ranging music of that church. Carpenter ended his residency in July 2009.

A champion of virtual pipe organs, Carpenter has been referred to as "extraordinary",^[5] "the most controversial organist in the world"^[6] and "meshing virtuosity with musical intelligence" ^[1] while also attracting criticism.

Recordings[link]

Early in 2008, Telarc signed Carpenter to an exclusive five-album recording contract. His Telarc debut album, Revolutionary, was recorded as a CD and DVD at Trinity Church Wall Street in New York City,^[4] and released September 23, 2008. The title comes from Carpenter's transcription of Chopin's Revolutionary Etude. The album made Carpenter the first organist ever to receive a Grammy nomination in the category Best Solo Instrumental Performance (without orchestra) for a solo album. His first commercial album was a 2006 CD/DVD, Pictures at an Exhibition, on SeeMusicDVD. It includes his arrangement of the programmatic piano work by Modest Mussorgsky, and his own improvisatory "New York City Sessions." Visuals for the Moussorgsky were created by Marshall Yaeger and his Kaleidoplex. The recording was made at Trinity Church, New York.

An "early" recording, made in 2005 and financed by the Allen Organ Company, was titled notes from the underground. This recording was a highly unusual project for Allen, as Carpenter was given near-complete artistic control of the album, selection of the program and even oversight of graphic design (featuring location shots of Carpenter at famous New York City graffiti sites). This album was not reissued by Allen and is now a rarity.

On June 1, 2010, Telarc issued in the U.S. Carpenter's newest recording project, a two disc set with a CD carrying a J.S. Bach recital that had been recorded live at a recital he played in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in New York City,^[7] and a DVD containing a full studio recital program with narration by Carpenter, as well as video clips from other live recital programs.

Work[link]

Carpenter has been both criticized by some and praised by others for his unorthodox interpretations of the standard organ repertoire. Registrations rarely follow those suggested by the composer, and Carpenter often takes dramatic liberties in articulation. Carpenter is also noted for his advocacy of the digital organ, particularly development of a touring virtual pipe organ, citing factors^[8] such as the obstacles the pipe organ imposes on the ability of a traveling performer to enjoy an ongoing relationship with a single instrument in the same manner as many other instrumentalists. Despite this, he frequently performs on pipe organs, often garnering major exposure for the instrument.^{[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]}

Personal life[link]

In an interview with The Advocate, Carpenter was identified as "queer" — a term often used to encompass one or more non-heterosexual orientations. “While my first love was a boy and I’ve had numerous male lovers, I also love women,” Carpenter said.^[20] In a Sunday, November 15, 2009 Arts & Leisure full page interview with "The New York Times" ( "In Concert: Talent, Style and Sequins" by Vivien Schweitzer), Carpenter "describes his sexuality as 'radically inclusive.'"

External links[link]

• Official website

References[link]

Gerre Edward Hancock (February 21, 1934 – January 21, 2012)^[1] was an American organist, improviser, and composer. Hancock was a Professor of Organ and Sacred Music at the University of Texas, Austin. He died of cardiac arrest in Austin, Texas on Saturday, January 21, 2012. ^[2]

Hancock was born in Lubbock, Texas. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from The University of Texas at Austin and his Master of Sacred Music degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York, from which he later received the Unitas Distinguished Alumnus Award. A recipient of a Rotary Foundation Fellowship, he also studied in Paris at the Sorbonne and during this time was a finalist at the Munich International Music Competitions.

Hancock served as Assistant Organist at Saint Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, New York, Organist and Choirmaster at Christ Church (now Christ Church Cathedral) in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Organist and Master of the Choristers at Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue from 1971 to 2004.

Hancock's compositions are published by Oxford University Press (OUP). His textbook, Improvising: How to Master the Art, also published by OUP, is studied by organists throughout the USA.

Hancock studied organ with E. William Doty, Robert Baker, Jean Langlais, and Marie-Claire Alain, and improvisation with Nadia Boulanger and Searle Wright (1918–2004). A Fellow of the American Guild of Organists, Dr. Hancock was a member of its National Council and was a founder and past president of the Association of Anglican Musicians. He served on the faculty of The Juilliard School in New York City and taught improvisation on a visiting basis at the Institute of Sacred Music, Yale University in New Haven, CT, and The Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY.

In 1981 he was appointed a Fellow of the Royal School of Church Music and in 1995 was appointed a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists. Hancock received honorary Doctor of Music degrees from the Nashotah House Seminary and The University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee. In May 2004 he was awarded the Doctor of Divinity degree (Honoris causa) from The General Theological Seminary in New York. He is listed in “Who’s Who in America,” and his biography appears in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2nd edition. In 2004 he was honored in a ceremony at Lambeth Palace in London where he was presented the Medal of the Cross of St. Augustine by the Archbishop of Canterbury. In May 2009, Hancock was made Doctor of Music (Honoris causa) at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ. In June 2010, Dr. Hancock was presented the International Performer of the Year Award by the New York City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. This is viewed by many as the most distinguished award that the American Guild of Organists bestows upon its colleagues.^[3]

A featured recitalist and lecturer at numerous regional conventions of the American Guild of Organists and at national conventions of the Guild in Philadelphia, Cleveland, Boston, Washington DC, Detroit, Houston and New York City, Hancock also represented the AGO as recitalist at the Centenary Anniversary of the Royal College of Organists in London. Hancock was heard in recital in many cities throughout the United States and worldwide. On occasion he performed in duo recitals with his wife, Dr. Judith Hancock.

His compositions for organ and chorus are widely performed. He recorded for Gothic Records, Decca/Argo, Koch International and Priory Records, both as a conductor of The St. Thomas Choir and as a soloist.

References[link]

1. ↑ "Organist Gerre Hancock dies at 78". Stltoday.com. 2011-11-21. http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/arts-and-theatre/culture-club/organist-gerre-hancock-dies-at/article_c7faf34a-44be-11e1-968b-001a4bcf6878.html. Retrieved 2012-01-23. 
2. ↑ "About Us - Latest News". Saint Thomas Church. http://www.saintthomaschurch.org/about/news. Retrieved 2012-01-23. 
3. ↑ "International Performer of the Year — New York City Chapter AGO". Nycago.org. http://nycago.org/html/IPYA.html. Retrieved 2012-01-23. 

External links[link]

• Publicity site at Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc.
• Faculty page at the University of Texas at Austin