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{{short description|Pipe organ in Portland, Maine}}
{{short description|Pipe organ in Portland, Maine}}
[[File:Kotzschmar Organ cropped.jpg|thumb|280px|The newly–renovated Kotzschmar Organ at Merrill Auditorium, Portland, Maine. October, 2014]]
[[File:Kotzschmar Organ cropped.jpg|thumb|280px|The newly renovated Kotzschmar Organ at Merrill Auditorium, Portland, Maine. October, 2014]]
The '''Kotzschmar Memorial Organ''', usually referred to as the '''Kotzschmar Organ''', is a [[pipe organ]] located at [[Merrill Auditorium]] in the City Hall of [[Portland, Maine]], [[United States]].
The '''Kotzschmar Memorial Organ''', usually referred to as the '''Kotzschmar Organ''', is a [[pipe organ]] located at [[Merrill Auditorium]] in the City Hall of [[Portland, Maine]], [[United States]].


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The organ was donated to the city by Portland native [[Cyrus Hermann Kotzschmar Curtis]], founder of the [[Curtis Publishing Company]] of Philadelphia, as a memorial to [[Hermann Kotzschmar]], a close family friend for whom he had been named. Kotzschmar was a German-born musician who came to Portland in 1849, acquired a reputation as the city's most prominent musician, and lived there until his death in 1908.<ref name="Behind" />
The organ was donated to the city by Portland native [[Cyrus Hermann Kotzschmar Curtis]], founder of the [[Curtis Publishing Company]] of Philadelphia, as a memorial to [[Hermann Kotzschmar]], a close family friend for whom he had been named. Kotzschmar was a German-born musician who came to Portland in 1849, acquired a reputation as the city's most prominent musician, and lived there until his death in 1908.<ref name="Behind" />


The Kotzschmar Organ is a prime example of the U.S. style of municipal (city–owned) organs which were once a prevalent part of American culture throughout the first half of the 20th century.<ref>[http://www.municipalorgans.net/?page_id=8 The American Municipal Pipe Organ Website]</ref> It was the first municipal organ built in the U.S.,<ref name="pipedreams">{{cite web|title=Pipedreams #0124: The Maine Idea|url=http://pipedreams.publicradio.org/listings/2001/0124/|access-date=27 October 2010}}</ref> and is one of only two U.S. municipal organs still owned by a municipality — the other being the [[Spreckels Organ Pavilion, San Diego, California|Spreckels Organ]] in [[San Diego, California]].<ref name="Behind" />
The Kotzschmar Organ is a prime example of the U.S. style of municipal (city–owned) organs which were once a prevalent part of American culture throughout the first half of the 20th century.<ref>[http://www.municipalorgans.net/?page_id=8 The American Municipal Pipe Organ Website]</ref> It was the first municipal organ built in the U.S.,<ref name="pipedreams">{{cite web|title=Pipedreams #0124: The Maine Idea|url=http://pipedreams.publicradio.org/listings/2001/0124/|access-date=27 October 2010}}</ref> and is one of only two U.S. municipal organs still owned by a municipality – the other being the [[Spreckels Organ Pavilion, San Diego, California|Spreckels Organ]] in [[San Diego, California]].<ref name="Behind" />


==Organists==
==Organists==
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To date, there have been eleven municipal organists in Portland:<ref name="Behind" />
To date, there have been eleven municipal organists in Portland:<ref name="Behind" />
* Will C. Macfarlane, 1912-1919
* Will C. Macfarlane, 1912–1919
* Irvin John [James] Morgan, 1919-1921
* Irvin John [James] Morgan, 1919–1921
* Edwin H. Lemare, 1921-1923
* Edwin H. Lemare, 1921–1923
* Charles Raymond Cronham, 1924-1932
* Charles Raymond Cronham, 1924–1932
* Alfred Brinkler, 1935-1952
* Alfred Brinkler, 1935–1952
* John E. Fay, 1952-1976
* John E. Fay, 1952–1976
* Douglas Rafter, 1976-1981
* Douglas Rafter, 1976–1981
* Gerald McGee, 1983-1988
* Gerald McGee, 1983–1988
* Earl Miller, 1988-1989
* Earl Miller, 1988–1989
* Ray Cornils, 1990-2017
* Ray Cornils, 1990–2017
* James Kennerley, 2018–present
* James Kennerley, 2018–present


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{{coord|43.65955|N|70.25725|W |format=dms |region:US-ME_type:landmark_scale:5000 |display=title}}
{{coord|43.65955|N|70.25725|W |format=dms |region:US-ME_type:landmark_scale:5000 |display=title}}


[[Category:Individual pipe organs]]
[[Category:Individual pipe organs in the United States]]
[[Category:Culture of Portland, Maine]]
[[Category:Culture of Portland, Maine]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Portland, Maine]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Portland, Maine]]

Latest revision as of 23:20, 6 September 2024

The newly renovated Kotzschmar Organ at Merrill Auditorium, Portland, Maine. October, 2014

The Kotzschmar Memorial Organ, usually referred to as the Kotzschmar Organ, is a pipe organ located at Merrill Auditorium in the City Hall of Portland, Maine, United States.

History

[edit]
The Kotzschmar Organ as it appeared in the 1920s

Built in 1911 by the Austin Organ Co. as Opus 323, the Kotzschmar Organ was the second-largest organ in the world at the time, and it remains the largest organ in Maine today.[1]

The organ was donated to the city by Portland native Cyrus Hermann Kotzschmar Curtis, founder of the Curtis Publishing Company of Philadelphia, as a memorial to Hermann Kotzschmar, a close family friend for whom he had been named. Kotzschmar was a German-born musician who came to Portland in 1849, acquired a reputation as the city's most prominent musician, and lived there until his death in 1908.[1]

The Kotzschmar Organ is a prime example of the U.S. style of municipal (city–owned) organs which were once a prevalent part of American culture throughout the first half of the 20th century.[2] It was the first municipal organ built in the U.S.,[3] and is one of only two U.S. municipal organs still owned by a municipality – the other being the Spreckels Organ in San Diego, California.[1]

Organists

[edit]

Municipal organists

[edit]

The City of Portland created the position of Municipal Organist in 1912. The position was maintained until 1981 when it was eliminated due to budget constraints. That same year a non-profit organization called Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ was formed in order to provide continued funding for a municipal organist (who would become an FOKO employee), as well as to fund maintenance and restoration of the organ.[1]

To date, there have been eleven municipal organists in Portland:[1]

  • Will C. Macfarlane, 1912–1919
  • Irvin John [James] Morgan, 1919–1921
  • Edwin H. Lemare, 1921–1923
  • Charles Raymond Cronham, 1924–1932
  • Alfred Brinkler, 1935–1952
  • John E. Fay, 1952–1976
  • Douglas Rafter, 1976–1981
  • Gerald McGee, 1983–1988
  • Earl Miller, 1988–1989
  • Ray Cornils, 1990–2017
  • James Kennerley, 2018–present

Visiting organists

[edit]

A partial list of notable organists who have played the Kotzschmar Memorial Organ:[1][4]

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kotzschmar Memorial Organ.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f Parkinson-Tucker, Janice (2005). Behind the Pipes: The Story of the Kotzschmar Organ. South Portland, Maine: Casco House Publishing. ISBN 0-9763041-1-2.
  2. ^ The American Municipal Pipe Organ Website
  3. ^ "Pipedreams #0124: The Maine Idea". Retrieved 27 October 2010.
  4. ^ "Archived Concerts". Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ. Archived from the original on 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
  5. ^ Thomas Heywood at the Kotzschmar Organ
  6. ^ Kapp, Madeline (August 24, 2016). "Orgelfest16 opener showcases masterful playing of Frederick Swann". Retrieved 2018-08-07.

43°39′34″N 70°15′26″W / 43.65955°N 70.25725°W / 43.65955; -70.25725

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