Jump to content

Kotzschmar Memorial Organ: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 43°39′34″N 70°15′26″W / 43.65955°N 70.25725°W / 43.65955; -70.25725
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
 
(18 intermediate revisions by 12 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Pipe organ in Portland, Maine}}
[[Image:Portland City Hall Auditorium and Kotzschmar Organ 1912.jpg|thumb|300px|right|The Kotzschmar Organ in 1912, shortly after it was built.]]
[[File:The Kotzschmar Organ at Merrill Auditorium.jpg|thumb|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]]. Built in 1911 by the [[Austin Organs, Inc.|Austin Organ Co.]] as Opus 323, it was the second-largest organ in the world at the time, and it remains the largest organ in [[Maine]] today.<ref name="Behind">{{cite book |title=Behind the Pipes: The Story of the Kotzschmar Organ |last=Parkinson-Tucker |first=Janice |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2005 |publisher=Casco House Publishing |location=South Portland, Maine |isbn=0-9763041-1-2 |pages= }}</ref>
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 ==
⚫
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
[[File:The Herman Kotzschmar Memorial Organ, City Hall, Portland, Me. , by Tichnor Brothers, c. 1920-1935, from the Digital Commonwealth - 1 commonwealth 3n2041065.jpg|thumb|right|The Kotzschmar Organ as it appeared in the 1920s]]
a German-born musician who came to Portland in 1849, acquired the reputation as the city's most prominent musician, and lived there until his death in 1908. <ref name="Behind" />
Built in 1911 by the [[Austin Organs, Inc.|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.<ref name="Behind">{{cite book |title=Behind the Pipes: The Story of the Kotzschmar Organ |last=Parkinson-Tucker |first=Janice |year=2005 |publisher=Casco House Publishing |location=South Portland, Maine |isbn=0-9763041-1-2 }}</ref>


⚫
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/|accessdate=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" /> . [http://www.porttix.com PortTIX] is the official box office for Kotzschmar organ performances at Merrill Auditorium

⚫
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==
===Municipal organists===
===Municipal organists===
The City of Portland created the position of ''municipal organist'' in 1912. The position remained 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 a FOKO employee), as well as to fund upkeep and restoration of the organ, which the city could no longer afford.<ref name="Behind" />
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.<ref name="Behind" />


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

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


===Visiting organists===
===Visiting organists===
A partial list of notable organists who have played the Kotzschmar Memorial Organ:<ref name="Behind" /> <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foko.org/archived_concerts.php |title=Archived Concerts |accessdate=2008-08-01 |work= |publisher=Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ |date= }}</ref>
A partial list of notable organists who have played the Kotzschmar Memorial Organ:<ref name="Behind" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foko.org/archived_concerts.php |title=Archived Concerts |access-date=2008-08-01 |publisher=Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820092114/http://www.foko.org/archived_concerts.php |archive-date=2008-08-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


{{col-begin}}
{{col-begin}}
Line 39: Line 36:
* [[Joseph Bonnet]]
* [[Joseph Bonnet]]
* [[Cameron Carpenter]]
* [[Cameron Carpenter]]
* [[Peter Richard Conte]]
* [[Ken Cowan]]
* [[Ken Cowan]]
* [[Virgil Fox]]
* [[Virgil Fox]]
Line 50: Line 46:
{{col-break}}
{{col-break}}
* [[John Scott (organist)|John Scott]]
* [[John Scott (organist)|John Scott]]
* [[Frederick Swann]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Kapp|first=Madeline|title=Orgelfest16 opener showcases masterful playing of Frederick Swann |url=http://www.foko.org/news/the-reviews-are-in-for-orgelfest16/|date=August 24, 2016| access-date=2018-08-07}}</ref>
* [[Gillian Weir]]
* [[Gillian Weir]]
* [[Carol Williams (organist)|Carol Williams]]
* [[Carol Williams (organist)|Carol Williams]]
Line 56: Line 53:


== External links ==
== External links ==
{{commonscat|Kotzschmar Memorial Organ}}
{{commons category|Kotzschmar Memorial Organ}}
* [http://www.foko.org/ Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ]
* [http://www.foko.org/ Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ]
*[https://www.porttix.com/view-seat-merrill-auditorium/ Seating Chart for Merrill Auditorium]
* [https://www.portlandmaine.gov/574/Merrill-Auditorium Official City of Portland site for the Merrill Auditorium]


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


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

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

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Kotzschmar_Memorial_Organ&oldid=1244411089"