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]
Organistsedit
Municipal organistsedit
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 organistsedit
A partial list of notable organists who have played the Kotzschmar Memorial Organ:[1][4]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kotzschmar Memorial Organ.
Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ
Official City of Portland site for the Merrill Auditorium
Referencesedit
^ abcdefParkinson-Tucker, Janice (2005). Behind the Pipes: The Story of the Kotzschmar Organ. South Portland, Maine: Casco House Publishing. ISBN0-9763041-1-2.
kotzschmar, memorial, organ, usually, referred, kotzschmar, organ, pipe, organ, located, merrill, auditorium, city, hall, portland, maine, united, states, newly, renovated, kotzschmar, organ, merrill, auditorium, portland, maine, october, 2014, contents, histo. 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 newly renovated Kotzschmar Organ at Merrill Auditorium Portland Maine October 2014 Contents 1 History 2 Organists 2 1 Municipal organists 2 2 Visiting organists 3 External links 4 ReferencesHistory edit nbsp 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 editMunicipal 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 E Power Biggs Joseph Bonnet Cameron Carpenter Ken Cowan Virgil Fox Felix Hell Thomas Heywood 5 Dennis James Olivier Latry Ben van Oosten John Scott Frederick Swann 6 Gillian Weir Carol Williams Berj ZamkochianExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kotzschmar Memorial Organ Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ Official City of Portland site for the Merrill AuditoriumReferences edit 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 The American Municipal Pipe Organ Website Pipedreams 0124 The Maine Idea Retrieved 27 October 2010 Archived Concerts Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ Archived from the original on 2008 08 20 Retrieved 2008 08 01 Thomas Heywood at the Kotzschmar Organ 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 w index php title Kotzschmar Memorial Organ amp oldid 1142397949, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
