Sacred Classics was a weekly two–hour radio show originating from WBVM-FM in Tampa, Florida, featuring choral and organ music from international venues. Founded in October 1983, it was broadcast on Saturdays and Sundays, as well as streamed over the Internet at various times to accommodate listeners worldwide.[1] The program was produced by Atlas Communications and hosted by Jim Howes, who used the thousands of pipe organ and choral recordings in his personal collection, gathered from his travels around the world.[2][3] Programs typically included music from such diverse locations as England, Germany, South Africa, Riga, Latvia, and Sydney, Australia, along with prominent church choirs and organists in the U.S. Live organ concerts were also sponsored and recorded for later broadcast, as in 2004 when celebrated organist Frederick Swann performed at the 88-rank organ of St. Paul's Anglican Church in Bermuda.[4][5] The final showed aired on September 26, 2021.[6]
Howes, who was a former executive director of the Bermuda International Airport (2002–2007) and St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (1980–2001),[7] produced the program at WBVM's studios in Florida. When he was in Bermuda, he told the Bermuda Sun, several weeks' programs were pre–recorded at a time during trips to his home in Florida, using his personal library. Howes regularly received emails from his audience in Europe, the Mideast, and the Philippines.[8]
Tom Derzypolski, then-vice president of WBVM-FM in Tampa, told the St. Petersburg Times in 1997 that the show is "extremely popular. Jim mixes some of the pieces that he picks up traveling around the world with some of the sacred classics. A lot of the selections that he broadcasts are literally not available. He provides a unique blend".[9] Howes said he "enjoys conversing with the audience and providing sacred masterpieces performed at famous cathedrals and concert halls."[9]
WBVM Station Manager John Morris (right) with Jim Howes, producer of Sacred Classics, at the Tampa studios
Sacred Classics was initially two distinct programs, King of Instruments and Choral Masterpieces, both produced by Howes for the old WXCR beginning in 1983 and 1985, respectively.[1][12] After production moved to WBVM in 1986, a new current format combining choral and organ music was adopted and the program was expanded to two hours in length and retitled Sacred Classics.[1] On the show's 25th anniversary broadcast in 2008, Frederick Swann, president of the American Guild of Organists, expressed the organization's "great debt of gratitude for the joy that Sacred Classics has brought untold thousands of listeners over the years".[13] Premier of Bermuda Ewart Brown sent his "sincere congratulations", saying he "hopes Sacred Classics enjoys another 25 great years".[13] The show celebrated its 35th anniversary on the air in October 2018.[1]
In addition to streaming Sacred Classics on the internet, the program's website also maintained a widely consulted ranking of the world's largest pipe organs, based on independently researched and verified specifications.[14]
Howes passed away unexpectedly at age 75 at his home in Safety Harbor, Florida.[6] His final pre-recorded show aired on WBVM on September 26, 2021.[6]
^Walton, Mary (June 28, 2012). "With New Pipes, a Great Organ Gets Even Better". Ocean Grove (NJ) Blogfinger.net. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
^Roberts, Stuart (September 25, 2004). "Renowned organist to perform in Bermuda". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
^ abMello, Terri (October 15, 2004). "World famous organist to play in Bermuda". Bermuda Sun. p. 39.
^ abcCompany, Tampa Publishing. "Safety Harbor man was an airport executive, radio host and really good friend". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
^Westhead, Sara (November 29, 2002). "'Sacred Classics' tunes into God". Bermuda Sun.
^ abCarter, Kelley L. (June 25, 1997). "Airport chief stays grounded with music". St. Petersburg Times. p. 5.
^"Sacred Classics" (PDF). Windline. Clearwater Chapter, AGO. February 2021. p. 3.
^"Ascension Day Program". Sacred Classics. May 15–16, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
^"Radio Highlights – Classical". St. Petersburg Times. March 24, 1985. p. 24, TV Dial.
^ abSacred Classics, Atlas Communications, October 19, 2008.
^"The Top 20 – The World's Largest Pipe Organs". Sacred Classics. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
External linksedit
Official website
January 01, 1970
sacred, classics, weekly, hour, radio, show, originating, from, wbvm, tampa, florida, featuring, choral, organ, music, from, international, venues, founded, october, 1983, broadcast, saturdays, sundays, well, streamed, over, internet, various, times, accommoda. Sacred Classics was a weekly two hour radio show originating from WBVM FM in Tampa Florida featuring choral and organ music from international venues Founded in October 1983 it was broadcast on Saturdays and Sundays as well as streamed over the Internet at various times to accommodate listeners worldwide 1 The program was produced by Atlas Communications and hosted by Jim Howes who used the thousands of pipe organ and choral recordings in his personal collection gathered from his travels around the world 2 3 Programs typically included music from such diverse locations as England Germany South Africa Riga Latvia and Sydney Australia along with prominent church choirs and organists in the U S Live organ concerts were also sponsored and recorded for later broadcast as in 2004 when celebrated organist Frederick Swann performed at the 88 rank organ of St Paul s Anglican Church in Bermuda 4 5 The final showed aired on September 26 2021 6 Sacred ClassicsThe organ of Passau Cathedral Germany among the renowned instruments featured on Sacred ClassicsOther namesChoral Masterpieces King of InstrumentsGenreChoral and organ musicRunning time2 hoursCountry of origin United StatesLanguage s EnglishHome stationWBVMHosted byJames G Jim HowesProduced byAtlas CommunicationsExecutive producer s James G HowesOriginal releaseOctober 1983 September 2021No of episodes1 831 Audio formatStereophonic soundOpening themeHe is risen Unser Herrscher by Joachim Neander arranged by Richard Webster Ending themeKing of Kings by Miklos RozsaWebsitewww wbr sacredclassics wbr com Contents 1 Production 2 History 3 References 4 External linksProduction editHowes who was a former executive director of the Bermuda International Airport 2002 2007 and St Petersburg Clearwater International Airport 1980 2001 7 produced the program at WBVM s studios in Florida When he was in Bermuda he told the Bermuda Sun several weeks programs were pre recorded at a time during trips to his home in Florida using his personal library Howes regularly received emails from his audience in Europe the Mideast and the Philippines 8 Tom Derzypolski then vice president of WBVM FM in Tampa told the St Petersburg Times in 1997 that the show is extremely popular Jim mixes some of the pieces that he picks up traveling around the world with some of the sacred classics A lot of the selections that he broadcasts are literally not available He provides a unique blend 9 Howes said he enjoys conversing with the audience and providing sacred masterpieces performed at famous cathedrals and concert halls 9 On location live recordings were also occasionally broadcast Past venues have included the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine New York the Ocean Grove Auditorium in New Jersey St Paul s Anglican Church in Bermuda and Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church in Baltimore Maryland 5 Recordings made at prominent Florida churches were also featured In 2021 for example the choir and organ at Orlando s Mary Queen of the Universe Shrine was broadcast as well as Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale and the First Methodist Church of St Petersburg 10 11 History edit nbsp WBVM Station Manager John Morris right with Jim Howes producer of Sacred Classics at the Tampa studios Sacred Classics was initially two distinct programs King of Instruments and Choral Masterpieces both produced by Howes for the old WXCR beginning in 1983 and 1985 respectively 1 12 After production moved to WBVM in 1986 a new current format combining choral and organ music was adopted and the program was expanded to two hours in length and retitled Sacred Classics 1 On the show s 25th anniversary broadcast in 2008 Frederick Swann president of the American Guild of Organists expressed the organization s great debt of gratitude for the joy that Sacred Classics has brought untold thousands of listeners over the years 13 Premier of Bermuda Ewart Brown sent his sincere congratulations saying he hopes Sacred Classics enjoys another 25 great years 13 The show celebrated its 35th anniversary on the air in October 2018 1 In addition to streaming Sacred Classics on the internet the program s website also maintained a widely consulted ranking of the world s largest pipe organs based on independently researched and verified specifications 14 Howes passed away unexpectedly at age 75 at his home in Safety Harbor Florida 6 His final pre recorded show aired on WBVM on September 26 2021 6 References edit a b c d Pipings Sacred Classics The American Organist Vol 52 no 10 October 2018 pp 32 33 Pipings The American Organist 42 8 American Guild of Organists 54 August 2008 Walton Mary June 28 2012 With New Pipes a Great Organ Gets Even Better Ocean Grove NJ Blogfinger net Retrieved July 30 2013 Roberts Stuart September 25 2004 Renowned organist to perform in Bermuda The Royal Gazette Retrieved May 22 2009 a b Mello Terri October 15 2004 World famous organist to play in Bermuda Bermuda Sun p 39 a b c Company Tampa Publishing Safety Harbor man was an airport executive radio host and really good friend Tampa Bay Times Retrieved September 28 2021 Spears Gregory December 26 1983 Railroad buff answered a higher calling St Petersburg Times p 8E via Newspapers com nbsp Westhead Sara November 29 2002 Sacred Classics tunes into God Bermuda Sun a b Carter Kelley L June 25 1997 Airport chief stays grounded with music St Petersburg Times p 5 Sacred Classics PDF Windline Clearwater Chapter AGO February 2021 p 3 Ascension Day Program Sacred Classics May 15 16 2021 Retrieved May 27 2021 Radio Highlights Classical St Petersburg Times March 24 1985 p 24 TV Dial a b Sacred Classics Atlas Communications October 19 2008 The Top 20 The World s Largest Pipe Organs Sacred Classics Retrieved May 27 2021 External links editOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sacred Classics amp oldid 1087243043, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
