The Organ Loft - Christmas in the Grand Tradition - Widor's Sinfonia Sacra

The Organ Loft - December 5, 2010
Christmas in the Grand Tradition - Widor's Sinfonia Sacra
Webcast and Broadcast Schedule




Program: Thanksgiving/Advent Mix

1. Traditional, arr. Keith Chapman: Bring a Torch, Jennette Isabella¹
2. Carmen Dragon, arr. Peter Conte: O Tannenbaum¹
3. Adolphe-Charles Adam, arr. Canadian Brass : O Holy Night¹
4. Geoffry Bush, arr. Conte : I saw three ships¹
5. R. Vaughan Williams : Greensleeves¹
6. G. F. Handel , arr. Conte : For unto us a Child is born¹
7. Charles-Marie Widor: Sinfonia Sacra, Op. 81²

Recordings Used: Click Links to purchase these recordings

1. “Christmas in the Grand Tradition ”, Peter Richard Conte, organ and Philadelphia Brass; Gothic G-49264
2. “Charles-Marie Widor: Symphonie Nr. 3/Sinfonia Sacra” Paul Wißkirchen, organ, Gürzenichorchester Köhn, Philharmonia Hungarica, Volker Hemfling, director, Motette CD 40071

Find the Broadcasts online from:

KING-FM Seattle's Classical Choice — Sundays at 10:00 PM

And

OREGON: KWAX-FM and the University of Oregon radio network — Sundays at 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM

Wanamaker Organ and the Philadelphia Brass Ensemble

Since our recent Christmas release Christmas in the Grand Tradition features both Peter Richard Conte on the Wanamaker Organ and the Philadelphia Brass Ensemble, we thought we would give you a hint to what they sound like when playing together! Here is a video of the PBE & Mr. Conte as well as a chorus performing America the Beautiful during "Wanamaker Organ Day 2009!"



Click to purchase Christmas in the Grand Tradition

Wanamaker Organ and Peter Richard Conte

One of our Christmas albums this year is Christmas in the Grand Tradition and features the organist Peter Richard Conte on the Wanamaker Organ. So today we thought we would share this video of Peter Richard Conte being interviewed by CBS about the Wanamaker Organ:

Christmas in the Grand Tradition

A new recording on the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ.  Under the dazzling finger of organist Peter Richard Conte, the world’s largest instrument teams up with the Philadelphia Brass in this program of Christmas favorites.   Selections include Bring a Torch, Jeannette Isabella, O Tannenbaum, Silent Night, For unto us a Child is Born, and many others.

Peter Richard Conte is the Grand Court Organist of the Wanamaker Organ in Macy's, Center City, Philadelphia. Appointed in 1989, he is the fourth person to hold that title since the organ was first played in 1911. As Choirmaster and Organist of St. Clement's Church, Philadelphia, Conte also directs an eighteen-voice professional choir in the Anglo-Catholic musical tradition.

Previous recordings by Conte on the Wanamaker include Midnight in the Grand Court, Magic!, and The Wanamaker Legacy. Conte appears under the management of Phillip Truckenbrod Concert Artists.

Formed in 1988, Philadelphia Brass is on the roster of Pennsylvania performing Artists on tour, and was sponsored by the U.S. State Department in a recent tour to Bolivia. Repertoire is chosen from an array of classical and popular music, including new works commissioned by Philadelphia Brass with composers Daniel Pinkham, David Diamond, J.A.C. Redford, Larry Lipkis, and Dick Hyman.

The ensemble consists of Brian Kuszyk (trumpet), Scott Mendoker (tuba), Lawrence Wright (trumpet), Anthony Cecere (horn), and Robert Gale (trombone). Previous recordings include Eternity Shut In A Span.