The British Organ: Sounds of an Empire

• Herbert Howells: Saraband (for the morning of Easter)
• Cary Ratcliff: Psalm 84
• George Thalben-Ball: Elegy
• David Johnson: Trumpet Tune in A
• Herbert Howells: Master Tallis’ Testament
• Ralph Vaughan Williams: Rhosymedre
• Edward Elgar: Sonata in G, movement 1
• David Conte; Soliloquy
• Herbert Howells: Psalm Prelude, Set 1, No. 1
• Gerald near: Sarabande on “Land of Rest”
• Gustav Holst: Jupiter Theme from “The Planets”
• Frank Bridge: Adagio
• Kenneth Leighton: Paean

recorded on the 1871 “Father” Henry Willis Organ, located in Göteborg, Sweden

The British organ grew in power and fullness of tone as Queen Victoria’s empire increased its domination of the 19th-century world. Leading the technical and tonal revolution of the British organ was Henry Willis, the “Father” of four generations of London organ builders. Music for concert hall and cathedral, parish church and town hall, were all swept along in the Victorian quests of greatness, cultural attainment, and broadening social ideals, effecting music composition and performance ever since. This is a rare example of a perfectly preserved “Father” Willis organ, rich in tone, and encompassing all emotions from gentleness to virility.

$15 plus shipping

Mendelssohn: The Complete Organ Sonatas
The six organ sonatas of Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdyrecorded at Weissenau Abbey, Bavaria
on the Holzhay organ of 1787single CD, recorded in ULSI sound (Erik Sikkema, recording engineer)

Sweelinck: Master of the Dutch Renaissance
Sacred and Secular compositions of Sweelinck, Scheidemann, and Byrdrecorded on two Renaissance organs in Holland (Oosthuizen & Hattem); and the mean-tone organ at Orgryte Church in Göteborg, SwedenDouble-CD, recorded in ULSI Sound (Erik Sikkema, recording engineer)Read the reviews of this CD:

• The American Organist magazine (November 2009)
• The Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians
• SFAGO Newsletter (April 2009)
• Choir and Organ magazine (Jan/Feb 2009)
• Early Music Review (Feb. 2009)

2-CD set $22 plus shipping

Messiaen: Cosmos Consciousness

• Messiaen: Prélude, L’Ascension (“Transports de joie”)
• Les Corps Glorieux (“Joie et Clarté)
• Le Banquet Céleste
• Apparition de l’Eglise Eternelle
• Livre d’Orgue (“Chants d’Oiseaux”)
• Méditations sur le Mystère de la Sainte Trinité (“Le Fils”)
• Offrande au Saint Sacrement
• La Nativité du Seigneur (“Les Anges,” “Les Enfants de Dieu,” “Dieu parmi nous”)

recorded on the Cavaillé-Coll organ at Notre-Dame d’Auteuil, Paris
single CD, recorded in ULSI sound (Erik Sikkema, recording engineer)

Read the reviews of this CD:

• Music magazine

$15 plus shipping

French Masterworks from St. John the Divine

• Dupré: Prelude and Fugue in B major
• Gigout: Scherzo
• Franck: Chorale in A minor
• Messiaen: Messe de la Pentecôte (Communion & Sortie)
• Dupré: Cortège et Litanie;
• Widor: Symphonie V (Allegro vivace)
• Langlais: Suite Brève (Cantilène); Trumpet Tune* (*World premiere recording by dedicatee)

Contains a 20-page booklet telling the history of the organ at St. John the Divine.

Recorded at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, New York City;
May 11 & 12, 1987
E. M. Skinner organ, 1910 / 1953

Read the reviews of this CD set:

• The Living Church:

“One of the world’s great instruments played by an exceptional musician!”

“The quality of the recording is high and the technique of the organist is as crafted as it comes. This is a solid recording of very interesting music, masterfully played in one of the finest locations to hear it.”

“The definitive recording of the magnificent Aeolian-Skinner at St. John the Divine!
Dimmock shows the genius of tonal design with this instrument and uses the acoustics of the world’s largest gothic cathedral to best advantage. Also includes the only piece which Langlais wrote for St. John the Divine’s organ and its State Trumpet. The piece is dedicated to Mr. Dimmock.”

$15 plus shipping

The Romance of the Organ

 

• Reger: Introduction und Passacaglia;
• Brahms: Chorale Preludes (complete)
• Gade: Tre Tonestykker, Opus 22
• Merkel: Sonata in d moll fü Orgel zu vier Händen*, Opus 30

*assisted by my sister, Jane Dimmock Cain

Recorded at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Belvedere, California; May 24, 1991 & June 14, 1991
Frobenius organ, 1989

“A sublime recording of the Brahms Chorale Preludes. You won’t want to miss the
clarity and warmth of this new Frobenius organ. Dimmock plays this jewel of an
organ with imagination and great skill.”

$12 plus shipping

Bach: Complete Organ Works
as published by the composer (with sung chorales)Bach: Clavierübung III (complete) with interpolated sung chorales;Sechs Choräle von vershiedener Art (Schübler-Choräle): Einige kanonische Veränderungen über das Weihnachslied “Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her,” BWV 769; “Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her,” BWV 769a3-CD setRecorded at Klosterkirche Grauhof, Germany
Treutmann organ, 1737; Recorded at St. Wilhadi, Stade, Germany
Bielfeldt organ, 1736; Recorded at Arlesheim Cathedral, Switzerland
A. Silbermann organ, 1761Chorales recorded at St. Stephen’s Church, Belvedere, California, June 6, 19973-CD set $25 plus shipping

Ensemble Recordings

Bach: Cantatas 51, 54, 55 & 82
American Bach Soloists;
Koch 3-7106-2
Rated “Critics Choice for 1992″ by Gramophone magazine

Bach: Cantatas 198, 156, 8
American Bach Soloists;
Koch 3-7163-2

Bach: Cantatas 140, 78, 80
American Bach Soloists;
Koch 3-7234-2

Bach: Cantatas for Holy Week
American Bach Soloists;
Koch 3-7235-2

Bach: Harpsichord concerto, Psalm 51:
American Bach Soloists;
Koch 3-7237-2

Bach: Cantatas 18, 12, 61
American Bach Soloists;
Koch 3-7332-2

Bach: St. Matthew Passion BWV 244;
American Bach Soloists;
Koch 3-7424-2 (3-CD set)

Haydn “Lord Nelson Mass”
American Bach Soloists;
Koch 3-7404-2

Shin Buddhist Gathas: Organ works, 1994; BCA Records

The Wedding Collection: Organ selections, 1994; Warner Music Discovery, Time Warner

Mozart: Mass in C minor; Bach: Magnificat; San Francisco Lyric Chorus, August 2001 (independently produced)

Duruflé: Requiem; San Francisco Lyric Chorus (independently produced)

Duruflé: Messe ‘cum jubilo,’ Veni Creator variations; Golden Gate Men’s Chorus, Joseph Jennings, Director; recorded at St. Ignatius Church, San Francisco; GGMC 9053; 2002

The Organ: A Mirror of its Time; 1997 (2002); GOArt CD 001 (produced under the auspices of the European Commission ORSEV project – “The Organ as a Symbol of the European Vision”)

Classics Live, vol. 1; Duruflé Requiem; The Pacific Mozart Ensemble; recorded on the Rosales organ at First Presbyterian Church, Oakland, CA

Ceremonies & Celebrations: From Northern Germany’s Colossal Baroque; The San Francisco Bach Choir; SFBC2; 2002

Wedding Music Choices from St. Ignatius Church, San Francisco; 2002, (independently produced)

Bernstein & Britten: Chichester Psalms, Rejoice in the Lamb; recorded live April 1 & 2, 2005; San Francisco Choral Society, Robert Geary, Director; (independently produced)

Mahler: Symphony 8; San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas, Director; 2009 *
*Grammy Award Winner: Best Classical Recording of 2009