One of the stars of the new Organ Polychrome recording is the new Julia Irene Kauffman Casavant Organ, Opus 3875. Read a piece about its creation from the Kauffman Center:
Creating the organ required a collaborative effort between Casavant Freres, one of the best known and most respected pipe organ builders in the world, Kauffman Center architect Moshe Safdie, and Helzberg Hall acoustician Yasu Toyota. For example, the unique façade features fully functional wooden pipes hand-built by Casavant Freres artists, and its design echoes the preponderance of wood in Helzberg Hall, designed by Moshe Safdie. In turn, the gorgeous Alaskan cedar, Douglas fir, and oak in the rest of Helzberg Hall were selected by acoustician Yasu Toyota for their specific resonant qualities, making the hall, musicians, and organ work together as one perfectly tuned instrument. The organ was built in the Casavant Freres facility in Quebec, Canada, then disassembled and transported to Kansas City, where it was installed and underwent extensive testing and tuning. … Continue Reading →
Now Available at RR.com — Organ Polychrome
Organ Polychrome: The French School
Jan Kraybill
Premiere Solo Recording — The Julia Irene Kauffman Organ, Casavant Freres Op. 3875, 2011
This program of French masterworks was designed to showcase all the colors and nuances of this outstanding new instrument. It includes the world premiere recording of an important piece by beloved composer Florent Schmitt: Prière (Prelude in G minor), Op.11 (1899). These sonic riches were captured in three-dimensional, high-resolution sound by RR’s own, “Prof.” Keith Johnson.