G. Donald Harrison (1889-1956) has emerged as a central figure in the explosive development of 20th-century American organbuilding. Born in England and trained with Willis in 1899, he came to Boston in 1927 to work alongside Ernest Skinner at the Skinner Organ Company. His steady program of reform resulted in a transformation in tonal design: from the high symphonic organ (as perfected by Ernest Skinner) to an eclectic instrument addressing music of many periods and styles. At the time of his death in 1956, Harrison and his American Classic organ (as his style came to be known) had pervaded American organ thought, and is still the prevalent mode of tonal design today. The promotional recordings Studies in Tone (1942) and King of Instruments (1953) were promotional recordings, used not only to sell organs but also as part of a crusade in the new style. Elsewhere reluctant to write about his work, Harrrison here narrates key elements that made up his characteristic organ style and the motivations behind it. Jonathan Ambrosino
Cedar Processing used for Disc Restoration |