Joe Vitacco the owner and founder of JAV Recordings studied organ with Craig Cramer, while earning a degree in business from the University of Notre Dame. While he had no requirement to play an organ recital he did anyway. This is a recording of the one and only recital he played on the former Holtkamp organ in then Sacred Heart Church on the campus of the University of Notre Dame on April 9, 1989. The church has since then been designated a basilica and received an exquisite new pipe organ by the great american organbuilder, Paul Fritts. 

The Organ Recital Program: 

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Fantasy and Fugue in c minor, BWV 537
• Bach: Herr Christ, der ein’ge Gottes Sohn, BWV 601
• Bach: Gelobet geist du, Jesu Christ, BWV 604
• Bach: Von Himmel hoch, da komm ich her, BWV 606
• Bach: Fugue in g minor, BWV 578
• Louis Vierne: Berceuse (24 pieces en style libre)
• Vierne: Symphonie No. 1 in d minor FINAL

The recital was poorly recorded by someone who turned on the -10db pads on the microphones. The tape was recorded at a very faint audio level but with very good equipment. Efforts to make the recording listenable until recently did not produce good results. An excellent audio restoration software by iZotope, Inc in Cambridge Massachusetts made the tape credible to listen to. We used their RX 6 software to drastically lower the noise level, cut a hum on the tape and remove little ticks; all without affecting the audio. After this process the volume was able to be raised substantially without the noise also increasing. 100 hz was attenuation to get rid of the bass boom. The frequencies around 1000 hz were attenuated to reduce the “am transistor radio” effect.  

Enjoy the recording of Joe Vitacco playing in Sacred Heart Church on the University of Notre Dame campus on the former Holtkamp Organ – mistakes and all – a LIVE and unedited organ recital.