Description

The Skinner Pipe Organ at Holy Rosary Cathedral in Toledo, Ohio is one of the most glorious pipe organs designed by Ernest M. Skinner. This recording of the Holy Rosary Cathedral pipe organ features Dvorak’€™s New World Symphony, arranged in an organ transcription by Stuart Forster. It is simply ravishing, and the New World Symphony is a very appropriate choice to honor Skinner’€™s life-long quest of creating an instrument to emulate the expressive potential of the orchestra. With Opus 820, we witness Skinner re-asserting his individual style, while coming to terms with G. Donald Harrison’s plans to make fundamental changes in the artistic direction of the Skinner Organ Company. This pipe organ is the finest remaining unaltered example of Skinner’€™s mature style, and Stuart Forster knows how to get the most out of it. His transcription of Percy Grainger’€™s “Blithe Bells” is an absolute delight. This recording comes with extensive documentation: an essay about the pipe organ, notes on the music, stoplist and numerous photos.

Stuart Forster holds qualifications from Trinity College of Music (London), the University of Sydney, the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Yale University, and the Graduate Theological Foundation, where his doctorate focused on the congregation’s experience of flow and music within liturgy. A dedicated organist and choir trainer, Dr. Forster’s passion for leading congregational singing has guided his vocation both in the church and as a teacher.

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