Kotzschmar Memorial Organ
The Kotzschmar Memorial Organ, usually referred to as the Kotzschmar Organ, is a pipe organ located at Merrill Auditorium in the City Hall of Portland, Maine, United States.
History
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Built in 1911 by the Austin Organ Co. as Opus 323, the Kotzschmar Organ was the second-largest organ in the world at the time, and it remains the largest organ in Maine today.[1]
The organ was donated to the city by Portland native Cyrus Hermann Kotzschmar Curtis, founder of the Curtis Publishing Company of Philadelphia, as a memorial to Hermann Kotzschmar, a close family friend for whom he had been named. Kotzschmar was a German-born musician who came to Portland in 1849, acquired a reputation as the city's most prominent musician, and lived there until his death in 1908.[1]
The Kotzschmar Organ is a prime example of the U.S. style of municipal (city–owned) organs which were once a prevalent part of American culture throughout the first half of the 20th century.[2] It was the first municipal organ built in the U.S.,[3] and is one of only two U.S. municipal organs still owned by a municipality – the other being the Spreckels Organ in San Diego, California.[1]
Organists
[edit]Municipal organists
[edit]The City of Portland created the position of Municipal Organist in 1912. The position was maintained until 1981 when it was eliminated due to budget constraints. That same year a non-profit organization called Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ was formed in order to provide continued funding for a municipal organist (who would become an FOKO employee), as well as to fund maintenance and restoration of the organ.[1]
To date, there have been eleven municipal organists in Portland:[1]
- Will C. Macfarlane, 1912–1919
- Irvin John [James] Morgan, 1919–1921
- Edwin H. Lemare, 1921–1923
- Charles Raymond Cronham, 1924–1932
- Alfred Brinkler, 1935–1952
- John E. Fay, 1952–1976
- Douglas Rafter, 1976–1981
- Gerald McGee, 1983–1988
- Earl Miller, 1988–1989
- Ray Cornils, 1990–2017
- James Kennerley, 2018–present
Visiting organists
[edit]A partial list of notable organists who have played the Kotzschmar Memorial Organ:[1][4]
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External links
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References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Parkinson-Tucker, Janice (2005). Behind the Pipes: The Story of the Kotzschmar Organ. South Portland, Maine: Casco House Publishing. ISBN 0-9763041-1-2.
- ^ The American Municipal Pipe Organ Website
- ^ "Pipedreams #0124: The Maine Idea". Retrieved 27 October 2010.
- ^ "Archived Concerts". Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ. Archived from the original on 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
- ^ Thomas Heywood at the Kotzschmar Organ
- ^ Kapp, Madeline (August 24, 2016). "Orgelfest16 opener showcases masterful playing of Frederick Swann". Retrieved 2018-08-07.