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. Built in 1911 by the Austin Organ Co. as Opus 323, it 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[]
Municipal organists[]
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[]
A partial list of notable organists who have played the Kotzschmar Memorial Organ:[1][4]
|
External links[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kotzschmar Memorial Organ. |
References[]
- ^ 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.
Coordinates: 43°39′34″N 70°15′26″W / 43.65955°N 70.25725°W
- Individual pipe organs
- Culture of Portland, Maine
- Tourist attractions in Portland, Maine