The Aeolian Organ at Duke University Chapel Christopher Jacobson

• 1 Finlandia, Op. 26 (arr. H.A. Fricker for organ) 07:52
• 2 Rhapsody, Op. 17, No. 1 05:46
• 3 Organ Symphony No. 2: II. Vif 04:42
• 4 Irish Air from County Derry (version for organ) 03:57
• 5 Prelude No. 1 in B Major 03:11
• 6 Fugue No. 1 in B Major 03:47
• 7 Prelude No. 2 in F Minor 03:26
• 8 Fugue No. 2 in F Minor 04:04
• 9 Prelude No. 3 in G Minor 03:32
• 10 Fugue No. 3 in G Minor 03:20
• 11 Rhosymedre (Lovely) 04:36
• 12 Marche Héroïque 06:43
• 13 Gospel Preludes, Book 2: No. 4. Jesus Loves Me 05:39
• 14 6 Pieces: No. 6. Grand choeur dialogue (arr. S. McIntosh for organ and brass sextet) 05:11
• Total Runtime 01:05:46

Info for The Aeolian Organ at Duke University Chapel

The Aeolian Opus 1785 pipe organ of Duke University Chapel in Durham, NC was built in 1932 and completely restored in 2008. It stands today, as it did over eighty years ago, as a towering testament to the twentieth-century symphonic tradition of organ building.

This album presents a collection of equally twentieth-century organ compositions, transcriptions and arrangements, ranging from Irish folk tunes arranged for organ by Edwin H. Lemare and Gospels by William Bolcom, to Marcel Duprés monumental Trois Préludes et Fugues Op. 7 and a transcription of Sibelius Finlandia, all performed by Duke Chapels organist, Christopher Jacobson.

It is the first commercial recording made on the instrument since its restoration and it gives a chance to hear the instruments unique voice in a way never possible before. It is particularly the instruments unique voice which inspired Christopher Jacobson to record this album: The orchestral sounds of the Aeolian organ at Duke Chapel represent a special and unique voice amongst Americas organs. Designed to rival and complement the sounds of a symphony orchestra the Aeolians ability to elegantly whisper and powerfully roar is paralleled by only a handful of other organs across America. Not many of these large symphonic organs have survived in their original state into the twenty-first century. This disc represents a sonic journey one-hundred years back in time to a period when these tremendous instruments were regularly heard by thousands of music lovers in homes, concert halls, and churches across America.

Christopher Jacobson, Aeolian Organ Duke University Chapel

Christopher Jacobson
was recently appointed Organist of Duke Chapel at Duke University. He was previously the Associate Organist and Choirmaster at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Columbia, South Carolina where he assisted in directing and training the cathedral choirs and played for weekly Eucharist and Evensong liturgies. Mr. Jacobson also served on the faculty as instructor of organ at the University of South Carolina’s School of Music. Prior to his appointment at Trinity Cathedral he was Assistant Organist and Assistant Director of Music at Washington National Cathedral.

As a soloist Mr. Jacobson has presented organ recitals across North America, Europe, and Australia. He has won prizes in numerous organ competitions including the National Young Artist Competition (NYACOP), the Miami International Organ Competition, and first prize in the American Guild of Organists/Quimby Region VI Competition for Young Organists and the John R. Rodland Competition in church music. As an accompanist he has accompanied choirs in residencies and tours to Saint Thomas Church, New York City, Wells Cathedral, Canterbury Cathedral, Durham Cathedral in England, the American Cathedral in Paris, and the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi in Italy. He has also served as accompanist for many RSCM summer courses across the country. An active continuo artist Mr. Jacobson appears regularly with the early music ensemble, Three Notch’d Road and the North Carolina Baroque Orchestra.

Mr. Jacobson holds the Master of Music degree in Organ Performance and the Sacred Music Diploma from the Eastman School of Music as well as the Associate diploma from the American Guild of Organists. At Eastman he studied organ with David Higgs, and improvisation and continuo with William Porter. Mr. Jacobson received the Bachelor of Music degree with distinction in Organ Performance from St. Olaf College where he studied with John Ferguson and Catherine Rodland. He is a graduate of Woodberry Forest where he began his organ study with French organist Yvaine Duisit, and the American Boychoir School as a treble chorister under James Litton.

Booklet for The Aeolian Organ at Duke University Chapel