It’s about time. S. Wayne Foster, perhaps the finest classical organist (and harpsichordist) to ever live and work in Charleston, departed the Holy City around two years ago — after quite a spell first as Artist-in-Residence and then as Organist/Director of Music at First (Scots) Presbyterian Church. He appeared to be settling into Charleston for the long haul, working his way deeply into local musical life — and even buying a home in West Ashley.
We might’ve known we’d never get to keep him. All the while, he remained a touring concert organist, bolstering his international reputation as one of the finest organists of his generation. So when the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles — home to the world’s largest pipe organ — came calling, Wayne made the agonized decision to accept what is certainly one of America’s handful of top organ posts. His departure was cause for abject grief among Charleston’s sacred music buffs … and we’ve missed him fiercely ever since.
Well, glory be, he’s back in town — but just for a visit and a recital. He’ll appear at First Scots (53 Meeting St.) tomorrow (Thursday, June 28) at 7:30; admission is free. His program includes the music of Buxtehude, Guilmant, Sawyers, Neswick and Stern.
If you’ve never heard him, this man makes the organ sound like nobody else can. He plays with a level of precision, clarity and expression you’ll swear you’ve never heard before. Even if you’re not an organ buff, this guy will change your mind. DON’T MISS IT! Read more about this amazing artist here.
6 Comments
The organ in Los Angeles is NOT the largest in the world NOR the largest in a religious edifice.
Emerson Richards is absolutely correct. The Los Angeles organ is neither the largest organ in the world nor the largest in a religious edifice. Checking facts before publishing is always a good idea.
You can get into all sorts of arguments about ‘the largest’ pipe organ.
According to David Willey, who has composed a large list of largest organs, First Congregational has the fourth largest organ in the world - following Atlantic City, Wanamaker, and the Cadet Chapel at West Point.
According to that list, the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove CA has the fifth-largest organ.
I have been to both locations, and their instruments are truly awesome. Both organs are divided into different locations in the buildings, but put together, they can make the place shake.
Two additional comments:
Both First Congregational and Crystal Cathedral have websites that give extensive decriptions of their organs.
See http://www.fccla.org.
David Willey’s list uses the number of ranks in each organ. It is often nearly impossible to give the exact number of pipes, which would be a more accurate description, but organs get ‘renovated’ so often that they lose count.
without a doubt, the Atlantic city city organ is the largest, then wanamakers.
I`d say at some point in time that the west point organ will be the largest, its just a matter of when.
Yes, it is generally agreed that Atlantic City is the largest, but it is always pointed out that it is “partially functional”. I assume that is a civic auditorium of some type, and the powers that be these days probably don’t consider an organ to be high priority in the budget.
Although it is in a church, the rather famous instrument in St. Bavo’s in Haarlem, Holland is reputedly “city owned”. That’s a strange arrangement, but they do things differently in Europe.