Organs in San Francisco are played by Rodney Gehrke, David Hatt, and Robert Huw Morgan at Temple Sherith Israel, The Cathedral of St. Mary, and Stanford Memorial Church, respectively, as the camera shows us the spectacular interiors and exteriors of the buildings. Lined with electric light bulbs, the large and handsome Temple Sherith Israel contains a 1904 Murray M. Harris 3-manual organ in restored condition, complete with its early electropneumatic windchests made of Redwood. Though the organist no longer must fill the storage batteries with acid before playing, they remain, disconnected, in the organ chamber. In the distinctively modern Cathedral of St. Mary, the soaring central tower houses an appealing pedastal upon which the functional display of many ranks of the 4-manual Ruffati organ are arrayed. A Stanford University chapel, the unique architecture becomes a feast for the camera’s eye. Feasting the ear is the famous dual-temperament Fisk organ. The organs are exceptionally well recorded, and sound splendid on the high quality DVD soundtrack. In addition to the tours of these buildings, another section of the DVD entitled “Moods of San Francisco” features beautifully shot scenes of the city and the Bay area, as David Hatt plays his own work, “Columbus: Chorale, Prelude, and Variation” at St. Mary’s. A third section of the DVD features interviews with the three organists who discuss the organs and the music. A fourth section archives much more information about the organs which may be viewed on a computer equipped with a DVD drive. Contained in the package with the DVD is also a conventional CD with longer programs from the three organists. At St. Mary’s, Hatt plays: Hatt: Columbus: Chorale, Prelude, and Variation Reger: Fantasia, op. 135b Reger: Toccata, Canon, Prelude, op. 129 On the Murray Harris organ, Gehrke plays: Mendelssohn: Sonata 2 Franck: Cantabile At Stanford, Morgan plays both the Fisk and the newer Paul Fritts organ: Buxtehude: Prelude in g Couperin: Mass for the Parishes Attaignant: L’espoir que jay Kotter: Prooemium in D and Kochersperger Spanieler Weck: Hoppertanz |