by Daniel Hathaway
TODAY’S ALMANAC:
British organ virtuoso Edwin H. LeMare (pictured) was born on the Isle of Wight on this date in 1865. After establishing his credentials as a concert organist in England, he embarked on a 100-recital tour in the United States and Canada, and spent the rest of his career in North America. He died in Hollywood in 1934.
For a sampling of his performances of those adaptations as well as items from the standard organ literature, visit his family’s memorial website and listen to some rolls LeMare made on the Welte Philharmonic Organ.
LeMare stood head and shoulders among other performers in the era when huge crowds turned out to hear mainly transcriptions of orchestral music played on gigantic instruments often located in municipal halls.
In 1922, the Boston-based E.M. Skinner company installed the largest organ the firm ever built in Cleveland’s Public Auditorium, where it drew large audiences before other forms of entertainment became popular.
The Organ Historical Society paid a visit to Opus 328 during their 2009 convention (pictured), and from time to time, appeals have been made to make the instrument playable again.
