Brian Ebie performs the Prelude and Fugue in C Major BWV 545 of Johann Sebastian Bach on a Hillgreen-Lane organ of 34 ranks in Alliance, Ohio.  

BachBWV545

Brian Ebie plays the three manual and pedal Mason & Hamlin Reed Organ at the historic Fayette Opera House in Fayette, Ohio.  The organ dates from 1875 and has been totally restored by Don Glasgow and Martin Ellis.  It is played regularly in recitals and has a uniquely early sound.  The arrangement of Simple Gifts by Dale Wood, although written for pipe organ, works perfectly on this old reed organ, adding a new tonal character.

Simple Gifts -- Dale Wood -- Played Mason & Hamlin Reed Organ 1875

Organist Brian Ebie plays Diane Bish's thrilling setting of the "Ode to Joy" of Ludwig van Beethoven.  This performance took place on Sunday, March 8, 2015 at the Bath United Church of Christ in Bath, Ohio as part of the American Guild of Organists Akron Chapter Member Recital.  The organ is a Schantz pipe organ built in 2004, of nearly 30 ranks.  Bath Church is a beautiful sanctuary with panoramic views of nature and bright, natural lighting.

Recorded on an iPhone 6+ using an Apogee MiC 96k microphone.

Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee Diane Bish

Organist Brian Ebie playing David Lowe's lovely setting of "My Country 'Tis of Thee" on the Rudolf Janke pipe organ of 3 manuals and pedal and 35 ranks. All mechanical action, ventil set generals, and unsteady winding.  Recorded on an iPhone 6+ with an Apogee Digital MiC.

Brian Ebie Plays My Country, 'Tis Of Thee -- Janke Tracker Pipe Organ

Billy Jones and Ernest Hare sing on this record with beautifully blended harmonies and expressive spoken narration.  

This is the first of a series of my uploads of early phonograph recordings.  Played on an Edison Diamond Disc BC-34 phonograph, the great Billy Jones and Ernest Hare sing one of the most beautiful performances of "That Old Gang of Mine."  Informational highlights on the artists and recording are interspersed throughout.  Record 51235-L / 9114.

Recorded with an Apogee MiC and an iPhone 6+

Gee but I'd give the world to see
That old gang of mine
I can't forget that old quartette that sang "Sweet Adeline"
Goodbye forever, old fellows and gals
Goodbye forever, old sweethearts and pals
(God bless them)
Gee but I'd give the world to see
That old gang of mine
Gee but I'd give the world to see
That old gang of mine
I can't forget that old quartette that sang "Sweet Adeline"
Goodbye forever, old fellows and gals
Goodbye forever, old sweethearts and pals
(God bless them)
Gee but I'd give the world to see
That old gang of mine

That Old Gang Of Mine -- Billy Jones & Ernest Hare -- Edison Record

Organist Brian Ebie plays Nun danket alle Gott on an 1866 Alexandre Père & Fils harmonium located in the Fayette, Ohio Opera House. This chorale prelude by south German composer Georg Frederich Kauffmann is for manuals only and works well on the harmonium. Part of the Glasgow collection. Recorded, November 2014.

Now Thank We All Our God -- 1866 Alexandre Pere & Fils Harmonium

Organist Brian Ebie plays Robert Lau's haunting setting of "Away in a Manger" on a 1936 Wicks Fuga pipe organ of two manuals and pedal, six ranks. 

This setting is based on the hymntune "Cradle Song"  composed by W. J. Kirkpatrick.  Merry Christmas and thank you for watching. 

Away in a Manger (1883, anonymous)

1. Away in a manger, no crib for his bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head;
The stars in the heavens looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

2. The cattle are lowing; the poor baby wakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.
I love thee, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

3. Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And fit us for heaven to live with thee there.

Away In A Manger - Wicks Fuga Pipe Organ

Organist Brian Ebie performs Alec Wyton's setting for pipe organ of Billy Strayhorn's haunting melody "Lotus Blossom."  Wyton, organist at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine improvised this arrangement at the funeral of Duke Ellington.  

Lotus Blossom Ellington/Strayhorn arr. Wyton

"O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß" (O man, bewail thy sins so great) is a Lutheran Passion hymn written in 1530.  Organist Brian Ebie plays Johann Pachelbel's Chorale Prelude setting, with the cantus firmus (melody) in the pedal.  Schoenstein pipe organ.  

Chorale Prelude:  O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß Johann Pachelbel

Organist Brian Ebie plays Chorale No. 3 in A Minor from Three Chorales of Cesar Franck.  

Cesar Franck Chorale No. 3 In A Minor -- Brian Ebie Organ

A soft lullaby for Christmas. Organist Brian Ebie plays Giralimo Frescobaldi's Capriccio Pastorale per Organo composed in 1615 on a 1936 Wicks Fuga pipe organ, opus 1524. Austrian Christmas pyramid depicting the nativity of Jesus Christ. This particular Pastorale has the character of a lullaby, with a gentle rocking feel.

Brian Ebie Plays -- Capriccio Pastorale Per Organo -- Frescobaldi -- WICKS FUGA Organ

The last day the organ played.

This performance of Kingsfold was the last of two songs played on the pipe organ before being removed from the church. The congregation is merging with another faith and the pipe organ was no longer needed in the building. Brian Ebie, owner of Brian Ebie Pipe Organ Service, and his crew, removed the instrument from the church, placing it in storage at his shop until it can be relocated to another church building. At the time of the recording, about 2/3 of the instrument was playing and had not been tuned in several years, yet it sounds lovely and has the sweet old sound that served the congregation for many years. The organ was III/22.

Kingsfold is a tune of many names in many hymnals, set by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 - 1958). Most commonly it appears as "O Sing A Song of Bethlehem" followed by "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say." Also known as Diversus And Lazarus, Diverus And Lazarus, Dives And Lazarus, Gilderoy, The Star Of County Down, When First I Left Old Ireland.

Other hymn texts set to Kingsfold include:

I feel the winds of God today
When Jesus left his Father's throne
To mock your reign, O dearest Lord
O Jesus, crowned with all renown
If You Could Hie to Kolob
We sing the mighty power of God
The hands that first held Mary's child

Brian Ebie Plays Kingsfold - Mogadore Christian Church

Brian Ebie received his bachelors and master’s degrees in education and music performance from the University of Akron (1990, 1993) and the doctor of philosophy in
music education/educational psychology from Kent State University (1999). 

Brian Ebie is Vice President of Hamrick Manufacturing, one of the world's leading builders of end-of-line packaging machinery.  Additionally, Brian is a skilled pipe organ tuner/technician, servicing many pipe organs in churches throughout Ohio.

He has given the world premiere of organ works at an American Guild of Organists Regional Convention, played recitals nationally, and has played the 206 rank Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ at the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City.  

Brian Ebie

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