1861 E. & G. G. Hook Organ, Opus 300
The Holy Cross organ is not only beautiful to see and hear, and a very practical tool for leading the worship of the assembly, it is a rare surviving example of a three-manual (three keyboard) instrument by this firm, considered the foremost 19th Century American organbuilder. Most of the pipework dates to 1861.
Short History and Stoplist
Toccata on "Placare Christe Servulis ~Marcel Dupré, played by Daniel J. Susan
Improvisation on "Earth and All Stars" ~Daniel J. Susan
(note: these files will be downloaded to your system the first time you access them)
You can download the free RealPlayer software that you'll need to listen to this file from RealNetworks.
Please note that Real Networks charges for some versions of their player, so be sure to download the free one. No subscription is necessary.
See and hear the Holy Cross organ played by Daniel Susan on YouTube. Works by Manz and Duruflé.
http://www.youtube.com/user/Dbsusan
"THE HOOK CHRONICLES"
a blog about the day-to-day upkeep of the historic 1861 Hook organ, by Daniel J. Susan,
http://thehookchronicles.blogspot.com/
The "Mighty Hook" will turn 150 years old in 2011 and we hope to offer a series of programs to begin in 2010. Many recitalists set their schedules years in advance so planning has begun. Watch for updates. Volunteers are needed. Please consider offering your help.
LINKS OF INTEREST
Pipedreams, weekly radio program from Minnesota Public Radio: http://pipedreams.publicradio.org/
"Historic Organs of Michigan," Pipedreams program that includes the Holy Cross Hook: http://pipedreams.publicradio.org/listings/2001/0113/
St. John's Organ Society, Bangor, Maine. Hook opus 288: http://hookopus288.org/
E & G.G. Hook History up to 1860: http://www.concertartist.info/organhistory/history/hist071.html
Hook/Hook & Hastings after 1860: http://www.concertartist.info/organhistory/history/hist072.html
How a pipe organ works: http://pipedreams.publicradio.org/articles/how_a_pipe_organ_works/howapipeorganworks.shtml
Hook opus 553, Berlin, Germany: http://www.hook-orgel.de/
Wikipedia article on pipe organs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipe_organs
Organ Historical Society: http://www.organsociety.org/
American Guild of Organists (AGO): http://www.agohq.org/home.html
Detroit Chapter, AGO: http://detroitago.org/Options.html
Holy Cross Home Page