Dear Stephen,

I am contacting you from the Promotions Department at Oxford University Press in the hope that you might be interested in performing Michael Finnissy’s Organ Symphony No. 4 for solo organ. Michael has written four Organ ‘Symphonies’, all of which are published by OUP. My reason for bringing the fourth to your attention is that Michael is especially fond of it and I think feels that, out of the four, it is the most accessible for both organist and listener. It was recently successfully featured at the Julliard School’s ‘British Renaissance’ series, for which I am sure Joel Sachs (Director of the New Julliard Ensemble) would be able to provide some sort of recommendation.

I would be happy to send you a perusal score and recording, so do get in touch if the idea of performing this work appeals to you.

Finally, I have added a review from Choir and Organ magazine in 2010:
"Like much of Michael Finnissy's music, they make ferocious demands on player and listener, and on first sight the scores are daunting. But they are difficult for a reason, and the rewards to be reaped from careful study of these works will be considerable . . . But those who lament the 'exclusion' of the organ from the mainstream of contemporary musical life should take heart that a composer of Finnissy's eminence has added works of such significance to its repertoire." - Choir & Organ March 2010

Very best wishes,
Ollie Fitzgerald

Repertoire Promotion
Oxford University Press
Music Department
Great Clarendon Street
Oxford OX2 6DP
Tel: +44 (0)1865 355021
Mob: +44 (0)7824 140571

Hi Stephen!

I hope this finds you well and every time I check out your site the reviews I read about you are truly humbling and your concert list keeps growing! And to think that I remember you helping the teachers play music during devotions and thinking, he's "pretty good!!" I am so thrilled that you took your passion and ran!
Anyways, a little business and a little pleasure to discuss. First of all, my church, St. John's in Wheaton, IL was wonering if we could get some information on a performance in 2014. With that said, I think it would be fun, if we could coordinate an outing OR a 30 year reunion around your visit. I noticed you have a January concert and June concert scheduled. Anything available in the Spring? I will set you up with our church to work out all of the details, but I thought I would make the first contact to introduce and then see if maybe we can mix some reunion fun in with a visit. Feel free to contact me at my personal e-mail, but also my work e-mail s.ekberg@henricksen.com
It looks like you are in Europe today. Be safe, take care and I look foward to hearing from you.

Best-
Stephanie

Hello Stephen,

I'm a french composer for organ (born in 1956) who begins to be well-known in Europe and in USA. In particular, Kevin Bowyer often plays some of my organ works ; a couple of them are recorded/filmed on Youtube. Alistair Reid is going to play my “Salut messianique” on February 12th, on the Fisk organ of the Memorial Church of Harvard University, and another organ work (Fantaisie) of mine soon.

I stopped all concert in 1999 for many reasons so I count on organists as you to play (or record !) my organ works !

You can hear all of my organ works (free MP3) in my website ; all of them have been recorded with my own digital organ about ten years ago to give to the organists one idea of my personal - and last - performance (no marketing) :
http://thierrypallesco.free.fr/english.htm
If you want me to give you a free PDF score, ask me by mail!
Le « Salut messianique » is the most played/recorded piece and it’s not very difficult to play. I have been played in France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Canada and USA.

Here is my biography (from my website) :

Thierry Pallesco was born in Paris in 1956. After achieving his piano studies at the Conservatoire National de Région de Versailles in the class of Madeleine Chacun - he later became one of her assistants - he studied the organ at the Ecole Nationale de Musique d'Orsay with André Isoir (gold medal in 1980), then with Rolande Falcinelli at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris where he got the first prizes in harmony (in 1980), in counterpoint (in 1981) and in fugue (in 1982) then his prize in organ.
All of his organ works have been published in France and Germany.
At the present time, he is harmony teacher at the department of musicology at the University of Poitiers. He has been organist of the Cathédrale St-Spire de Corbeil-Essonnes (in the Paris area).

Happy new Year, and best wishes,

Thierry Pallesco
Professor in Poitiers University (France)
Personal mail : tpallesco@yahoo.fr

DEAR MR THARP
I am a great fan of your albums cds
the french music is wonderful and my friend says me the Goldberg are greats
please, can you post me a signed photo?
my address is : miss PAQUE mylene
28 rue Hotel d Angleterre
29680 Roscoff FRANCE
THANK YOU VERY MUCH

Hi Stephen, We would like to order more of your CDs, ER-104 and ER-108, but I can't seem to get in touch with you by email or phone. Please call us at 803-353-9226 so we can continue to promote your music in our catalog. Thank you, Laura Krzyston

Hi Stephen, I heard you play at Methuen years ago and still remember it as a great experiience
I would like to know if you have any copys of "Organ Classics at St. Patrick's Cathedral"? Do you know where I get get a copy? Will any more be produced?
Thanks. Best Wishes,
Larry Whitney

Dear Stephen Tharp,
Some month ago I received form you two cd's to present them on our Musica Religiosa Orgelradio in the Netherlands. I also make a one hour radioprogramm with organ music on the sunday evenings. This summer I'm busy to make a series of 5 'portraits' of International toporganists. One of them is you. I possess allready the cd's from Bavo-Haarlem and of Mary the Virgin. Our 'fonotheek'with lots of music possesses two cd's: Mendelsohns-sonates and Complete works of Jeanne Demessieux. Because I want to present you as an allround player I miss the cd's Hymns old and new, Organ classics from St.Patrick's and the Goldberg Variations. Is it possible to send them to my address: IKON Radio Postbus 10009 1201 DA Hilversum NL? The time of broadcasting is foreseen on the 5 of August 22:02-23:00. I also intend to present them on our webradio Musica Religiosa Orgelradio. Thank you very much to pay attention to this mail and kind regards, Kees Schuurman

We are inerested in having you play a recital at our church, St. Anne, Bethlehem, PA. Schantz III/45, 1977. We have no date in mind. This would be a benefit for a new console, which is sorely needed. Thank you.

Dear Mr. Tharp!
I heard your concert in Waldsassen Stiftsbasilika last Sunday the 17th of June and i even had the honor to talk with you about your magnificant interpretation of Henri Mulet´s Tu es Petrus if you remember. For myself organ playing is only a means to recover from a stressing studying day and a rejoising to the people in the sunday mass with a few french Toccatas;-) Therefore it is a personal happening for me to meet one of the best, even not to say THE best (and enjoyable!) organist in the world! It was a pleasure for me to hear your concert!
At the end of our conversation you mentioned: ´Perhaps we´ll meet at one of the next concerts...` Well - I saw you visit the St. Stephan´s Cathedral at Passau on 20th of september. Let´s see if we will meet again!

In honour of your beautiful music!

Thomas

Stephen,

Checking to see if your Easter Fanfares have been published.

Thank you,
Franklin

Dear Mr. Tharp,
have Adress from Marcus Strümpe. Looking for my
Festival St. Peter/Freiburg/Germany.
Every Sunday from 22. Juli- 26. August 2012.
Is one Date for you possible/Germany/Tournee?
Thank you for answer Yours Johannes Götz

Easter Fanfares: Well what can I say, Exciting,true blilliance, you have so much passion. This piece is remarkable. The expression is overwhelming. Truly a fanfare to the risen Christ!! The new Dupre. Thank you!! WOW!!!!

Dear Stephen,

as a musician, you might be interested in our unusual stock of music.
At LEWTHWAITEmusic, we have a large inventory of second hand and antiquarian music scores.
Many of these editions are no longer published and date from around 1900 to the present day.
If this might interest you, please visit our specialist shop:

http://www.stores.ebay.co.uk/lewthwaitemusic


We look forward to hearing from you.



STUART & UTE
LEWTHWAITEmusic
Newton Hall, The Stables
Newton, Carnforth
LA6 2NZ
phone: 01524 272727
www.stores.ebay.co.uk/lewthwaitemusic

Dear Stephen.

Just came across your U Tube presentation of Mulet\'s passionate \"Thou Art the Rock\" and was delighted and thrilled to see you play it. This is one of my favorites and you played it just the way I love to hear it - Bravo !!!!

As a college student at Heidelberg College in Ohio I was very fortunate to have a music appreciation professor who studied organ under Virgil Fox - so I you might say I have been \"Virgilized\" for some time.

Your video is a joy to watch because I am fascinated to see how your hands deliver the notes while showcasing them with
clarity and vigor. I know the work well but seeing how the notes are phrased by the hands with the timing is so beautiful to behold.


What\'s missing of course, are the feet. My I make a suggestion? I have seen many other organ videos but there is just one where a window is established in the lower left corner that captures a camera angle of the feet during the performance. Its very effective but more importantly it visually ties together the base notes with the hand melodies and so much more. Now all the notes are packaged for one to see and feel.

Perhaps you could enlighten me on a question I have had for some time. With all of his beautiful works for piano and orchestra composed - why are there no performances of Edvard Grieg in organ??? I know Virgil did a few himself but
there appears to be no major collection of any sort that I have come upon or that anyone I have asked knows about.

How sad - his works capture the soul and they are near and dear to our family\'s Norwegian heritage.

Many thanks to you for making your video available to all of us and since this is my first time ever communicating with a performer vial email, I hope it was meaningful.

God Bless You Always -

Wick
Portsmouth, New Hampshire






Mulet

Will \"Disney\'s Trumpets\" be published for others to perform and enjoy. Thank you.

Dear Stephen:
My father, organist/composer Richard Keys Biggs, was organist at the catholic cathedral there in Brooklyn around 1918-1923. He was the first in this country to record Bach's Toccata and Fuge in D minor, etc., etc. Anyway, please let me know if you'd like to know about his (and my) compositions for organ. And good luck with your program on November 18th.
John Biggs
http://consortpress.com/Bio.Reviews.html

Mr. Tharp,
I attended your wonderful concert at Merrill Auditorium in Portland, Maine tonight. What a terrific program it was! Your playing is so very musical that I enjoyed every note; you make it seem as if your music-making is all about the music rather than about you.

My friend, who is also an organist, and I agreed that it was one of the most satisfying organ programs that we have attended in quite some time. I have some of your CD's (thanks to Joe Vitacco) and so was expecting some fine playing, but you surpassed even what I was expecting.

Thank you so much for a most pleasurable and satisfying evening.

Sincerely,
Stewart Shuster

Dear Mr Tharp,
my name is Nicolas Berndt and I am studying organ at the Leipzig university of music "Felix Medelssohn-Bartholdy".
As I am very much interested in your organ transcription of the Totentanz by Liszt, I want to ask you very kindly, whether it would be possible to gain a copy of this work.
With all best wishes for your impressive organ playing
Nicolas Berndt

Lieber Stephen, liebe Lena,
hier eine kleine Rückmeldung zur CD "Goldberg-Variationen", die ich mit Begeisterung mir angehört habe. Einerseits einfühlsam, sensibel, andererseits gleichzeitig brilliant und virtuos interpretiert sind die Variationen des großen Meisters zu einer Folge von Diamanten geworden, jedes Stück für sich ist ein musikalischer Edelstein. - Auch die "Zugabe" in Form der "Guided Tour" ist sehr hörenswert; die Vorstellung der Register ist gleichzeitig ein Blick in die Geschichte der (Orgel-)Musik und des Orgelbaus. Die Sätze zur Vorstellung einzelner Register berücksichtigen den historischen Kontext des jeweiligen Registers, und die "Narration" ist so klar, präzise und verständlich, dass auch ein mit der englischen Sprache nicht so vertrauter Mensch alles versteht. Dass die Einspielung auf einer "Super-Orgel" geschah, ist sicherlich auch zu berücksichtigen; aber ohne einen "Super-Organisten" wie Stephen Tharp wäre ein so hörenswertes Ergebnis nicht zustandegekommen. Grandios auch die -leider zu kurze- Improvisation im Tutti, die Kapazitäten einer CD sind jedoch begrenzt. Alles in Allem: Respekt und Glückwunsch!
Herbert Schnier

Stephen,

Has the Easter Fanfares been published? If so, where can I purchase them?

Thank you,
Franklin

Good evening Mr. Tharp. I am a non professional organist and conductor from Como (the town of the lake, North of Milan, Italy). My professional past is in aviation and at present as a Sheraton manager. I like your nice music as many Italians do. Please, may I have the onor to translate your web into Italian? Eventually you may decide to create your Italian presentation. Regards. Dr. Luca Berti

Loved your concert tonight at the Disney Hall in LA.

I especially enjoyed Disney\'s Trumpets. What a great piece of music. Are there any plans to make it available on CD or podcast?

Thanks,
Dave Pierce

Dearest Stephen,

Looking over your website is truly an awesome experience. You have loved the organ from the time you were very little. I always believed in you and knew you would develop the gift that God had given you. Now you have grown into a magnificent artist bringing exhilarating joy to your audiences around the world. You have always been a blessing, and I am so very proud of you and your accomplishments and love you with all my heart.

Love always, my dear son. Mom

cher monsieur j adore vos cds l integrale DEMESSIEUX est magnifique encore! serait-il possible de recevoir une photo dedicacee?(signed photo) mon adresse est : QUEMENT loic 32st rue albert demun 29680 roscoff france en vous remerciant

Hello Stephen! I listened to your brilliant playing on youtube(easter fanfare) and would like to know if this piece has been published?
yours sincerely
Anders Inge
organist , Sweden

I was just checking to see if your Easter Fanfares had been published - thank you.

The Exceptionally Gifted Child has been published by Lulu Publishers. The book is dedicated to you.

Helene

Grand Concert last night at Ocean Grove! Always a pleasure to see and hear you play - a true inspiration to us Organists.
Looking forward to seeing you and Lena at future events on your calendar(particularly when you can make it up to West Point !!!) Wishing you a nice summer and hope to see you again soon! Fraternally Organistically Yours, Peter!

I recently came across Easter Fanfares on YouTube and was astounded by it and wonder if there is a way that I can obtain a copy of the score. I am not an organist, but a compoer who loves the organ. As with any instrument, I find the best way to learn how to write for it is to study the work of other composers. I also hope you will include it on some future recording project.

Kevin Eppich

Hej! (Hi in Swedish).

U properly dont know this....., but.....
The Swedish crownprinsess Viktoria is about to get married.
An the Swedish national radio has wedding music as theme
this week.
And yours wonderful Easter Fanfares is one is one of them.

It´s a masterpiece...!!!

Thanks for Easter Fanfares!

Regards / Per Österberg

http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2462&artikel=3727762

Dear Mr. Tharp,

Will you to send me the totally (composers and organworks) program of your organ recital in St. Sulpice on 26th -09-2010 to me?
We will visit your concert from The Netherlands.

Thank you for a message.

Best regards,

Lammert Bonenberg

I would like to know how I may purchase a copy of your Easter Fanfares.

Thank you,
Franklin

cher monsieur Tharp je viens d ecouter votre cd Mendelssohn c est tres beau serait il possible de recevoir une photo dedicacee pour mylene quement 32 rue albert demun 29680 roscoff france en vous remerciant et en esperant vous entendre sur les orgues de bretagne

Am listening to your Easter Fanfares from St Patrick's Cathedral on youtube, indulging in the rich harmonies.I am a parish church organist in UK who was priviledged to be a chorister at Lincoln cathedral in the 1970's, heard some great improvisation over the years, and in 2000 got to play the Aeolian-Skinner at St Barts when on a school choir tour in NYC, never fail to be inspired by these magnificent instruments. Will look out for your next recital in the UK. Thank you for playing new music!

I was cruising through YouTube, looking for artists playing Tu Est Petra, and came across your video. Thank you for the inspiring job you did. I look forward to incorporationg some of your interpetations into my performance!

Hi Stephen,

So sorry to have missed your concert at Baylor. Duties back at my University, etc. Enjoyed your masterclass very much and look forward to seeing you in Fort Worth in July.

Best,

Linton Powell

Good afternoon, Dear Mr. Tharp.
My family and me are admirers of You. I beg Your pardon, but I have a request to make. I am one people who wishes the picture or CD with Your autograph.
Thank You preliminary with great pleasure. I wish You happiness, good health and all success.
With love from Lithuania.


Respectfully Yours Antanas Abromaitis

My complete address:

Antanas Abromaitis
Pasilaiciu 8 - 10
Vilnius
Lithuania

Great seeing you at St. James LA in '09 -- wonderful concert! Memories of St. Barts! (Ken Cowan is at Disney Hall this weekend.) Have you played the organ at the ($205M) Overture Center in Madison, WI yet?
Best Always ~ Cindy

Hi Stephen,

I would like to know if your Easter Fanfares is in print, or how i could obtain a copy? It's a stunning piece!!

Regards,
Andy. (Organists from Australia)

Easter Fanfares From New York.I cannot play or read one single note of music.But I know a bit of class when i hear it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Any chance of you coming to Canterbury Cathedral In Kent in the Uk ?: Id be there a week before so so I could meet you.Thankyou so much.Happy New Year to you and yours.Best Wishes Harri Wiggins. ( A VERY YOUNG 50!)

Hello,

I have seen video of you playing at St Patricks in NYC is there a DVD avalable?

Wonderful playing!

David

I love what you're doing.
Ambassador Charlie Ray
Nashville, TN

Hallow

I like to buy JAV 178 from you in st bavo Haarlem.
How can I do this?

Bonnie Belanger reported that you were sensational at the AGO convention in Albuquerque. We would like to have you at Baylor for our midwinter organ conference, either February 14-16, 2010 or perhaps 2011, depending upon your schedule and our budget. The organ conference endowment took a nose dive this past year, so we might not have enough money this year. Please let me know what your fee would be for a recital and master class. We had Marilyn Mason and Robert Plimpton last year. In the past, we have had Vincent Dubois, Paul Jacobs, Todd Wilson, John Weaver, Karel Paukert, Lynne Davis, James David Christie, and Gillian Weir (she and Fred Swann were both part of the distinguished artist series at Baylor, which is how we could afford them, but we get to have an organist on that series only once every 6-8 years and the 2009-10 season is already set.) It would be a great pleasure to have you. 2010 will be the 16th annual midwinter organ conference at Baylor. We usually have only about 50-60 registrants, as we are not able to do a lot of advertising. Best wishes for continued success.

HEY STEVE: IT WAS GREAT SEEING AND HEARING YOUR PERFORMANCE LAST SUNDAY 8-16-09. I HOPE TO SEE TOM WEISFLOG @ROCKEFELLER CHAPEL THIS COMING SUNDAY AND REQUEST HE GET YOU IN TO PERFORM ON THE E.M.SKINNER OPUS 634. PAUL HANSON WILL WORK THRU CHICAGO AGO.

hi there,
I was one of the Las Cantantes members that went to NYC. I just wanted to thank you personally after all this time for you time and effort.

Good Morning... I am wondering if "Easter Fanfares" is published? If so, by whom? Thank youl

Hello Stephen!

My name is Johannes Skoog, I’m 16 years old (soon 17) and studies organ for Mathias Kjellgren in Maria Magdalena church in Stockholm, Sweden.
I admire your work a lot. I do honestly believe that you are the best American organists and one of the most inspiring organists in the world. The way you interpret the works you play, the emotions you give rise to in your performances are truly admirable! I appreciate listening to your recordings, very much! I’m really looking forward to hear your CD from St Ouen in Rouen. It is one of my favourite Cavaillé-Coll organs!
I just saw a performance of the “Easter Fanfares” you composed to the inauguration of the new “en Chamade Tuba “in the organ of Cologne Dom. Are you going to publish this unbelievable amazing piece?
Once again, your performances are truly inspiring!

Thank you and have a good evening!

Best Regards

Johannes Skoog

Dear Stephen Tharp,

thank you very much for the great concert at Pinnacle Church, Scottsdale, AZ in March 2009. It was very impressive for me as a German from Hamburg to listen to that fabulous music and your outstanding playing in the desert of Arizona so far away from my contry and its tradition in organ music. The beatyful organ of Pinnacle Church was remembering me to the famous Arp Schnitger organ at St. Jacobi Kirche in my town. A wonderful evening, thank you again.

Dear Mr.Tharp,
Just wanted you to know how much I enjoyed your recital yesterday at St.Thomas!
As you know, it is SO rare to hear works of Max Reger performed. Your performace of Op. 40, was truly outstanding! Also, it really sounded GREAT on the Arents organ.
I do hope that sometime in the near future someone will have a recital series featuring exclusively the works of Reger.
Of course you have to have the RIGHT Organ and the RIGHT organist. Perhaps you are the one?
I also would like to mention that some time ago (November) I believe, your CD of one of Jeanne Demessieux's Preludes was aired on WNYC on evening music.
I really didn't know too much about her work. However, I have recently discovered and received a CD of her performing her Preludes. I look forward to ordering your CD of her great work.
Agaiin, Thank you for a most memrable recital at St. Thomas!
Sincerely,
Frank Schramm

Hello Mr Tharp!

I am writing to let you know how much I admire your skills. I just finished watching one of your videos on youtube, and I was almost moved to tears hearing those heavenly,tuneful melodies. Kindly let me know how I can obtain one of your hymn recordings if you have any. I have preference for anglican hymns. Thanks . I look forward to hearing from you.

Was für eine gelungene Seite, Stephen und Lena. :-) Es ist eine Freude, sich durch die unterschiedlichen Bereiche zu bewegen und mit jedem Besuch neue Dinge zu entdecken.

Glückwunsch zu dieser gelungenen Website, der ich viele Besucher(innen) und besonders viele Hörer(innen) wünsche. Weiterhin Dir, lieber Stephen, und Dir, liebe Lena, viel Kreativität und Erfolg beim interpretatorischen und kompositorischen Schaffen! "...Daraus geht hervor, dass die Musik die vornehmste aller Wissenschaften ist und dass jeder sie in gehöriger Weise vor allen anderen kennen muss. Und dies lässt sich auch beweisen. Denn keine Wissenschaft hat es gewagt, außer der Musik allein, in den Kirchenraum einzudringen." (Thomas von Aquin: De arte musica)

Stephen, I enjoyed your concert so much last night at the Stiftskirche in Stuttgart, Germany. You are soooo musical!! I finished a masters in accompanying with John Wustman at the Univ. of Illinois in 1981. I'm curious as to how the organ at the Stiftskirche compares with the organ at Grace Church or other organs you have played in the States....?
Kind regards,
Mark