The American Guild of Organists announces a series of short book-length monographs on topics about the organ and the organ playing community. The AGO Monograph Series will offer in-depth and researched stories about the world of the organ: instruments, persons, trends, places, and traditions. The AGO Monograph Series will be made available as a free download to AGO members and other interested parties. The monographs can also be purchased in hard copy format as they become available.
The first three volumes are now available as downloads.
Complete and submit the form at the bottom of this page to receive a free copy of the monographs. You will be re-directed to a page where you can download one, two or all three monographs in PDF format. You will also receive an email with a link to the downloads page.
No. 1: J. Michael Barone and Pipedreams: The Organ on Public Radio
Michael Barone celebrates 50 years with Minnesota Public Radio. He was with the original stations that spawned the media giant nearly from its start. More importantly, hecreated a unique presence for the organ on the airwaves, produced a trove of original and important recordings, and 35 years ago, created the foremost organ-centered broadcast, Pipedreams. Read the accounts of how this came to be. This publication is now available as a downloadable document – just enter your name and email in the form below. You can also purchase a printed edition in the AGO online store – see the “Music/Essays/Catalog” section.
No. 2: The Organ on Campus
While we may, at first glance, assume that the role of the organ on university and music school campuses affects those majoring students who have chosen to earn degrees and pursue careers, we learn that the place of fine instruments on campuses serves goals beyond teaching and learning. What is the real influence and cultural meaning of the organ on campus as told through the eyes of faculty, students, administrators, and the academic community? This publication is now available as a downloadable document-just enter your name and email in the form below. You can also purchase a printed edition in the AGO online store – see the “Music/Essays/Catalog” section.
No. 3: The Making of a Virtuoso Organist
A select few individuals, through some mixture of talent, effort, teaching pedigree, smart career formation, and just plain luck advance to careers largely centered on concert performance. How are these virtuoso personalities “made”? A handful of young but established artists disclose their own routes to virtuosity, the joys and frustrations of the performing life, and the everyday work of making music on stage. This publication is now available as a downloadable document-just enter your name and email in the form below. You can also purchase a printed edition in the AGO online store – see the “Music/Essays/Catalog” section.
About the Author
Haig Mardirosian, veteran recitalist, writer, dean emeritus of the College of Arts and Letters at the University of Tampa, and professor emeritus of music at American University, wrote criticism for Fanfare Magazine and for The American Organist prior to producing his monthly TAO editorial column, “Vox Humana” from which many excerpts were drawn for his book, Vox Humana: Essays about the World of the Pipe Organ and Those Who Play it, published by Morningstar Music Publishers.
