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Views from the Choir Loft

Mark Dwyer • Concert to Benefit the E. & G. G. Hook & Hastings (1875) Organ at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross

Richard J. Clark · October 23, 2018

ARK DWYER, Organist and Choirmaster of the Church of the Advent and one of the finest church musicians in the country, will have the distinction of shining the light on two glorious Hook organs in Boston all at the same time — and in one concert.

With the Cathedral of the Holy Cross currently under renovation, fundraising for the Cathedral’s historic 101-rank E. & G. G. Hook & Hastings Organ, Opus 801 (1875) continues with a concert at Saint John’s Seminary:

Sunday, October 28, 2018, 3:00pm
St. John’s Seminary • 127 Lake St., Boston, MA 02135 Dwyer will play works by Sowerby, Franck, Handel, and Whitlock on the beautiful Hook & Hastings — 1902, Opus 1833 restored by the Andover Organ Company in 2015.

• Download concert poster and info here.
• Download concert program here.
• Suggested donation: $20. Boston AGO members, Seniors, and Students: $10.
• Parking is available at Saint John’s Seminary.
• The Seminary is accessible by the MBTA Green Line “B Train” outbound to Boston College (end of the line).

The Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston, Massachusetts contains one of the most notable historic pipe organs, the 101-rank E. & G. G. Hook & Hastings Organ, Opus 801 (1875). Quite distinctive and rare is not that it is Hook’s largest organ, or that it was the largest organ built in America at that time, but that it is still nearly tonally intact from 1875. It is a concrete link to many generations who have worshipped in Boston. It is a living and breathing connection to sacred art and to our treasured traditions. These in turn elevate our minds and hearts to God and remind us of who we are today.

• Listen to several brilliant improvisations by Mark Dwyer on the Cathedral Opus 801 organ here.

• Listen to Janet Hunt perform on the Seminary’s Opus 1833 organ here.

ALL PROCEEDS GO ENTIRELY to the Cathedral Organ Restoration Fund for the E. & G. G. Hook, Opus 801. While the instrument has come a very long way in recent decades, there is much more restoration work that needs to be done. I hope to prioritize additional restoration projects in collaboration with the Andover Organ Company.

Another happy development is that with the removal of a great deal of carpeting and the addition of marble floors, the glorious sound will be further enhanced. Any funds contributed will be supported by an improved acoustic! We wish to keep it playing more beautifully than ever and for years to come.

The main sanctuary of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross is scheduled to reopen in time for Holy Week of 2019. (The Cathedral’s Blessed Sacrament Chapel and Our Lady’s Chapel are still open and continue to serve the Cathedral Parish.) I also greatly look forward to Leo Abbott’s rededication recital of the E. & G. G. Hook, Opus 801. As Music Director and Organist of the Cathedral for thirty-three years, it is truly his voice and he makes it sing like no one can.

E OWE AN ENORMOUS DEBT OF GRATITUDE to Leo Abbott, FAGO, ChM. for nearly singlehandedly driving the ongoing restoration of this beautiful instrument that was in disrepair (and at times silent) for parts of the Twentieth Century. It has been a labor of love that began with cleaning pipes in the basement and doing a number of improvements on a shoestring budget. My intention is to build upon Abbott’s legacy and allow this instrument to continue to serve the greater glory of God.

This concert is co-sponsored by the Boston Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. In addition, Many thanks to Janet Hunt, Director of Music and Organist at St. John’s Seminary for hosting this benefit concert two years in a row. Such collaboration for the sake of sacred music, art, and beauty is rare and very special!

Soli Deo gloria

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Pipe Organ Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Richard J. Clark

Richard J. Clark is the Director of Music of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.—(Read full biography).

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    26 January 2023 • FEEDBACK
    “Jeff, I wanted to personally thank you for your spiritual witness at the Symposium & often blogs that you write too. Praying that prayer in the mornings My God, my Father and my all (by Cardinal Merry Del Val), mentioning saints’ stories of Brébeuf, Jogues, John Vianney, monks who fought in WWII, their hard work in spite of terrible conditions, their relentless zeal for the faith, their genuine love for the laypeople they served, etc. Overall though—more than anything concrete I can point to that you did or said—it was your demeanor at the Symposium. I could tell you really absolutely love and believe the Catholic Faith. You don’t get that everywhere, even in Church circles. And your humility is what then makes that shine even brighter. It is super inspiring! God is working through you probably way more than you know.”
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    Symposium Draft Schedule Released!
    Those who head over to the Symposium Website will notice the tentative schedule for 2023 has been released. This is all very exciting! Very soon, we will begin accepting applications, so please make sure you have subscribed to our mailing list. If you are subscribed, that means you'll hear announcements before anyone else. (It’s incredibly easy to subscribe to our mailing list; just scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.)
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    Good Friday Polyphony by L. Senfl
    The editor of the Sacred Music Magazine recently made available to the public this splendid article by our own Charles Weaver. It includes an edition of polyphony for the GOOD FRIDAY “Reproaches.” Renaissance composers often set the various offices of Holy Week; e.g. readers will probably be familiar with the beautiful TENEBRAE setting by Father Tomás Luis de Victoria (d. 1611). From what I can tell, Ludwig Senfl (d. 1543) was originally a Catholic priest, but eventually was seduced by Luther and ended up abandoning the sacred priesthood.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Gregorian chant is the sacred chant, proper and principal of the Roman Church. Therefore, not only can it be used in all liturgical actions, but unless there are mitigating circumstances, it is preferable to use it instead of other kinds of sacred music.”

— §16, De Musica Sacra (1958)

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