| Organ Restoration Symposium, Plum Street Temple, Cincinnati-----March 31-April 2, 2006 |
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| The central chandelier, dating to 1866, from the dizzying dome. |
| After Roberta Gary's dedication recital |
| Jonathan Hall was one of the featured speakers at the dedication symposium of the newly-restored 1866 Koehnken organ in the Plum Street Synagogue, also known as Isaac M. Wise Synagogue and (officially) K. K. B'nai Jeshurun, in Cincinnati. His paper, on the role of the organ in Reform Jewish liturgy, was very well received. Other speakers included Rabbi Kamrass (of Plum Street Temple), Barbara Owen, and Fritz Noack. A commissioned work by William Bolcom was premiered at the dedicatory recital; the composer was in attendance. Later, a choral work by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Aaron Jay Kernis was also performed. This temple is the "mother" of the Reform Movement. |
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| Fritz Noack, left, the master organbuilder who restored the historic Koehnken; and Will Headlee, professor emeritus at Syracuse University. |
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| This historic event received support not only from Plum Street Temple, Rabbi Kamrass and organist Thom Miles; but also from the Tangeman Sacred Music Center of the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music; the Organ Historical Society; the Vocal Arts Ensemble of Cincinnati; and others. It is hoped that this symposium will spark renewed interest in the Reform heritage of organ music. |