EROI 2024 - The Roaring 20s: Hindsight is 20/24

The conference will be centered around the unique developments of the “Roaring Twenties” as well as the parallel narratives of the American Symphonic Organ’s twilight years leading up to the Great Depression and the concurrent emergence of the Organ Reform Movement (Orgelbewegung, L’Orgue Néoclassique, etc.) abroad and in America. We will explore the interrelated themes of organ building, renewed study, performance, and publications of early music both in their original editions and their renaissance in the context of the 1920s, as well as new tendencies in organ composition, and the series of pivotal ‘organ conferences’ which took place in the in Lübeck, Hamburg, Freiburg, Berlin, and elsewhere during that decade. We look forward to welcoming Christopher Anderson to give our keynote speech “What is Orgelbewegung? – Remarks on the Character of a ‘Movement’”, as well as Paul Peeters and Nathan Laube to discuss the 1920s Organ Reform in the Scandinavian realm and the pinnacle of the American Symphonic Organ, respectively. Furthermore, Daniel Zager, Kerala Snyder, and William Porter will present on Christhard Mahrenholz and his contributions to the Organ Reform Movement through his work as organologist, musicologist, and theologian. Presentations will be supported by the many wonderful instruments that Rochester has to offer, including the 18th century Italian organ in the Memorial Art Gallery, 2008 GOArt (after 1776 Casparini) and 1893 Hook and Hastings organs in Christ Church, 1908 Hope-Jones organ in the First Universalist Church, and the 1927 Skinner organ in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. 

Plan to arrive by Sunday evening in time for Compline at 9 pm, November 10th, and depart Wednesday morning November 13th.