Elizabeth Birkshire Brothers Sherman, age 91, of Little Rock, Arkansas, died on July 21. She was a longtime active member of the Central Arkansas AGO chapter and served as Dean from 1970-72. She was organist at various churches in Little Rock, including Pulaski Heights Presbyterian Church and St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Sherman is survived by two sons, a sister, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
A. David Moore, North Pomfret, Vermont: home of George Becker and Christo Bresnahan, San Francisco, California; Fabry, Inc., Fox Lake, Illinois: Zion Lutheran Church, Marengo, Illinois; Bedient Pipe Organ Company, Roca, Nebraska: First Presbyterian Church, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
What do organists really know about organbuilders?
The American Institute of Organbuilders held its 40th annual convention October 6–9, 2013, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The AIO is an educational organization dedicated to advancing the art of organ building “by discussion, inquiry, research, experiment, and other means.” AIO members are professional organbuilders, service technicians, and suppliers who subscribe to the institute’s objectives and its Code of Ethics. There are over 400 members.
In the March, 1997, edition of this journal we published
"Is The Pipe Organ A Stepchild In Academe?" The purpose was to call
attention to the perilous status of the King of Instruments in many
institutions of higher learning and to suggest concrete ways to shore up its
uncertain future. We closed the article with a call to action, a plea for
concerned friends of the organ--faculty, students, alumni and laymen--to take
determined action.
Silbermann was high on my list of interests in planning a trip to Saxony this past summer. People are acquainted with his organ in the Cathedral of Freiberg (III/45), at least by reputation, but few have had the opportunity to see and hear a number of his other organs in the old province.
