Spreckels Organ Society
Promoting the world's largest outdoor musical instrument in San Diego's Balboa Park
Sunday, July 4, 2021
Live Concert at Spreckels Organ Pavilion starts at 2 p.m. Join San Diego Civic Organist Raul Prieto Ramirez for an hour-long exploration of the music of the United States of America.
Program of music:
Aaron Copland (1900-1990) – Fanfare for the Common Man
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) – Sinfonia from Cantata “We thank you, God, we thank you” BWV 29 (arr. Dupré)
Sing Along! – America The Beautiful
published in 1910: music Samuel A. Ward, lyrics Katharine Lee Bates
John Philip Sousa (1854-1932)
Semper Fidelis
In Memoriam – President Garfield’s Funeral March
The Stars and Stripes Forever
Guest Singer Michael Sokol: Songs and Ballads of the Revolution
The Liberty Song (Patriots Appeal) by William Boyce (1711-1779) Lyrics by John Dickinson ·
Come, Genius of our happy Land – Henry Capron, published in 1797 ·
The Green Mountain Farmer—lyrics by Thomas Paine, music by William Shield (1748-1829) published in 1798 ·
Chester by William Billings (arranged by Raúl Prieto Ramírez)
Songs by Fancis Hopkinson (1737-1791) a Founding Father of our Nation My Days
Have Been So Wondrous Free
Brother Soldiers Hail! (in honor of Washington)
A Toast (in honor of Washington) – John Rogers Thomas (1829-1896)
Washington Farewell (The Last Words of Washington)
Sing Along! –
“Melita” – the Navy Hymn, music John Dykes
“America” My Country, ‘Tis of Thee, lyrics by Samuel Francis Smith
Charles Ives (1874-1954) – Variations on “America”
Who was Spreckels?
Spreckels was the family name of the brothers – John and Adolph – who gave San Diego the outdoor organ in Balboa Park as one feature of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. While Adolph spent most of his time in San Francisco with the majority of the Spreckels family, John D. Spreckels chose to make his home in the San Diego area.
In fact, he made many homes in the San Diego region, for thousands — through his investments, regional planning, by supplying coal, transportation, drinking water — building homes, office buildings, theaters, and parks. Oh – and the Roller Coaster.
They called him the “sugar prince” — the wealthy son of a German immigrant who was committed to amassing a fortune in his adopted country. That was Claus Spreckels, the “sugar king.” Claus moved his young family to San Francisco in the 1850s, and raised his sons to manage businesses. John D. also learned to love great music, the wide sea, and the creative challenge of building infrastructure. After 1887, San Diego became one of his passions. As history moved from the Gilded Age to the Progressive Era, the stories of our region and John D. Spreckels were intertwined. Read more HERE and HERE.
Re-Opening: Live Sunday Concerts
The Spreckels Organ Society and Civic Organist Raúl Prieto Ramírez are pleased to announce ….
… that live concerts of the Spreckels Organ are again offered to the public every Sunday at 2 p.m. Read more about Reopening HERE.
June 27, 2021 – 1st Live Concert
It was a LoveFest – certainly! A crowd of more than 450, enthusiastically assembled throughout the Pavilion with no worries about shade since the Marine Layer was thick (though not cool). And did we love it! Here’s a little about the music that Raúl played —
Program of Music for June 27:
Bach will begin the program; other selections will include:
Medley: West Side Story
Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy
Raúl will also managed an online premiere, playing the opener online concert for the American Guild of Organists annual meeting. See below for details.
Covid in 2020 – We managed to get through it, too – here’s our story.
Special Online Concert Video at 5 p.m. PDT on Sunday, June 27
Spreckels Organ Society is thrilled that The American Guild of Organists has chosen to feature San Diego Civic Organist Raúl Prieto Ramírez as the single artist for the Opening Celebration Concert of the annual AGO national online convention. This special concert video will be available for viewing at no charge on Sunday afternoon, June 27, at 5 p.m. PDT – CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK.
Coming Sunday, July 4th – Live at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion
In the second Sunday concert to be held live in the Pavilion since the COVID crisis, Raul will present four National Anthems, favorite marches of John Philip Sousa, and music written to honor the nation’s founders.
June 20 – it’s online only
Video concert premieres at 2 p.m. on Sunday June 20. CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK and we’ll post as soon as it’s available. Looking for news? Sign up for the newsletter! We will keep all subscribers posted on the latest updates.
Music Program:
Max Reger – Scherzo in D minor Op.65
Movie Time! – Yann Tiersen – La Valse d’Amelie
John Philip Sousa – The Stars and Stripes Foreve
Johann Sebastian Bach – Fantasia in g minor BWV 542-1
Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin – Prelude Op.28 N.15
Samuel Scheidt – 5 Variations on the English song “Fortune my Foe”
Camille Saint-Saens – Rhapsodie Op.7 N.1
Franz Liszt – Transcendental Etude “Wild Hunt” S.139 N.8
Star Spangled Banner
Sunday Online Concert: June 13
Concert video premieres Sunday June 13 at 2 pm Pacific Time. CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK. Will post as soon as available. If you miss the premiere you can see it later too, for at least several days. Musical Program:
Dimitri Schostakovich (1905-1975) – Lyrical Waltz from Ballet Suite N.3
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) – Prelude and Fugue in G minor BWV 535
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) – Hungarian Dance No. 5
Sebastian Aguilera de Heredia (1561-1627) – (Tiento de) Registro baja de primer tono
Franz Liszt (1811-1886) – Ave Maria from Arcadelt S.183/2
Liazt – Transcendental Etude “Wild Hunt” 139 N.8
Star Spangled Banner
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See photos from 2001-today – click the photo below to see the Gallery Menu
pressured air-actuated sound effects spring to life at the organist's touch - a must for Silent Film accompaniment!
Who was Spreckels?
A Concert to Welcome 2021
As mentioned in The New York Times…
