Friends of the Erben Organ

Kids Build a Pipe Organ!
2021-06-21 17:30 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 261 Mott Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
Friends of the Erben Organ is proud to participate in the World Make Music Day 2021 with a series of live in-person events! Kids in grades 1 to 8 are invited to build a real pipe organ with us in the courtyard of the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, and have a look at the historic 1868 Henry Erben pipe organ, a mechanical and musical marvel the size of a New York townhouse.
> Free Family Registration Here
Space is limited — Registration required. Masks are required. In case of inclement weather, we will move the organ building workshop indoors.

Video: former participant in our summer music education program, Alyssa Cheatham, describes her experience listening to the 1868 Henry Erben pipe organ. In the background is the Orgelkids USA working pipe organ that Alyssa helped build. This tracker organ works on the same principle as the historic Erben organ, with mechanical connection between keys and pipes, and hand-pumped bellows.
Also don’t miss, earlier same day at 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm, 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm! FREE Live Pipe Organ Recitals.
Monday, June 21. Get tickets here.

Recital of Ukrainian composers by Lviv Organ Hall Soloist, Nadiya Velychko
2021-08-30 13:00 - 13:45
* In-Person Event * FREE pipe organ concert on the historic 1868 Henry Erben organ
Organist Nadiya Velychko from Lviv, Ukraine, presents a free lunchtime Erben concert. On the program: organ works by Ukrainian composers from the 19th and 20th centuries. Ms. Velychko is Organ Soloist at the Lviv Organ Hall, which houses the largest pipe organ in Ukraine.
This IN-PERSON event is FREE – donations to support our music programming are appreciated!
> FREE TICKETS AT THE LINK
CONCERT PROGRAM
M. Kolessa (1903 – 2006): Passacaglia
V. Goncharenko (b. 1959): Ciaccona
L. Dychko (b. 1939): Scherzo
A. Korchynskiy (b. 1959): The light of the faraway star
M. Surzhynski (1866 – 1924): Capriccio
M. Skoryk (1938 -2020): Melody
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Nadiya Velychko was born in Lviv, Ukraine. Since 2001, Nadiya has been working as concert organist at the House of Organ and Chamber Music in Lviv. She took part in numerous international music festivals in Ukraine and abroad. Nadiya Velychko is committed to the promotion of organ music. Her repertory includes works of all styles and periods, from Renaissance to modern music, accounting for over 30 concert programs she has presented to her audiences during the years of her performing career. As concert organist, Nadiya Velychko played in Poland, Germany, Sweden, Russia, Slovakia, and Denmark.
Erben Organ Days 2021 is our annual series of musical events highlighting the historic 1868 Henry Erben organ.

Concert Featuring Two Pipe Organs for San Gennaro Festival 2021 in Little Italy
2021-09-23 19:00 - 20:30
* In-Person Event * FREE concert on the historic 1868 Henry Erben and the 1859 Hall & Labagh pipe organs for San Gennaro Festival
Lana Krakovskiy and Maria Rayzvasser, Erben Ambassadors, present a concert featuring both the Erben and the Hall & Labagh organs, and music by Italian composers for San Gennaro Festival. On the program: organ solos and duets; music from the 16th to 21st centuries.
This IN-PERSON event is FREE – donations to support our music programming are appreciated!
> FREE TICKETS
The majestic 1868 Erben organ is complemented by the 1859 Hall & Labagh chancel organ, installed in the Basilica in 2016. This instrument and the Erben organ give us a marvelous sense of what people heard in the golden age of New York organbuilding.
CONCERT PROGRAM
On the Erben:
1. Johann Caspar Kerll (1627-1693): Battaglia
2. W.A. Mozart (1756-1791): Fantasia in C Minor
3. Samuel Scheidt (1587-1684): Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr (Glory be to God in the Highest)
4. J.S. Bach (1685-1750): Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, BWV 663: il canto fermo nel tenore
5. Carlotta Ferrari (b. 1975): Campanarium (The Bell Tower)
On the Hall & Labagh:
6. Anna Bon di Venezia (c. 1738-1769): Sonata IV
7. Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583-1643), from Fiori Musicali: Toccata avanti il Recercar & Recercar Cromaticho post il Credo
8. Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805): Minuet from String Quintet in E Major – Duet Organ 4 hands
9. Carlotta Ferrari: Il Picchio (The Woodpecker), composed 2021. Duet Hall & Labagh and Erben
On the Erben:
10. Adolph Hesse (1809-1863) Fantaisie in C Minor – Duet Organ 4 hands

Photo of the Erben and the Hall & Labagh chancel organ by Joshua South, Sidewalk Productions.

Charlie Chaplin's THE KID -- Live Improvised Organ Music by Peter Krasinski
2021-10-14 19:00 - 20:30
>> GET TICKETS HERE

*In-Person* Screening of the 1921 silent movie The Kid by Charlie Chaplin, with live improvised Erben organ accompaniment by Peter Krasinski

>> GET TICKETS HERE

ABOUT THE EVENT
Friends of the Erben Organ presents an event not to be missed: a unique screening of THE KID by Charlie Chaplin. Celebrating the iconic film’s 100th anniversary, PETER KRASINSKI, acclaimed silent film accompanist, brings the film to life on the magnificent 1868 Henry Erben pipe organ. A landmark event, it is the first time the Erben has ever accompanied a film in its 153-year history.
In the era of silent films, musical accompaniment was improvised in real-time as the movie unfolded on the screen. No two film presentations were alike. This unique art from a bygone era lives on in the masterful improvisations of Peter Krasinski. Charlie Chaplin’s first feature-length comedic drama, THE KID, celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Since it is all live, your presence and reactions are all part of this special experience.
Peter Krasinski will engage the full musical resources of the historic 1868 Henry Erben organ to help bring the movie to life. This is Charlie Chaplin’s first full-length feature, and it has secured a solid place in the pantheon of cinematic masterpieces. A century later, it still delights audiences of all ages.
BEFORE THE FILM: ORGAN OVERTURE, PROJECTED ON-SCREEN
Before the film starts, Peter Krasinski will play a short overture on the historic Henry Erben organ. This will be projected onto the large screen, so that the audience can enjoy seeing Mr. Krasinski at the Erben’s keyboards.
Please Note: Proof of Covid-19 vaccination required to access the event. Masks required. Please see the link for more info:

>> GET TICKETS HERE

ABOUT THE FILM
The story is timeless: a woman decides, after much self-struggle and soul searching, to abandon her baby in the backseat of an automobile with a hand-written note attached. Assuming that it would be taken care of by the wealthy owners of the home nearby, she has no idea that the baby, by way of a comedy of errors, would end up being brought up by a kind-hearted but simple tramp, played by Charlie Chaplin.As time progresses through the movie, the focus does not only stay on the child, (played brilliantly by Jackie Coogan) and his new parent, but also presents to us the birthfather of the child, follows the child’s mother and her career, and bestows a generous smattering of American characters offered through the lens of the day. As time progresses, the plot becomes increasingly involved, poignant, heart rending, hilarious and ridiculous–and always remains a human story.
Not to be overlooked is the fact that this film, exactly 100 years old this year, portrays an America full of diversity, hope, energy and tragedy: indeed, a presentation for our own time and our own thoughtful consideration. — Peter Krasinski
The film premiered on January 21, 2021 at Carnegie Hall in a benefit for the Children’s Fund of the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. This film is considered one of Chaplin’s most personal and autobiographical works. Having suffered a personal tragedy when his own infant son died at three days old, Chaplin began to audition child actors for the role of the abandoned orphan ten days later. He met the 4-year-old Jackie Coogan by chance in the lobby of a theater where his father had performed, and spent over an hour talking to the boy. Soon Chaplin engaged the young Jackie to work on The Kid, and together they shaped the story of the lovable Tramp and the resourceful and loving orphan, living in the slums reminiscent of Chaplin’s own London childhood. “All children in some form or another have genius; the trick is to bring it out in them. With Jackie it was easy. There were a few basic rules to learn in pantomime and Jackie very soon mastered them. He could apply emotion to the action and action to the emotion, and could repeat it time and time again without losing the effect of spontaneity“, Chaplin remembered later. (via https://silentfilm.org/the-kid/)
Peter Krasinski at the Erben.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
PETER EDWIN KRASINSKI is broadly recognized as a motivating consultant for the pipe organ community, and as a conductor, organist and music educator, whose imaginative and energetic performances elevate and inform audiences. Well respected in both secular and sacred genres of his field, he has taught the enchantment of music to both public and private institutions in the greater Boston area for many years. His silent film performances have been hailed in the press as “a great marriage of movie and music.”
Specializing in the art of live silent film accompaniment, worldwide, some of his many appearances have included such venues as The Schermerhorn Symphony Center, (Nashville), Riverside Church, (NYC), Coral Ridge, (Fort Lauderdale), Irvine Auditorium, (University of Pennsylvania), Trinity Wall Street (NYC), Wanamaker’s-Macy’s Greek Hall (Philadelphia), St Joseph’s Cathedral (Hartford), Old South Church (Boston), National City Christian Church (Washington, DC), St Joseph’s Oratory (Montreal), The Kotzschmar Organ, (Portland), The Great Organ at Methuen Music Hall, and major concert halls in the cities of Yokohama, Fukui, Miyazaki and Kanazawa, Japan.
A multiple prize-winner, he is the recipient of the First Prize in Improvisation from the American Guild of Organists National Competition. A seasoned performer, he has played recitals at Notre-Dame Cathedral (Paris), the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, (Los Angeles), Holy Name Cathedral, (Chicago) and Mikael Agricola Church, (Helsinki).
Past Dean of the Boston Chapter AGO, Mr. Krasinski is House Organist at the Providence Performing Arts Center and Organist at First Church of Christ, Scientist in Providence RI. He recently presented Master Classes at the Sibelius Academy, Helsinki, Finland. He holds both a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education and Organ Performance, and the Master of Sacred Music Degree from Boston University.
WWW.KRASINSKI.ORG

ABOUT THE ORGAN
This organ is one of New York City’s historic gems. It was constructed by the world-renowned New York City organbuilder Henry Erben (1800–1884). It is the only extant three-manual Erben organ, and is the only large, mid-19th-century Henry Erben pipe organ left in America, intact, in its original acoustic space. The organ has logged more than 150,000 liturgies and thousands of hours of rehearsals and concerts over 150 years. Support the Erben restoration
A masterpiece of musical and visual art, its nearly 2,500 pipes still speak with grandeur and eloquence. Henry Erben’s factory in the 1840s was one of the largest in the city. He shipped instruments to cathedrals and churches in Havana, Guatemala, Venezuela, Colombia, and the new territories of the American West. Erben employed skilled European and American craftsmen, some of whom signed their names to the pipes they crafted.
Learn More
Photo of the 1868 Henry Erben organ: Joshua South, Sidewalk Productions.

December 16: Victorian Carol Sings with Two 19th Century Pipe Organs!
2021-12-16 19:00 - 20:00
Sing Victorian carols with us, accompanied by the historic 1868 Erben and 1859 Hall & Labagh pipe organs, & join us for eggnog afterwards!

Two evenings, Thursday and Friday, December 16 and 17 at 7 PM.

Tickets: http://bit.ly/erbencarols21
Join us for two festive evenings of seasonal organ music and Victorian carols! We will be featuring both the 1868 Henry Erben pipe organ and the 1859 Hall & Labagh chancel organ, for a rare chance to hear original Victorian sounds in New York City. Cozy small-group atmosphere, with plenty of space to socially distance. Sing with the historic 19th-century sounds of the landmark 1868 Henry Erben pipe organ, in the fantastic acoustic space of the Basilica, with its 200-year-long history of great music. Enjoy festive refreshments after making music to delight all the senses.
One of the historic carols we will sing is “O Little Town of Bethlehem”, which was written in 1868, the same year as the Henry Erben organ was built!
Please Note: In accordance with Key to NYC, we will require attendees age 5 and older to show proof of at least one dose of the Covid vaccine. Masks required. All event staff and performers are vaccinated. We will have sanitizer and face coverings available for those who need them.

Photo: 1868 Henry Erben (in the loft) and 1859 Hall & Labagh chancel organs at the Basilica, Photo by Joshua South/Sidewalk Productions.

Erben Organ Days 2021 is made possible in part with public funds from Restart NY supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by LMCC.

December 17: Victorian Carol Sings with Two 19th Century Pipe Organs!
2021-12-17 19:00 - 20:00

Italian organist Eugenio Maria Fagiani plays the historic 1868 Erben organ
2022-01-30 14:00 - 15:00
*In-Person Event*

Friends of the Erben Organ presents Italian organist, composer and recording artist Eugenio Maria FAGIANI in recital.

>> GET TICKETS HERE
Tickets: $20 General Admission; $10 Students/Seniors
Program:
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): Praeludium et Fuga BWV 552
Johann Christian Rinck (1770 – 1846): Flute Concerto op. 55 Allegro maestoso – Adagio – Allegretto
Franz Schubert (1797-1828): Adagio in G Major D. 178 (transcribed by E.M. Fagiani)
Eugenio Maria Fagiani (1972.): “Jauchzet, frohlocket” Fantasy on two themes (Rejoice, exult! Up, glorify the days)
Please Note: In accordance with the current Key to NYC guidelines, we will require attendees age 5 and older to show proof of FULL VACCINATION of the Covid vaccine. Masks required. All event staff and performers are vaccinated. We will have sanitizer and face coverings available for those who need them. Please see the link for more info.

Free Concert: Bellarmine University Community Choir with the Erben Organ
2022-02-27 15:00 - 16:00
Bellarmine University Community Choir from Louisville, KY, Dr. S. Timothy Glasscock, Director, presents a free choral concert. Conductor Dr. Stephen Black will also play the historic 1868 Erben organ during the concert.
>>> RSVP Here for Free Tickets
ABOUT THE CHOIR:
“This is a smaller, touring group of our Oratorio Society. The full ensemble performs mainly large masterworks with orchestra, but also breaks into smaller groups for a cappella sacred works and traveling. This group has performed in Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Spain, Italy, Ireland, and Scotland. It is composed of faculty, staff, students, and members of the Bellarmine University community. We are educators, nurses, church musicians, and people from wildly varied backgrounds. We come together out of a love of singing and travel, and we are extremely pleased to be singing in the Big Apple.”

Henry Erben's 222nd Birthday Celebration!
2022-03-10 19:00 - 20:30
This year marks master organ builder Henry Erben’s 222nd birthday!
Get Tickets Here >>>
This in-person celebration includes:

Festive concert with the premiere (on organ) of Carson Cooman’s A St. Patrick Silhouette
Baritone Paddy Connolly, from Ireland, will sing favorite Irish tunes with the organ, in anticipation of upcoming St. Patrick’s Day. Mr. Connolly has performed at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and with Riverdance Broadway and Riverdance The World Tour.
Up-close Erben organ tour: take a look inside our 154-year-old pneumatic computer
Other special guests to be announced
Delicious treats as always!

Portrait of Henry Erben courtesy of Charles Shailer Gosse and the Erben family.
Photo of the Erben facade by Joshua South / Sidewalk Productions.
Get Tickets Here >>>

Free Concert: Moon Area High School Honors Choir
2022-04-02 13:00 - 14:00
Moon Area High School Honors Choir from Pittsburgh, PA, offers a free concert for the community. The choir is directed by Lisa Jaworowski.
About the choir:
“The Moon Area High School Honors Choir is from Pittsburgh, PA and is part of a very active Music Department. The 40 singers are auditioned and focus on all genres of vocal music. Many of our members study music privately and are part of various other ensembles at Moon Area HS. This performance is a highlight for 2021-2022 and we are thrilled to sing in this historical and beautiful space.”
Program:

Wade in the Water — arr. by Burroughs
O Magnum Mysterium — Lauridsen
Sing, my Child —Quartel
Ubi Caritas — Trotta
Even when He is Silent – Arnesen
I Can See Clearly — arr. Nickel

An Erben Benefit Concert for Ukraine
2022-04-10 15:00 - 17:00
Sunday, April 10, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Benefit Concert for Ukraine
Presented by Friends of the Erben Organ
>>> GET TICKETS HERE
Beginning with the 1826 Oratorio that benefitted the orphanage across the street, music has been used to raise awareness and aid others in need. In that spirit, please join us for a special benefit concert for Ukraine. Proceeds will be donated to CARE, an international non-profit which provides immediate aid to those affected by the Ukraine Crisis.
Program:
3 PM: Loreto Aramendi, Titular Organist of the Basilica in San Sebastián, Spain, will be performing an Erben recital. Program includes music by Bach, Satie, and Estonian composer Arvo Pärt.
Loreto Aramendi, Titular Organist of the Basilica of San Sebastian, Spain
4 PM: A special performance, with members of FREO’s musical community, of Gaetano Donizetti’s Miserere in G Minor for choir and chamber orchestra, Franz Schubert’s Stabat Mater D 175, Melody for Strings by Ukrainian composer Myroslav Skoryk, and other works.
>>> GET TICKETS HERE

Erben Organ Recital by Dr. Michal Szostak, Poland
2022-05-04 19:00 - 20:00
Join us for a special recital by renowned Polish concert organist, Dr. Michał Szostak. We are excited to finally host him at the Erben. Dr. Szostak was originally booked to play a recital in March 2020, when his performance got pre-empted by the pandemic lockdown. Back on tour in North America, Dr. Szostak brings a fresh program of Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, and improvisations. Don’t miss his appearance at the historic Erben organ!
>>> GET TICKETS

Program:
1. J.S. Bach (1685-1750), Fantasia in G Major, BWV 572
2. J.S. Bach, Air on G-string, from Orchestral Suite in D Major, BWV 1068
3. Improvisation, Italian Concerto: Allegro-Adagio-Allegro
4. J.S. Bach, Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659
5. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1826), Allegro con brio, from the 5th Symphony in C Minor, Op. 67
6. Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849):

Praeludium E Minor, Op. 28, No 4
Mazurka B flat Major, Op. 7, No 1
Praeludium B Minor, Op. 28, No 6

7. Improvisation, Symphonic Final
About the Artist:
Michał Szostak studied organ playing and improvisation at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, Poland, and at the Pontificio Istituto Ambrosiano di Musica Sacra in Milan, Italy. In February 2019, he obtained an academic degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in Organ at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music, in the class of Andrzej Chorosiński. He regularly participates in master classes on organ works and liturgical music. He has performed in Europe, North America and Africa: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Nigeria, Poland, Ukraine, and the USA. His articles have appeared in Britain’s “The Organ”, and America’s “The Diapason” and “The Vox Humana”. Since 2013 he has been a member of The Royal College of Organists, England.
A message from Dr. Szostak:
In planning my international concert tours I always look for interesting instruments. I want to be able to feel the whisper of the past and the shadow of people and their cultural achievements. Even the deepest research and the greatest books are not able to give us as much as we can take from real contact with the historical artifacts. My first contact with Erben organ in NYC was via Internet, but from the first moment I saw a beautiful example of my searching goals: a magnificent organ in beautiful building – with great history in each detail. When I read about the actions which are focused on restoring this beautiful machine with soul, I wanted to help in this uneasy process. I know – from the other perspective – how hard it is to gain attention and funds on projects like this. I hope that together we can put a small brick in this huge project and be part of a community of people who are sensitive for the most valuable cultural works like the Erben organ.
Polish:
Planując moje miedzynarodowe koncerty, zawsze poszukuję interesujących instrumentów. O ile to możliwe, chcę móc poczuć szept przeszłości i zobaczyć cień minionych pokoleń i ich kulturowych osiągnięć. Mój pierwszy kontakt z organami Erbena w NYC nastąpił dzięki Internetowi, jednakże od pierwszej chwili zobaczyłem wspaniały przykład celu, jaki mi przyświeca: niesamowite organy w przepięknym wnętrzu – ze wspaniałą historią w każdym detalu. Kiedy przeczytałem o działaniach zmierzających do restauracji tej wspaniałej maszyny z duszą, chciałem pomóc w tym niełatwym procesie. Doskonale wiem – z innej perspektywy – jak trudno jest skupić uwagę otoczenia i zdobyć fundusze na taki projekt. Ufam, że wspólnie uda nam się dołożyć choćby małą cegiełkę w tym ogromnym projekcie i być częścią społeczności ludzi wrażliwych na najbardziej wartościowe dzieła kultury, jakim bez wątpienia są organy Erbena.

Live Historic Erben Pipe Organ Concerts for Make Music Day 2022
2022-06-21 14:30 - 19:00
On June 21, 2022, we will welcome visitors to hear live organ music for Make Music Day, a day of free concerts and musical experiences celebrated worldwide.
Friends of the Erben Organ will present a series of five 30-minute organ concerts. This event is in-person only and will not be live-streamed.
GET FREE TICKETS >>>
Live Organ Concert Schedule:
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm
3:30 pm – 4:00 pm
4:30 pm – 5:00 pm
5:30 pm – 6:00 pm
6:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Coming soon: detailed concert program and artist bios
ARTISTS: Jared Lamenzo, Lavinia Pavlish, Dr. Kalle Toivio, Dr. John Wolfe, Yilun Wang, Maria Rayzvasser & Lana Krakovskiy
Music selections will feature Finnish, Swedish, and African-American composers, improvisations on Submitted themes, and more! ChECK EVENT PAGE FOR THE MOST UPDATED PROGRAM INFO
This will be the fifth time we participate in Make Music Day. For the past four years, the Erben was the only New York City pipe organ heard in this event.
GET FREE TICKETS >>>

FREO's Annual San Gennaro Organ Recital with Eugenio Maria FAGIANI
2022-09-22 19:00 - 20:00
Back to Little Italy for the San Gennaro Festival: FREO presents Eugenio Maria FAGIANI
>> TICKETS >> HTTP://BIT.LY/SANGENNARO22
“He is a brilliant, virtuoso organist, but his great mastery is entirely subservient to the realization of a larger musical experience”
– John Scott, LVO, D.Mus honoris causa+
“The Wizard of Improvisation”
– La Stampa, Turin, Italy
After a triumphant Erben organ recital in January 2022, we are delighted to once again host Italian artist Eugenio Maria Fagiani at the Erben. He brings an exciting program of Italian composers of the Classical and Romantic periods to celebrate the neighborhood’s Italian heritage and the San Gennaro Festival in Little Italy! Don’t miss this beautiful program of rare works selected by Maestro Fagiani for the Erben:
Program:
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): Praeludium et Fuga BWV 547
Gasparo Sborgi (1737-1819): Mass in D major
Gaetano Valeri (1760-1822): From the 12 Sonatas op. 1: Sonata II, Sonata VI, Sonata V
Giovanni Morandi (1777-1856): Sixth Sonata (1808)
Padre Davide Da Bergamo (1791-1863): Elevation with obbligato Trumpet
Giovanni Morandi: Bell Rondó ; Offertory in f minor
Sponsorship Opportunities
Interested in sponsoring this unique, festive recital celebrating Italian culture in Little Italy?
Your name or the name of your business will be featured in our program and promotional materials during one of the busiest times of year on Mulberry Street!
Contact: music@erbenorgan.org for more info.
Thanks for your support of the arts and arts education!
Before the Concert: Italian Organ Music Masterclass
On Wednesday, September 21 at 7 PM, we invite organists to participate in a masterclass on Italian music given by Eugenio Maria Fagiani on the historic 1868 Erben organ at the Basilica. Mr. Fagiani, a highly-regarded Italian organist, composer and recording artist, is an authority on music by Italian composers.
In this free masterclass, the focus will be on Italian composers of the Romantic and Classical eras such as: Filippo Capocci, Marco Enrico Bossi, Giuseppe Ferrata, Padre Davide da Bergamo, Giovanni Morandi, Ulisse Matthey, Oreste Ravanello, Gaetano Valeri, Niccolò Moretti, Pietro Morandi, Pietro Yon, as well others. Music by ancient masters such as Girolamo Frescobaldi is also welcome in the masterclass. There are a limited number of spots to play available; organists who wish to observe are also welcome, but there are limited spots in the loft.
Contact: music@erbenorgan.org for more info.
>> TICKETS >> HTTP://BIT.LY/SANGENNARO22

Fantini Futuro
2022-11-10 19:00 - 21:00
One Night Only!
Get Tickets Here >> http://bit.ly/fantini22
Fantini Futuro is an electronic opera by Ben Neill for the Mutantrumpet, his self-designed electro-acoustic instrument, countertenor, Baroque keyboards, and interactive video projections. The immersive piece is based on the music and life of early Baroque trumpeter/composer Girolamo Fantini, who was responsible for bringing the trumpet indoors from the hunt and the battlefield to the realm of art music. Using an array of interactive technologies, Fantini is depicted as a traveler through space and time through a synthesis of early music, minimalism, and digital media performance. Fantini’s translocation of the trumpet from outside to inside is mirrored and reimagined by Neill’s Mutantrumpet, which extends the acoustic instrument into the virtual realm.
Neill joins forces with NYC early music ensemble ARTEK for this production; countertenor Ryland Angel performs the vocal part, and both the 1868 Henry Erben organ and the 1859 Hall & Labagh chancel organ will be played by Gwendolyn Toth, ARTEK’s Artistic Director, who is recognized as one of America’s leading performers on early keyboard instruments. Fantini Futuro was awarded a New York State Council on the Arts grant in Film and New Media in 2022. A 2020 demonstration video of the Mutantrumpet V4 which made its debut in Fantini Futuro received over 800,000 views on social media and was shared thousands of times.
TICKETS: http://bit.ly/fantini22

Fantini was a musical celebrity in his time, and his magnum opus includes the outdoor music written for trumpet alone, as well as the indoor pieces with keyboards. He pioneered the use of mutes to expand the dynamic range of the instrument for indoor use along with numerous other playing techniques, mirroring Neill’s focus on timbral manipulation. Fantini Futuro transforms Fantini’s material both compositionally and in real time during the performance. The work draws connections between the dynamic energy of early Baroque musical and architectural vocabularies and minimalist patterns and processes, reinterpreting them through current techniques of live sampling, spatialization, and interactive visual media. The improvisatory quality of the piece references the original performance practice of music in Fantini’s era using futuristic technologies. The Italian texts are taken from poems written in tribute to Fantini and reflect on his unique ability to “tightly tune, with noble art, the warlike strains to the softer songs.”
The visual component is comprised of architectural imagery, artworks, and environmental video from places where Fantini lived and performed. The material was captured by Neill during two Visiting Artist Residencies at the American Academy in Rome. The animated images are controlled live from Neill’s Mutantrumpet, situating the performers in virtual sets created from the historical elements. Fantini Futuro is directed by Obie award winning director Bob McGrath of Ridge Theater, with whom Neill collaborated on the 2010 Persephone at the BAM Next Wave Festival.

TICKETS: http://bit.ly/fantini22
This performance is a fundraiser for Friends of the Erben Organ (“FREO”). FREO is a non-profit dedicated to the restoration, preservation, and presentation of the 1868 Erben organ through concerts and educational programs. For more info: http://erbenorgan.org

Christmas Erben Organ Tour
2022-12-15 17:30 - 18:30
Come up to the organ loft to see the amazing 1868 Victorian-era Erben Organ up close! Two Erben tours are available, at 5:30 PM and at 6 PM
>> ERBEN TOUR TICKETS: http://bit.ly/erbentours22
One Night Only!
Before the 6:30 PM Carol Sing, come up to the organ loft to see the amazing 1868 Victorian-Era Erben Organ up close! Basilica Music Director Jared Lamenzo will welcome you and play while you can see inside this all-mechanical wonder–the city’s hidden gem, the size of a Manhattan townhouse.
Choose from 2 tour times: 5:30-6 PM or 6:00-6:30 PM
>> ERBEN TOUR TICKETS: http://bit.ly/erbentours22
Don’t forget to get tickets to the Victorian Carol Sing with Readings and Refreshments, starting at 6:30 PM! http://bit.ly/erbencarols22

$20K Matching Grant!
All donations on top of ticket price will be matched with our $20K Fall Matching Grant! Thank you for your support!

Victorian Carol Sing-Along with Two 19th Century Pipe Organs!
2022-12-15 18:30 - 20:00
Victorian-era carols, and seasonal music and readings, featuring two historic pipe organs! Plus: See and hear the 1868 Erben up-close!
>> TICKETS: http://bit.ly/erbencarols22

One Night Only!
Join us for a merry evening of Victorian-era carols, and seasonal music and readings. Prior to the carol sing, there will be an opportunity to see and hear the historic 1868 Erben organ up close with the Director of Music, Jared Lamenzo.
* Festive treats and libations are included with the Victorian Carol Sing!
* 19th-century attire is encouraged.
This event is a collaboration with The Victorian Society New York.
The Victorian Carol Sing-Along starts at 6:30 PM.
There are two Erben Organ Tours available to purchase separately:
* 5:30 to 6 PM
* 6:00 to 6:30 PM
For Erben Organ Tours tickets prior to the Carol Sing, click here: http://bit.ly/erbentours22

$20K Matching Grant!
All donations on top of ticket price will be matched with our $20K Fall Matching Grant! Thank you for your support!

An Afternoon with Lorenzo Da Ponte
2023-09-24 15:00 - 16:00
The world-renowned Teatro Carlo Felice from Genoa, Italy presents an exclusive one-time performance to close out the San Gennaro festival on Sunday, 09/24 at 3PM. Featuring musicians from Italy performing handpicked pieces written by Lorenzo Da Ponte, Mozart’s close friend and librettist, this is a performance you won’t want to miss.
Sunday September 24th at 3:00PM, inside the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral (the corner of Mott and Prince Streets, Little Italy). Tickets: $20 General Admission, $30 VIP first three rows.
>> Tickets: Click Here
Proceeds from ticket sales go to Friends of the Erben Organ (“FREO”), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization formed in 2017 with the mission of restoring, preserving and presenting the historic 1868 Henry Erben organ located in the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, corner Prince and Mott Streets in Little Italy, NYC.
Sponsored by The Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, Opera Carlo Felice Genova, Lorenzo Da Ponte Institute, Friends of the Erben Organ, The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) in partnership with the City Council, The New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and The New York State Legislature

This event is made possible in part with funds from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s Creative Engagement program, a regrant program supported by The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) in partnership with the City Council, and The New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and administered by the LMCC.

Victorian Carol Sing-Along with Two 19th Century Pipe Organs! Dec. 6, 2023
2023-12-06 19:00 - 21:00
Victorian-era carols, and seasonal music and readings, featuring two historic pipe organs! Plus: See and hear the 1868 Erben up-close!
>> TICKETS: http://bit.ly/erbencarols23

One Night Only! Join us for a merry evening of Victorian-era carols, and seasonal music and readings. After the carol sing, there will be an opportunity to see and hear the historic 1868 Erben organ up close with the Director of Music, Jared Lamenzo.

* Festive treats and libations are included with the Victorian Carol Sing!

* 19th-century attire, while not required, is strongly encouraged!

* Special guests: Some members from the award-winning youth choir, Konzertchor Rutheneum from Gera, Germany! They will join in singing with the Basilica Schola and the audience.

This event, a fundraiser for the Erben’s restoration, is made possible with the kind cooperation of the Victorian Society New York and the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral. The Victorian Carol Sing-Along starts at 7:00 PM.

$25K Matching Grant!
All donations on top of ticket price will be matched with our $25K Fall Matching Grant! Thank you for your support! Video from last year’s Victorian Carol Sing-Along: https://vimeo.com/783434175

>> TICKETS: http://bit.ly/erbencarols23
Performers in FREO’s Victorian Carol Sing-Along are sponsored in part with a grant from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s Creative Engagement program (LMCC,) The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) in partnership with the City Council, The New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and The New York State Legislature. The concert is part of FREO’s “Erben Renewal Concerts” series, which explores historic repertoire heard here in the 19th century, with the magnificent 1868 Henry Erben organ often alongside the choir and instrumentalists. It is a fitting way to celebrate the instrument before it heads off for its historic restoration, due to begin in February 2024.
