Ian Fraser in concert at the Bardavon Opera House

Описание: Ian Fraser in his debut performance on the 2/10 Wurlitzer Theatre Organ at the Bardavon Opera House. This is NYTOS's first concert production and we are proud to feature one of our own. As we all know, performing art centers around the country are closed and that makes it especially hard for us to bring you events. We are very grateful to the Bardavon Opera House staff for letting us in to produce this digital event. We hope you enjoy it!

Program:
0:00 Pre-Show

3:20 Hooray for Hollywood/Paramount on Parade
(Richard A. Whiting 1937/Elsie Janis 1933)

5:50 By A Waterfall
(Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal 1933)

9:04 Midnight in Mayfair
(Newell Chase 1937)

12:08 Charles Trenet Medley
(Boum! 1938/Que Reste T-il De Nos Amours 1942/Fleur Bleue 1937/Débit De Lait, Débit De L’eau 1942/La Mer 1946)

26:35 Cloud Shadows
(James H. Rogers 1912)

30:59 Goody Goody
(Matty Malneck, Johnny Mercer 1936)

About the Artist:
Ian Fraser’s fascination with organs started at the age of 2 when he heard a band organ on a local carousel in his hometown of Staten Island, NY. His interests soon expanded into the world of mechanical music with player pianos, orchestrions, etc. When he was 16, after seeing a silent film at Chaminade High School in Mineola, NY in 2017, he got the chance to sit at the console and play the theatre organ for the first time. From there, he has followed his passion to become a theatre organist. Leveraging his ability to play by ear, Ian has taught himself in just a few short years to play the theatre organ. This has been influenced by studying his favorite genres and organists.

Now residing in Plainfield, NJ, Ian is the house organist at the St. George Theatre in Staten Island playing pre-shows for their Classic Movie Series. He has also performed at Chaminade High School, the Bardavon Opera House, and the Loew’s Jersey Theatre.

Ian is a board member of NYTOS (New York Theatre Organ Society). He is also a member of AMICA International & AMICA’s Lady Liberty Chapter (Automatic Musical Instrument Collectors Association), COAA (Carousel Organ Association of America), NCA (National Carousel Association), GSTOS (Garden State Theatre Organ Society), and ATOS (American Theatre Organ Society).

About the 2/10 Wurlitzer
From the time of its installation in 1928, the Wurlitzer pipe organ played an essential role in the Bardavon’s offerings, whether to accompany early silent films or enhance its musical palette. However, in the 1960s, it was removed and taken to a private home in Scarsdale, NY. A decade later, the organ was trucked back once more to Poughkeepsie and unceremoniously placed in storage to await an uncertain future.

In 1983, New York Theatre Organ Society (NYTOS) uncovered this significant piece of the Bardavon’s history, bought it, and in 1985 forged an agreement with the Bardavon for permanent re-installation under NYTOS’ ownership. The community rallied once again and fundraising for the restoration process began. NYTOS spent tens of thousands of dollars, and an almost equal number of volunteer work hours, restoring this magnificent instrument. In September 1990, the Bardavon’s “Golden Voice“ was brought home. Her return placed the Bardavon on par with Radio City Music Hall as one of the few remaining New York theaters to still have its original pipe organ in place.

Times change, technology changes. Organists began asking for more features and thus a new specification was created. Subsequent additional funding and volunteer labor brought the organ up to its current condition. In the first renovation the original relay or “control system” was replaced with a more reliable, useful, and expandable electronic system. Thus, the organ’s seven sets (ranks) of pipes, were increased to 10, and many more features and sound effects were added.

However, all sounds – with two small exceptions - are still acoustically and mechanically air pressure-operated, driven by a 5-horsepower blower located in the theater’s upper reaches. With its musical core intact, the Mighty Wurlitzer and its place in history live on!

About NYTOS
The New York Theatre Organ Society is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization furthering the appreciation, preservation, and use of the Theatre Organ. NYTOS serves the five boroughs of New York City as well as Long Island and Lower NY State. NYTOS owns and maintains four organs in their region and maintains three organs including the great Brooklyn Paramount (LIU) Wurlitzer. Under a charter granted by the American Theatre Organ Society, NYTOS became a chapter on June 11, 1964, and renewed on April 4, 1998.

Learn more and Donate to NYTOS
https://www.nytos.org