Firmin Swinnen
Encyclopedia
Firmin Swinnen was a Belgian theater organist who was noted for his organ improvisations during silent film
s in New York City.
caused him to flee to the UK. He played many recitals in Great Britain for war charities, and then he moved to the US, where he played the Austin organ in the Rialto Theater in New York City, and then to the Rivoli theater. At the Rivoli, Swinnen specialized in lengthy improvisations during silent films using theater organs - massive pipe organs with a variety of sound effects and percussion sounds.
He was organist/choirmaster at Christ Church Christiana Hundred in Greenville, Delaware from 1925 to 1956, a church which was supported by the duPont family. He played the organ pedal keyboard solo part in the concerto version Mr. Frank Stewart Adams wrote for the opening Allegro of Widor's Fifth Symphony. Commentators noted that "Few men can improvise musically interesting caprices, scherzos, toccatas, and gavottes by the hour"
Firmin Swinnen (1885-1972) was a Belgian theater organist who was noted for his organ improvisations during silent film
s in New York City.
caused him to flee to the UK. He played many recitals in Great Britain for war charities, and then he moved to the US, where he played the Austin organ in the Rialto Theater in New York City, and then to the Rivoli theater. At the Rivoli, Swinnen specialized in lengthy improvisations during silent films using theater organs - massive pipe organs with a variety of sound effects and percussion sounds.
He was organist/choirmaster at Christ Church Christiana Hundred in Greenville, Delaware from 1925 to 1956, a church which was supported by the duPont family. He played the organ pedal keyboard solo part in the concerto version Mr. Frank Stewart Adams wrote for the opening Allegro of Widor's Fifth Symphony. Commentators noted that "Few men can improvise musically interesting caprices, scherzos, toccatas, and gavottes by the hour"
Firmin Swinnen (1885-1972) was a Belgian theater organist who was noted for his organ improvisations during silent film
s in New York City.
caused him to flee to the UK. He played many recitals in Great Britain for war charities, and then he moved to the US, where he played the Austin organ in the Rialto Theater in New York City, and then to the Rivoli theater. At the Rivoli, Swinnen specialized in lengthy improvisations during silent films using theater organs - massive pipe organs with a variety of sound effects and percussion sounds.
He was organist/choirmaster at Christ Church Christiana Hundred in Greenville, Delaware from 1925 to 1956, a church which was supported by the duPont family. He played the organ pedal keyboard solo part in the concerto version Mr. Frank Stewart Adams wrote for the opening Allegro of Widor's Fifth Symphony. Commentators noted that "Few men can improvise musically interesting caprices, scherzos, toccatas, and gavottes by the hour" http://www.theatreorgans.com/southerncross/Journal/NewYork.htm .
From 1923 to 1956, he was a concert organist in residence at Longwood, the Du Pont estate, where he played for Pierre duPont
on a massive 1930 Aeolian organ which he also designed. With its 10,010 pipes which took fourteen railway freight cars to transport to the grounds, the Aeolian organ was one of the largest organs installed in a residential setting. The organ was used for charity concerts in the indoor tropical gardens.http://books.google.ca/books?id=yb3p5OlZgugC&pg=PA420&lpg=PA420&dq=firmin+swinnen&source=web&ots=qoyK5HcOJ7&sig=EcbITvbLWYxz4qz58azCmRzf9G8&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=9&ct=result
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
s in New York City.
Career
Born in Belgium, Swinnen became an organist at the Antwerp cathedral, until World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
caused him to flee to the UK. He played many recitals in Great Britain for war charities, and then he moved to the US, where he played the Austin organ in the Rialto Theater in New York City, and then to the Rivoli theater. At the Rivoli, Swinnen specialized in lengthy improvisations during silent films using theater organs - massive pipe organs with a variety of sound effects and percussion sounds.
He was organist/choirmaster at Christ Church Christiana Hundred in Greenville, Delaware from 1925 to 1956, a church which was supported by the duPont family. He played the organ pedal keyboard solo part in the concerto version Mr. Frank Stewart Adams wrote for the opening Allegro of Widor's Fifth Symphony. Commentators noted that "Few men can improvise musically interesting caprices, scherzos, toccatas, and gavottes by the hour"
Firmin Swinnen (1885-1972) was a Belgian theater organist who was noted for his organ improvisations during silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
s in New York City.
Career
Born in Belgium, Swinnen became an organist at the Antwerp cathedral, until World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
caused him to flee to the UK. He played many recitals in Great Britain for war charities, and then he moved to the US, where he played the Austin organ in the Rialto Theater in New York City, and then to the Rivoli theater. At the Rivoli, Swinnen specialized in lengthy improvisations during silent films using theater organs - massive pipe organs with a variety of sound effects and percussion sounds.
He was organist/choirmaster at Christ Church Christiana Hundred in Greenville, Delaware from 1925 to 1956, a church which was supported by the duPont family. He played the organ pedal keyboard solo part in the concerto version Mr. Frank Stewart Adams wrote for the opening Allegro of Widor's Fifth Symphony. Commentators noted that "Few men can improvise musically interesting caprices, scherzos, toccatas, and gavottes by the hour"
Firmin Swinnen (1885-1972) was a Belgian theater organist who was noted for his organ improvisations during silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
s in New York City.
Career
Born in Belgium, Swinnen became an organist at the Antwerp cathedral, until World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
caused him to flee to the UK. He played many recitals in Great Britain for war charities, and then he moved to the US, where he played the Austin organ in the Rialto Theater in New York City, and then to the Rivoli theater. At the Rivoli, Swinnen specialized in lengthy improvisations during silent films using theater organs - massive pipe organs with a variety of sound effects and percussion sounds.
He was organist/choirmaster at Christ Church Christiana Hundred in Greenville, Delaware from 1925 to 1956, a church which was supported by the duPont family. He played the organ pedal keyboard solo part in the concerto version Mr. Frank Stewart Adams wrote for the opening Allegro of Widor's Fifth Symphony. Commentators noted that "Few men can improvise musically interesting caprices, scherzos, toccatas, and gavottes by the hour" http://www.theatreorgans.com/southerncross/Journal/NewYork.htm .
From 1923 to 1956, he was a concert organist in residence at Longwood, the Du Pont estate, where he played for Pierre duPont
Pierre DuPont
Pierre DuPont may refer to:*Pierre Dupont, French song-writer*Pierre DuPont founder of French carpet making *Pierre Dupont de l'Étang, French General*Pierre S. du Pont , Du Pont Company and General Motors executive...
on a massive 1930 Aeolian organ which he also designed. With its 10,010 pipes which took fourteen railway freight cars to transport to the grounds, the Aeolian organ was one of the largest organs installed in a residential setting. The organ was used for charity concerts in the indoor tropical gardens.http://books.google.ca/books?id=yb3p5OlZgugC&pg=PA420&lpg=PA420&dq=firmin+swinnen&source=web&ots=qoyK5HcOJ7&sig=EcbITvbLWYxz4qz58azCmRzf9G8&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=9&ct=result