John T. Fesperman
Encyclopedia
John T. Fesperman was an American conductor, organist and author of several books on organs.
From 1965 to 1995 he worked at the Division of Musical Instruments at the National Museum of History and Technology, part of the Smithsonian Institution
.
, cutting short his studies to serve in the U.S. Navy (1943–1946) during World War II. He earned a B.S. degree from Davidson College (1948) and a B.Mus. degree at the Yale University School of Music
(1951). He also studied at the Salzburg Mozarteum in 1951.
In 1955 he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to continue his studies in Amsterdam
, where he met the famous Dutch organ-builder Dirk Andries Flentrop
.
Later he was to write a book on Flentrop's influence in the United States.
He and Flentrop co-authored a paper on The Organs of Mexico City Cathedral, published by the Smithsonian in 1986.
Fesperman began teaching music at the Alabama College in Montevallo, Alabama
.
In 1958 he was the director of the choir at the St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Montevallo.
He then moved to Boston where he taught organ at the New England Conservatory.
During this time he was active in arranging concerts and recorded several vocal works and organ masses.
In 1965 he accepted a position at the National Museum of History and Technology (Smithsonian), staying with that institution in various capacities for the next thirty years.
While at the Smithsonian, Fesperman was able to assist in restoration projects and in the planning and design of new organs for various buildings.
For example, he assisted in restoration of the 1855 Stevens and Jewett organ at the Armed Forces Retirement Home Protestant Chapel in Washington, DC.
He consulted on the organ installation the Pohick Episcopal Church in Lorton, Virginia
.
Fesperman retired from the Smithsonian in 1995, and died at the age of 76 on June 2, 2001.
However, he did not always agree with traditional practices. He felt that the best placement of an organ was centered on the long axis of the room. He said "among the worst possible solutions is to divide the organ in chambers on either side of the choir of the church" – although this was common practice before the 1950s.
In his 1970 book A Snetzler chamber organ of 1761 Felderman took a positive view of "Residence organ
s", organs installed in people's homes, which were popular in the 18th century and had experienced a revival in the United States in the mid-1950s.
He was a supporter of the mechanical stop-action, which he praised for its simplicity of engineering and for the advantages it provided to the player.
From 1965 to 1995 he worked at the Division of Musical Instruments at the National Museum of History and Technology, part of the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
.
Career
Fesperman attended the University of North CarolinaUniversity of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
, cutting short his studies to serve in the U.S. Navy (1943–1946) during World War II. He earned a B.S. degree from Davidson College (1948) and a B.Mus. degree at the Yale University School of Music
Yale School of Music
The Yale School of Music is one of the twelve professional schools at Yale University and one of the premier music conservatories in the world....
(1951). He also studied at the Salzburg Mozarteum in 1951.
In 1955 he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to continue his studies in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, where he met the famous Dutch organ-builder Dirk Andries Flentrop
Dirk Andries Flentrop
Dirk Andries Flentrop was a Dutch organ builder. He built or restored many major organs in the United States and in Europe. He was noted for his 1977 restoration of two organs from the 17th and 18th centuries in the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral.-Life:Flentrop was born in Zaandam on 1 May 1903...
.
Later he was to write a book on Flentrop's influence in the United States.
He and Flentrop co-authored a paper on The Organs of Mexico City Cathedral, published by the Smithsonian in 1986.
Fesperman began teaching music at the Alabama College in Montevallo, Alabama
Montevallo, Alabama
Montevallo is a city in Shelby County, Alabama, United States. A college town, it is the home of the University of Montevallo, a public liberal arts university with around 3000 students. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city of Montevallo is 4,825....
.
In 1958 he was the director of the choir at the St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Montevallo.
He then moved to Boston where he taught organ at the New England Conservatory.
During this time he was active in arranging concerts and recorded several vocal works and organ masses.
In 1965 he accepted a position at the National Museum of History and Technology (Smithsonian), staying with that institution in various capacities for the next thirty years.
While at the Smithsonian, Fesperman was able to assist in restoration projects and in the planning and design of new organs for various buildings.
For example, he assisted in restoration of the 1855 Stevens and Jewett organ at the Armed Forces Retirement Home Protestant Chapel in Washington, DC.
He consulted on the organ installation the Pohick Episcopal Church in Lorton, Virginia
Lorton, Virginia
Lorton is a census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The population is 27,709 as of the 2008 census estimate.-History:...
.
Fesperman retired from the Smithsonian in 1995, and died at the age of 76 on June 2, 2001.
Philosophy
Fesperman was an advocate of instrument makers who worked in the classic tradition.However, he did not always agree with traditional practices. He felt that the best placement of an organ was centered on the long axis of the room. He said "among the worst possible solutions is to divide the organ in chambers on either side of the choir of the church" – although this was common practice before the 1950s.
In his 1970 book A Snetzler chamber organ of 1761 Felderman took a positive view of "Residence organ
Residence organ
A residence organ is a musical organ installed in a personal home...
s", organs installed in people's homes, which were popular in the 18th century and had experienced a revival in the United States in the mid-1950s.
He was a supporter of the mechanical stop-action, which he praised for its simplicity of engineering and for the advantages it provided to the player.