Alexander McCurdy
Encyclopedia
Alexander McCurdy was an organist and educator.
He studied with Lynnwood Farnum (1924–27) graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music
in 1934.
In 1926 he made his debut at New York's Town Hall, and thereafter toured as a recitalist, often appearing in duo recitals with his wife, harpist Flora Greenwood.
He was the head of the organ departments at the Curtis Institute of Music
, in Philadelphia from 1935 to 1972, and the Westminster Choir College
in Princeton
from 1924 to 1965. He became organist and choirmaster at Philadelphia's Second Presbyterian Church in 1927, where he greatly enlarged the organ;after a 1949 merger, this was the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, from which he retired in 1972.
His students included John Tuttle, Keith Chapman
, Cherry Rhodes, Hedley Yost, Charles Calahan, David Craighead, Richard Purvis
, Michael Stairs, Gordon Turk,, John Binsfeld, Walter Baker
In May 2005, Westminster celebrated McCurdy’s 100th birthday with a day of concerts at the Princeton Chapel and Westminster’s Bristol Chapel, including concert organists John Weaver and Joan Lippincott.
His students generally manifested a sublime lyricism in playing and more than a few shared his affinity for the Symphonic school of pipe-organ design, perhaps resulting in the preservation of several important Symphonic organs in Philadelphia, particularly Wanamaker Organ
, the E.M. Skinner organ at Girard College
Chapel, and the Curtis Organ
at Irvine Auditorium
(University of Pennsylvania
).
McCurdy donated his music collection, to the Bagaduce Music Lending Library.
They have started an Alexander McCurdy Competition in Organ Performance at Westminster Choir College
, now part of Ryder University.
He studied with Lynnwood Farnum (1924–27) graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music
Curtis Institute of Music
The Curtis Institute of Music is a conservatory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that offers courses of study leading to a performance Diploma, Bachelor of Music, Master of Music in Opera, and Professional Studies Certificate in Opera. According to statistics compiled by U.S...
in 1934.
In 1926 he made his debut at New York's Town Hall, and thereafter toured as a recitalist, often appearing in duo recitals with his wife, harpist Flora Greenwood.
He was the head of the organ departments at the Curtis Institute of Music
Curtis Institute of Music
The Curtis Institute of Music is a conservatory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that offers courses of study leading to a performance Diploma, Bachelor of Music, Master of Music in Opera, and Professional Studies Certificate in Opera. According to statistics compiled by U.S...
, in Philadelphia from 1935 to 1972, and the Westminster Choir College
Westminster Choir College
Westminster Choir College is a residential college of music, part of Rider University, located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States.Westminster Choir College educates men and women at the undergraduate and graduate levels for musical careers in music education, voice performance, piano...
in Princeton
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
from 1924 to 1965. He became organist and choirmaster at Philadelphia's Second Presbyterian Church in 1927, where he greatly enlarged the organ;after a 1949 merger, this was the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, from which he retired in 1972.
His students included John Tuttle, Keith Chapman
Keith Chapman
For organist Keith Chapman , see Keith Chapman Keith V. Chapman is a television writer and producer based in the United Kingdom who most notably created Bob the Builder.-Biography:...
, Cherry Rhodes, Hedley Yost, Charles Calahan, David Craighead, Richard Purvis
Richard Purvis
Richard Purvis was an American organist, composer, conductor and teacher. He is especially remembered for his expressive recordings of the organ classics and his own lighter compositions for the instrument....
, Michael Stairs, Gordon Turk,, John Binsfeld, Walter Baker
In May 2005, Westminster celebrated McCurdy’s 100th birthday with a day of concerts at the Princeton Chapel and Westminster’s Bristol Chapel, including concert organists John Weaver and Joan Lippincott.
His students generally manifested a sublime lyricism in playing and more than a few shared his affinity for the Symphonic school of pipe-organ design, perhaps resulting in the preservation of several important Symphonic organs in Philadelphia, particularly Wanamaker Organ
Wanamaker Organ
The Wanamaker Grand Court Organ, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the largest operational pipe organ in the world, located within a spacious 7-story court at Macy's Center City . The largest organ by some measures is the Boardwalk Hall Auditorium Organ...
, the E.M. Skinner organ at Girard College
Girard College
Girard College is an independent boarding school on a 43-acre campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States.Girard is for academically capable students, grades one through 12, and awards a full scholarship with a yearly value of approximately $42,000 to every child admitted to the...
Chapel, and the Curtis Organ
Curtis Organ
The Curtis Organ, named for publisher Cyrus H. K. Curtis, is one of the largest pipe organs in the world with 162 ranks and 10,731 pipes. It was manufactured by the Austin Organ Company as its Opus 1416 in 1926 for the Philadelphia Sesquicentennial Exposition. It was known as the "Organists'...
at Irvine Auditorium
Irvine Auditorium
Irvine Auditorium is a performance venue at 3401 Spruce Street on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was designed by the firm of prominent architect Horace Trumbauer and built 1926–1932...
(University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
).
McCurdy donated his music collection, to the Bagaduce Music Lending Library.
They have started an Alexander McCurdy Competition in Organ Performance at Westminster Choir College
Westminster Choir College
Westminster Choir College is a residential college of music, part of Rider University, located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States.Westminster Choir College educates men and women at the undergraduate and graduate levels for musical careers in music education, voice performance, piano...
, now part of Ryder University.
Works
- “Keeping up Mendelssohn”, Dr. Alexander McCurdy, The Etude Music Magazine: February, 1948
- “Notable Organs of America”, Dr. Alexander McCurdy The Etude Music Magazine: June, 1947