20th anniversary of Bates Recital Hall’s tracker organ

20th Anniversary Organ Recital and Demonstration
Sunday, March 16 at 2 p.m.
The University of Texas at Austin School of Music
Bates Recital Hall

The Bates Recital Hall tracker organ celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

Photo: Marsha Miller

The University of Texas at Austin School of Music invites you to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the great Visser-Rowland tracker organ. Dr. Frank Speller, the university professor of organ who inspired its creation, will perform works by Buxtehude, Couperin, Bach/Vivaldi, Franck and Widor. Piete Visser, the organ builder, will give a lecture/demonstration on the organ’s design and construction. The celebration takes place Sunday, March 16 at 2 p.m. in the School of Music’s Bates Recital Hall. This is a rare chance to hear one of the leading experts talk about this instrument and a great opportunity to see and hear this one-of-a-kind organ up-close.

Installed in 1983 by Visser-Rowland Associates of Houston, Texas, the Bates Recital Hall organ is a musical and engineering feat. The construction of this king of instruments occupied staff for 16,750 working hours with the planning alone taking seven months. There are 5,315 pipes that range from giant 16-foot principals to pipes smaller than an ordinary pencil. Due to its design and craftwork, this organ is a link to history, a connection with centuries of artisanship and skill. Generations of performers, composers, professors and students will use it and grow by the experience. It is an expression of community, a gift from The University of Texas at Austin to all who will study, teach, hear and enjoy this organ’s art, now and tomorrow.

General admission tickets are $10 and $5 with a UT ID. Tickets are vailable at the door. For more information visit the School of Music Web site.