Alternate information
College of Organists created.
The Canadian Conservatory of Music, Ottawa, is founded by Harry Puddicome, who went on to serve as the Conservatory's director for 35 years. The Canadian Conservatory of Music building was located on Bay Street and housed a Casavant, 2 manuals 10 stops. The Canadian Conservatory of Music would continue to operate until its closing in 1937. Source: Wikipedia
Casavant Opus 376, 2 manuals, 21 stops. References and photo credit: Casavant Freres Archives
The Canadian Guild of Organists is founded.
The Diapason Magazine is founded in 1909, publishing its first edition in December. The first edition features a article on the construction of an organ for Northwestern University by the Casavant Brothers. References and photo credit: The Diapason Magazine, December 1909
Warren 1894 pipe organ built for Rideau Hall is donated to St. Bartholomew's Anglican Church. Reference: "St. Bart’s of the Village 1867 – 1967" by Zita Barbara May
Regent Theatre, on Bank & Sparks Streets, Ottawa, Ontario, installed a Casavant pipe organ (2 manual, 22 stops) in 1916. The Regent Theatre had 1056 seats, and in 1928 became the first theatre in Ottawa to play films with sound. In 1987, the Regent Theatre's Casavant pipe organ was moved and installed in the Chinese United Church, Bank Street, Ottawa. References: Casavant Freres Archives
Imperial Theatre, Bank Street, installs a theatre pipe organ built by Ottawa's Brouse-Underhill Organ Company. The April 1917 edition of The Diapason notes that "this organ is unique in many ways, one of the most important features being the installation of a grand piano in a swell box with the great organ and played from either the great or the accompaniment keyboard, as well as pedal keyboard." References and photo credits: The Diapason Magazine, April 1917, page 6; City of Ottawa Archives
Noted church organ builder Edward Lye of Toronto is dead at the age of 91. He is survived by six sons and several grandchildren. References and photo credit: The Toronto Daily Star, Monday, November 19, 1919
The Canadian Guild of Organists becomes the Canadian College of Organists.
Capital Theatre, 90 Bank Street, Golden Palace, installs Theatre Pipe Organ. References: City of Ottawa Archives
St. Lucas (St. Luke's) Evangelical Lutheran Church gets new pipe organ (Casavant Opus 820, 2 manual, 13 stops). References: Casavant Freres Archives
First church service broadcast on radio over KDKA Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, USA.
Ottawa Centre founded under leadership of Dr. John W. Bearder, whose experience included: -Organist of St. Matthew's Anglican Church; -Supervised several school orchestras; -Music editor, Ottawa Journal Newspaper; -National College President, 1926-1927; -Ottawa Centre Chairman, 1921-1934 (13 years).
At the Ottawa Centre, Canadian College of Organists annual meeting in April 1923. The May 1, 1923 edition of the Diapason Magazine notes that during the annual meeting, "it was decided to hold a festival service in the Dominion Church next November...", including a choir of 500.
In 1925, Harry S. Southam, the successful newspaper tycoon of Rockcliffe Park, Ottawa, signs a contract with the Aeolian Organ Company on January 30th to purchase a pipe organ of 2 manuals, 15 stops, 8 ranks, and chimes, plus Duo Art (for playing music rolls). The purchase cost is $15,000, a gift for his wife. Another contract is signed on May 25th for the addition of a Harp for $5,270. A further contract is signed on March 27th, 1929, for the addition of 9 ranks of pipes for $12,475. A third manual is added on July 16th for $1,869. In 1944, a fire almost destroys the Southam residence, but the pipe organ is undamaged and the instrument of 3 manuals and pedal, 17 ranks, with chimes and harp, now valued at $34,000, is placed in storage. In 1945, the pipe organ is donated to Glebe Collegiate, Ottawa by Mr. Southam along with a gift of around $1,500 to help move and install the organ in its new home. In 1964, the pipe organ is moved from Glebe Collegiate to Saint-Louis-Marie-de-Montfort Catholic Church, Ottawa. The original three manual console is eplaced with a two manual. The inaugural concert is held September 25th, with organists Wilfrid Charette of Notre-Dame Cathedral-Basilica and Godfrey Hewitt of Christ Church Cathedral sharing the honours. In 2013, the Aeolian Pipe Organ Opus 1567, Year 1925 is now 88 years old and is still being played every Sunday. References: Aeolian Pipe Organ Company Archives
R.H. Combs operates Toronto's CKNC radio station, the largest broadcaster in Canada, and awards a contract to Aeolian Company to build an Aeolian Organ inside his home. Recitals are then broadcast over CKNC from Combs' home. Combs selected the Aeolian Organ because it provided the best sound quality when broadcast via radio. References: Aeolian Pipe Organ Company Archives; The Diapason Magazine, 1927 Photo credit: Aeolian Pipe Organ Company Archives
In 1929, the City of Ottawa expropriated the land, church and pipe organ located at Knox Presbytarian Church on Queen/Elgin Streets. Church services continued to be held there until 1931, and were then moved down the street to their new church at located at Elgin and Lisgar Streets. References and photo credits: City of Ottawa Archives
Toronto's Royal York Hotel receives a 5-manual pipe organ, installed by Casavant. This pipe organ is the largest organ in Canada. References and photo credits: The Diapason Magazine, August 1929, pages 1 and 2
Casavant installs the largest church organ in Canada, a five-manual pipe organ, in Metropolitan United Church, Toronto. References and photo credit: The Diapason Magazine, September 1930, pages 1 and 35
Famous Canadian organist Lynnwood Farnam, known as the Master Organist of the Century, passes away on November 30th at the age of 45. References: Farnam’s Archives, Cutis Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Casavant Freres installs a large concert organ, equipped with 5,696 pipes and 90 speaking stops, in the auditorium of the Eaton store in Toronto. References and photo credit: The Diapason Magazine, August 1931, page 26
St. Francois d'Assise buys a Karn-Warren pipe organ from City of Ottawa for $1,500. The organ had earlier belonged to Knox Presbytarian Church, and had been purchased by the City of Ottawa for $10,000. References and photo credits: St. Francis d’Assise Archives
J.C. Casavant, president of Casavant Freres, Ltd., dies in St-Hyathinthe, Quebec. The Diapason Magazine notes that Casavant Freres had earned a "worldwide reputation". Casavant, who had been the last surviving founding member of Casavant Freres, passed away after a 10-day illness. References and photo credit: The Diapason Magazine, January 1934, page 1
Ottawa Centre holds a musical evening at Casa Loma, the Ottawa home of Harry S. Southam and his wife. The evening includes performances on the three-manual Aeolian organ in Casa Loma's music room. References and photo credit: The Diapason Magazine, November 1941, page 24
21-year old Gerald Bales, the organist and choirmaster of Toronto's Rosedale United Church, conducts a performance of his work "Lazarus" at Rosedale United Church on November 25th. In the coming months, Bales will go on to present numerous recitals his work, including "Nocturne", which Bales composed at age 18. References and photo credit: The Diapason Magazine, June 1941
Organ building in United States stops by order of the War Production Board on July 31. As part of the war effort, the entire musical industry, including the organ-building industry, is converted to defence production. The order to stop organ building is intended to ensure availability of critical materials, including metal, cork and plastic, for war production. References and photo credit: The Diapason Magazine, July 1942, page 1
The honorary president of the Canadian College of Organists, Dr. Herbert A. Fricker, Mus.D., F.R.C.O., dies in Toronto. Fricker had earlier served as the Canadian College of Organists president prior to being named honorary president, and served seven years as the president of C.C.O. Toronto Centre. Fricker had served as the city organist in Leeds, England, prior to immigrating to Canada. In Toronto, Fricker had served 26 years with the Metropolitan United Church and organist and choirmaster. References and photo credit: The Diapason Magazine, December 1943, page 2
Famous French organist Joseph Bonnet dies suddenly at the age of 60 in Ste-Luce sur Mer, near Rimouski, Quebec. Bonnet had served as organist at the Church of St-Eustache in Paris, France since 1906, and had taught at Montreal's Conservatory of Music and Dramatic Arts. References: The Diapason Magazine, September 1944, page 1
H.S. Southam donates aeolian pipe organ to Glebe Collegiate along with $1,500 to assist with the installation.
Hulse and Playfair Funeral Home, home of new Casavant, begins organ recitals. Recitals include performances by Myron McTavish, Mus.B., F.C.C.O., Carman H. Milligan, Mus.Bac. References and photo credits: Casavant Freres Archives; Hulse, Playfair & McGarry Funeral Home Archives
Toronto's Franklin Legge Organ Company goes into bankruptcy on September 12th. Its US and Canadian creditors include churches and supply houses. The Franklin Legge Organ Company would continue to operate until 1957. References and photo credit: The Diapason Magazine, November 1947, page 32
Collegiate Institute Board of Ottawa's official organist, Myron McTavish, F.A.G.O., F.C.C.O., L.T.C.M., organizes concerts in which secondary students conduct vocal and instrumental performances using the three-manual Aeolian organ in the auditorium of Ottawa's Glebe Collegiate Institute. McTavish organizes seven such concerts per year, with between 800 and 1,100 people attending each concert. References and photo credit: The Diapason Magazine, February 1947, page 7
The Canadian College of Organists hosts its annual conclave in the Dominion of Canada's capital, Ottawa, Ontario. The conclave's senior staff includes general chairman Carman H. Milligan, vice chairman William France, and program committee head Gerald Wheeler. There were nearly 325 registered participants in the conclave, including 74 U.S. participants. The conclave is covered by newspapers including the Ottawa Citizen and the Ottawa Journal. The conclave's schedule includes events in churches near the Lord Elgin and Chateaur Laurier. References and photo credits: The Diapason Magazine, October 1958, pages 1, 2 and 21
To mark its 50th Anniversary, the Canadian College of Organists is granted the use of "Royal" by Queen Elizabeth II, and becomes the Royal Canadian College of Organists. The Diapason Magazine notes that "the honor from the Queen is in recognition of the long service of the College in promoting a higher standard of organ playing, church music, and musical composition". References and photo credit: The Diapason Magazine, June 1959, page 24
The Diapason Magazine celebrates fifty years of dedication to the organ world.
Ottawa and area undergo major pipe organ building for ten years.
The Royal Candian College Organists celebrates its 50th anniversary (1909-1959) in Toronto. The festivities included performances by renowned French organist Andre Marchal, American Donald McDonald, and Canada's Hugh McLean and Georges Lindsay. The 50th Anniversary celebration concluded with a banquet featuring an elaborate organ-themed cake. References and photo credits: The Diapason Magazine, May 1959 The Diapason Magazine, August 1959, page 1
In the 1 December, 1959 edition of The Diapason, Dr. Charles Peaker writes an article, "The Diapason and us (The R.C.C.O., That Is)", reflecting on the accomplishments of the RCCO over the past 50 years as well as The Diapason Magazine's 50 years. Peaker emphasizes the close ties among organists in North America and abroad, noting that "it is a delightful thing that the Organists of North America get along so well on one stop...voiced on moderate wind-pressure, THE DIAPASON." References and photo credit: The Diapason Magazine, December 1959, page 8
A model of planned RCCO Headquarters building is displayed in 1960. Funding to build the headquarters is being raised nationwide by the RCCO at that time, however the headquarters building depicted by the model was never built. References and photo credit: The Diapason Magazine, November 1960
Canadian composer, teacher and church musician Healy Willan, known as Canada's "Man of Music", is honoured by the RCCO on his 80th birthday with the establishment of a scholarship fund bearing his name. References and photo credit: The Diapason Magazine, October 1960, page 1
Dominion Methodist Church (The Mother Church), on Queen & Metcalfe Streets, burns. The church housed a Casavant pipe organ. References and photo credits: City of Ottawa Archives
Chalmers United Church, O'Connor & Copper Streets, becomes Dominion-Chalmers United.
French organist Jean Langlais headlines the opening day of the RCCO Convention in St. Catherines, Ontario.
Dominion-Chambers United Church receives a new pipe organ from Casavant Freres. This new organ includes 5,157 pipes, 64 speaking stops, roughly six miles of copper wiring, and more than 1,000 sterling silver contacts. Mahogany and oak is also used in the construction of the organ.
Organists and enthusiasts go on binge installing pipe organs in their homes, Ottawa. Some organs are custom-built in the homes, while others are acquired from Ottawa-area churches. Builders of home organs include professional organ-builders and organists, as well as organ enthusiasts who build organs as a hobby. Space limitations within homes lead to creative organ designs such as organs with horizontal pipes. References and photo credits: The Ottawa Journal Newspaper , Saturday Section, February 12th, 1966
A large Casavant pipe organ, measuring 22' 7 1/2" high, 17' 8 3/4" wide, and 10' 4 1/2" deep, is installed in the Canadian Government Pavillion's 500-seat theatre at Expo 67 in Montreal. Daily recitals throughout the entire six-month duration of the Expo are provided by 25 Canadian organists who play for one week each. References and photo credits: The Diapason Magazine, April 1967, pages 1 and 5; Casavant Freres Archives
The approximately 110-year old Aeolian Music Hall in London, Ontario burns on May 20th, Victoria Day, resulting in the total destruction of the building. The fire destroyed an organ which had recently been rebuilt and had been used at RCCO conventions. Also destroyed in the fire were an Aeolian-Skinner studio organ, a residence organ, as well as three Steinway grand pianos, and at least seven other pianos. References and photo credits: The Diapason Magazine, July 1968, pages 1 and 11
The National Arts Centre (NAC) opens in Ottawa.
Capital Theatre, Bank Street, is demolished along with pipe organ. References and photo credits: City of Ottawa Archives
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