Firmin Swinnen

Firmin Swinnen (1885-1972) was a Belgian theater organist who was noted for his organ improvisations during silent films in New York City.

Career

Born in Belgium, Swinnen became an organist at the Antwerp cathedral, until World War I 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 for the Choir of Christ Church Christiana in Delaware from 1925 to 1956, a church which was supported by the Du Pont 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 du Pont on a massive Aeolian organ which he also designed. With its 10,000 pipes which took fourteen railway freight cars to transport to the grounds, the Aeolian organ was one of the largest organs installed in a private home. 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

References