Ernest M. Skinner

Ernest M. Skinner was a renowned American organ builder who made significant contributions to the development of the symphonic organ. Born in Clarence, New York, Skinner was influenced by the works of Aeolian Company and Hutchings-Votey Organ Company, and he went on to study with George S. Hutchings at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Skinner's early exposure to the works of Cavaille-Coll and Willis Organ Company also shaped his approach to organ building, which emphasized the importance of tonal color and expressive range. His work was also influenced by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and New York Philharmonic, which he often attended.

● Early Life and Education

Ernest M. Skinner was born on January 15, 1866, in Clarence, New York, to a family of Methodist ministers. He developed an interest in music at an early age, studying piano and organ with William Matthews in Buffalo, New York. Skinner's education was further influenced by his time at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where he studied with George S. Hutchings and was exposed to the works of Franz Liszt, Johannes Brahms, and Richard Wagner. Skinner's early life was also marked by his involvement with the American Guild of Organists and his attendance at concerts by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and New York Philharmonic.

● Career

Skinner began his career in organ building in 1889, working for the Hutchings-Votey Organ Company in Boston, Massachusetts. He later joined the Aeolian Company in New York City, where he worked alongside George S. Hutchings and Votey Organ Company. In 1901, Skinner founded the Ernest M. Skinner & Company in Boston, Massachusetts, which later became the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company in 1932 after merging with the Aeolian Company. Skinner's company built organs for numerous prominent institutions, including the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, Westminster Abbey in London, England, and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Skinner's work was also influenced by his collaborations with Rachmaninoff, Sergei Prokofiev, and Igor Stravinsky, and his organs were often featured in concerts by the New York Philharmonic and Boston Symphony Orchestra.

● Organ Building Style

Skinner's organ building style was characterized by his emphasis on tonal color and expressive range. He was influenced by the works of Cavaille-Coll and Willis Organ Company, and he incorporated many of their innovations into his own designs. Skinner's organs were known for their symphonic sound, which was achieved through the use of a wide range of stops and couplers. His designs were also influenced by the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements, and his organs often featured intricate carvings and ornate decorations. Skinner's work was also influenced by his interest in acoustics and psychoacoustics, and he often collaborated with physicists and psychologists to optimize the sound of his organs. His organs were often compared to those of E.M. Roberts and Harrison & Harrison, and they were highly regarded by organists such as Marcel Dupre and Virgil Fox.

● Notable Works

Some of Skinner's most notable works include the organ at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, the Riverside Church in New York City, and the Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. His organs were also installed at numerous other prominent institutions, including the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Severance Hall in Cleveland, Ohio. Skinner's work was highly regarded by organists such as Leopold Stokowski and Eugene Ormandy, and his organs were often featured in concerts by the New York Philharmonic and Boston Symphony Orchestra. His organs were also used in recordings by RCA Records and Columbia Records, and they were highly praised by music critics such as Harold Schonberg and Virgil Thomson.

● Legacy

Ernest M. Skinner's legacy as an organ builder is still celebrated today, with many of his instruments remaining in use in prominent institutions around the world. His emphasis on tonal color and expressive range has influenced generations of organ builders, including G. Donald Harrison and Charles Fisk. Skinner's work has also been recognized by the American Guild of Organists, which has awarded him numerous honors and accolades. His organs continue to be played by prominent organists such as Diane Bish and Paul Jacobs, and they remain an important part of the classical music tradition. Skinner's legacy is also celebrated through the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company, which continues to build and restore organs to this day, and through the Organ Historical Society, which works to preserve and promote the history of the organ. Category:Organ builders