The largest extant organ built by America’s first native-trained organbuilder, David Tannenberg, was commissioned in 1798 by the Home Moravian Church in Salem, North Carolina and installed in 1800 with two manuals and full pedal. Having played for 112 years, the organ was removed to storage in 1910. Now, it resides in a purpose-built concert hall with reverberant acoustics in the Old Salem Visitor Center at Old Salem Inc. in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where Peter Sykes played this dedication recital in March, 2004. The organ was meticulously restored 1998-2003 by Taylor & Boody of Staunton, Virginia. Commissioned for the event was Dan Locklair’s Salem Sonata, which receives its first recording on this CD. As well, the nine preludes of Christian Ignatius Latrobe (1758-1836), brother of the famous American architect Benjamin Latrobe, are recorded for the first time.
Reviews The American Organist ". . .stunning performances. . . one of America's finest organs"