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Westminster College Music Professor Presented Paper at International Conference

Posted on Wednesday, October 4, 2000

Dr. Elizabeth A. Harrison, assistant professor of music and Westminster College organist, recently presented a paper at the Gotenborg International Organ Academy's (GoArt's) bi-annual conference in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Harrison's paper, Hymn Accompaniments on the North German Baroque Oran: the Example of Michael Wiedeburg on the Schnitger Organ in Norden, 1748-1800, discussed hymn accompaniments as they were played in the 18th century.

"Hymns were quite different from today in that organists played slower and filled out the chords with as many notes as they could reach," said Harrison. "Art Schnitger was one of the most important organ builders ever. His organs are known throughout the world as some of the best that have ever been built."

"I played several organ concerts on these historical instruments this summer, including the Schnitger organ in Norden, Germany and the Schnitger-Freytag organ in Bellingwolde, the Netherlands," said Harrison.

Harrison also organized and led a tour of the Bach Organs of the North, demonstrating many historical organs in Holland and Germany.

Harrison, who joined the Westminster faculty this fall, earned her undergraduate degree from Duke University, her masters' from Southern College and New England Conservatory, and a doctorate from Stanford University.