This listing is for Richard Ellsasser – The Thundering Pipe Organ Vinyl LP Record Album MS-7526.

Label: Medallion – MS-7526

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo, Gatefold

Country: US

Released: 1961

Genre: Classical

Style: Romantic, Contemporary, Organ 

Recorded on the Aeolian organ at the Hammond Castle, Gloucester, MA. 

Condition:   Jacket:   Very Good           Vinyl:    Very Good

Tracklist:

A1 Pomp And Circumstance March #1

A2 March Of The Siamese Children (From "The King And I")

A3 Great Gate Of Kiev (From "Pictures At An Exhibition")

B1 Bacchanale (From "Samson And Delilah")

B2 The Phantom Regiment

B3 Dance Of The Comedians (From "The Bartered Bride")

Richard Ellsasser (September 14, 1926 - August 9, 1972) was an American concert organist, composer, and conductor who was primarily active during the 1940s to 1960s. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on September 14, 1926, he was a musical prodigy who studied piano and organ, first with his father Frederick Ellsasser, a musician in the Cleveland Orchestra, and later with Winslow Cheney and Albert Riemenschneider. Ellsasser also studied with Joseph Bonnet. At the age of seven, he toured the eastern United States as an organist with various symphony orchestras. He made his New York organ debut in 1937. He graduated high school with high honors at the age of 14. He attended Oberlin College briefly and later Baldwin-Wallace College (from which he obtained his Bachelor of Music degree), and graduated at age 17. At the age of 19, he became the youngest person in history to have played, from memory, all 200+ organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach, or possibly the second-youngest. In 1946, he embarked on a transcontinental tour of the United States that visited 27 states in two months. In the middle of the tour, on his 20th birthday, his airplane crashed near Stockton, California. Ellsasser and others were unharmed, but the tour's secretary William Akers died. He went on to complete the tour, having performed for over 40,000 people.

Ellsasser later went on to study at the School of Theology at Boston University, and the School of Religion at the University of Southern California (where he earned a Master's Degree in Theology). Ellsasser also earned a Doctorate from Boston University. For many years, Ellsasser was Minister of Music at Wilshire United Methodist Church in Los Angeles, California, where he later created and directed a series of music festivals. In later years, he became Minister of Recitals at the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles. NBC featured the young organist on the air with the production of "The Ellsasser Show." He had perfect pitch, and was also gifted in the art of improvisation and often included an improvisation as part of his concerts. This was typically in the form of a submitted theme in a sealed envelope. 

Additionally, he was founder and, for several seasons, director of the Bach Circle of Boston. A prolific recording artist, Ellsasser made numerous "private label" recordings during the 1950s for MGM Records, primarily at the Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester, Massachusetts. He also recorded several albums for Kapp Records. During the 1960s, Ellsasser became a faculty member at the National Music Camp in Interlochen, Michigan.

In 1967, Ellsasser recorded two albums for Nonesuch Records at the Hammond Castle Museum. Shortly after completing these recordings, he suffered a stroke, which forced him into retirement. He came out of retirement in January 1972 when he accepted a position as Minister of Music at the United Baptist Church of Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts (Boston); this was his last church position. He continued to conduct workshops, accompany musicals and perform in a few concerts during the last year of his life. He died on August 9, 1972, in New York City, some six weeks prior to what would have been his 46th birthday. Ellsasser "freely arranged for the modern organ" a lively Rondo in G that he attributed to John Bull centuries earlier. The Rondo is "not known to have existed at all" before Ellsasser published his arrangement in 1951, and he is generally presumed to have been the composer.

CONDITION Descriptions:

I base the condition of each of my Records off of's Grading System. 

• MINT (M) Looks new and unplayed. Very high vinyl luster and no noticeable label defects. Sounds new. With 45rpm records, this does not always mean there is no surface noise at all. 

• NEAR MINT (NM) Looks almost new, but has some minor flaws such as a drill hole; unobtrusive writing on label (e.g., an X on a promo copy); minor scuffing on vinyl; minor color flaking on label, or other insignificant flaws that only slightly detract from visual appeal. May have some minor surface noise, but nothing distracting. 

• VERY GOOD (VG) There may be light scuffing and some of the original vinyl luster may be lost. The vinyl and label may appear used, but well cared for. Records may have some more obvious flaws that are not visually degrading such as a sticker on the label; more noticeable writing on the label; scuffing and minor scratches on the vinyl; or minor discoloration of the label. There may be very minor warping of the vinyl. There may be a slight scratch not affecting play. 

• GOOD (G) Record has visible signs of handling and playing, such as loss of vinyl luster, minor surface scratches, groove wear, and audible surface noise. Appears well used but not abused. May have a few major flaws, such as scratches, label tears, or stickers, and/or writing. 

• FAIR (F) Appears well used and somewhat abused. Audio is not great due to surface noise and scratches. The record may have a stick or a skip. Records in this condition are those you might purchase to fill a hole in your collection until a better copy comes along. 

• POOR (P) Well played with little luster and significant surface noise, but still not cracked or broken. Record likely skips and/or sticks. Typically so bad looking that a true “collector” would just toss it out. More useful as a Frisbee. I try not to sell records in this condition.

Thanks for checking out this item! We have many related items listed, so be sure to check our other listings for similar items! Reasonable offers are highly considered, unreasonable ones are not...Sorry... :-)!  Still have a ton of "not listed" inventory, so if you looking for something specific, please inquire as we may just be able to find it for you. We ship 6 days a week, so the faster you pay, the faster we ship! Thanks again for your visit and even more so if you purchase something! I'm sure you will be as happy as we are! 

• Combined Shipping - Yes, we can combine shipping! Just add all items to cart and checkout! Shipping fees do adjust for multiple items.

• Packaging - and/or Non-branded packaging are used to try and keep costs low and be as recycle friendly as possible.

• Shipping Information - We DO NOT offer Pick-up Service, All orders must be shipped.

• Item Conditions/Returns - UNLESS specifically stated as NEW or LIKE NEW, almost all the items are in used condition.

• Payments - The faster you pay, the faster we ship. 

• Feedback - We will leave 5 Star feedback once the transaction is completed. We leave feedback monthly due to the amount we have to do each month.