''Pipedreams'' is a radio music program produced and distributed by

American Public Media American Public Media (APM) is an American company that produces and distributes public radio programs in the United States, the second largest company of its type after NPR. Its non-profit parent, American Public Media Group, also owns and o ...

(APM) based in

Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul (often abbreviated St. Paul) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County, Minnesota, Ramsey County. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, ...

, created and hosted since its inception by J. Michael Barone. Each one- or two-hour show features

organ music The organ repertoire is considered to be the largest and oldest repertory of all musical instruments. Because of the organ's (or pipe organ's) prominence in worship in Western Europe from the Middle Ages on, a significant portion of organ reper ...

, and centers on a theme such as a particular instrument, venue, organ builder, performer, composer, period, etc.

History

The program has been in weekly national broadcast syndication since 1983 (following pilot episodes in 1982), and it remains the only nationally syndicated radio program in the United States devoted to organ music. The program is available on APM-affiliated stations and on the ''Pipedreams.org'' website. In recent years, ''Pipedreams weekly radio audience has fluctuated around 200,000 listeners. The program's major sponsors include the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America. In addition to the radio program itself, ''Pipedreams'' is also known for producing guided tours, often to Europe with the objective of visiting organs of unique quality or interest. Recordings of these notable instruments are frequently featured in the broadcasts of ''Pipedreams''.

Accolades

The program's major accolades include the 2001

Deems Taylor Joseph Deems Taylor (December 22, 1885 – July 3, 1966) was an American composer, radio commentator, music critic, and author. Nat Benchley, co-editor of ''The Lost Algonquin Roundtable'', referred to him as "the dean of American music." He was e ...

Radio Broadcast Award for Excellence from the

American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) () is an American not-for-profit performance-rights organization (PRO) that collectively licenses the public performance rights of its members' musical works to venues, broadc ...

. In 2017, the

American Guild of Organists The American Guild of Organists (AGO) is an international organization of academic, church, and concert organists in the US, headquartered in New York City with its administrative offices in the Interchurch Center. Founded as a professional educa ...

commissioned a monograph series and published its inaugural volume, ''J. Michael Barone and Pipedreams: The Organ on Public Radio'', by Haig Mardirosian.

In popular culture

The program was referenced on Episode 116 (''

Santa Claus Santa Claus (also known as Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or Santa) is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts during the late evening and overnight hours on Chris ...

'') of the cult TV series ''

Mystery Science Theater 3000 ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' (abbreviated as ''MST3K'') is an American science fiction comedy television series created by Joel Hodgson. The show premiered on WUCW, KTMA-TV (now WUCW) in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on November 24, 1988. It then ...

'' in 1993."MST3K: Santa Claus – It's Liberace Santa!"
''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' (official YouTube channel).

References

External links

''Pipedreams.org'' official website
{{American Public Media, state=collapsed American classical music radio programs American Public Media programs Pipe organ 1982 radio programme debuts