Leo Abbott

Leo Abbott (born August 24, 1950 in Boston , Massachusetts , United States ) is an American organist and composer.

Life

Leo Abbott graduated from the Boston Archdiocesan Choir School , Cambridge and the Chaloff School of Music . Theodore Norbert Marier (1912–2001), George Faxon, Clarence Watters and Flor Peeters were among his organ teachers . He studied improvisation with Naji Hakim and piano with Julius Chaloff (1892–1979). He was the organist and choir master at St. Mary's Church, Holliston, Massachusetts. From 1986 to August 31, 2018 he was music director and organist at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston. Here he was heavily involved in the restoration of the E. and GG Hook & Hastings organ . Abbott is a member of the American Guild of Organists (AGO), the Organ Historical Society, and the Conference of Roman Catholic Cathedral Musician . He won several first prizes in several national and international competitions. In 1984 he was a finalist at the Grand Prix de Chartres . On October 29, 2006, he premiered Naji Hakim's Esquisses Grégoriennes [Gregorian Sketches] at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston . His concert activities have taken him to the United States, France, Belgium and Ireland. On July 20, 2014, he gave an organ concert in Westminster Cathedral . In 2016 Charles Callahan composed the Te Deum for brass quartet and organ with optional timpani as a commission for Leo Abbott .

Works (selection)

In dulci jubilo (Canon) for organ. Published in the A Christmas celebration collection at MorningStar Music Publisher.

Londonderry Air, arrangement. Recorded by James Culp on the CD Organ Favorites on the Hallmark Classics label , 1995

The angels sing, Basque Christmas carol, arrangement

Recordings

Johann Sebastian Bach : Kyrie, God Holy Spirit; Maurice Durufle : Introit and Kyrie from the Requiem . On Gregorian Chant in Liturgy and Education. Published by the Center for Ward Method Studies of the School of Music of The Catholic University of America . Recorded live between June 19-22, 1983

1875 E and GG Hook and Hastings Opus 801. Leo Abbott, organ. Published on October 24, 2006 at, label Afka . I Charles Gounod : Marche pontificale, 1869 II Johann Sebastian Bach: Fantasie G major, BWV 572 III Charles-Marie Widor : Symphonie gothique in C minor, op. 70 IV Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy : Prelude and Fugue op. 37 No. 1 V. César Franck : Cantabile B major from the Trois pièces pour grand orgue VI Felix Alexandre Guilmant : Morceau de concert [concert piece] for organ, Op. 24 VII Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens : Prière [prayer] in G major VIII Louis Vierne : Naiades 4th movement from Suite No. 4, Op. 55 IX J. Frank Donahoe (before 1860 – after 1906): Prelude and Allegretto X George Elbridge Whiting : Etude in D minor OCLC 29057417

George Elbridge Whiting: Grand Sonata , op.25 - Allegro con moto on the CD Historic Organs Of Connecticut. Issued in 1994 by the Organ Historical Society.

Vexilla regis prodeunt and Improvisation on Salve Regina by Leo Abbott. Recorded by Leo Abbott on the organ of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston on the CD Historic Organs Of Boston - Thirty-one Historic Pipe Organs on the Raven Recordings label .

Web links

Leo Abbott in Discogs (English)

Literature by and about Leo Abbott in the WorldCat bibliographic database

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c Leo Abbott | AGO Boston 2014. Retrieved October 31, 2018 (American English).
↑ Barbara Owen: Organ With Benefits - The Boston Musical Intelligencer . In: The Boston Musical Intelligencer . November 3, 2015 ( classical-scene.com [accessed October 31, 2018]).
^ Mark Labbe: Abbott retires after 33 years as cathedral music director. Published 10/5/2018. In: https://pilotcatholicnews.com . The Boston Pilot, October 5, 2018, accessed October 31, 2018 .
^ Music at Michigan . UM Libraries, 1982 ( google.de [accessed October 31, 2018]).
↑ Westminster Cathedral. In: http://www.westminstercathedral.org.uk . Westminster Cathedral, accessed October 31, 2018 .
^ Te Deum: brass quartet and organ, with opt. timpani. 2016, accessed October 31, 2018 .
^ Dot native records Yule album with NYC choir . In: Dorchester Reporter . December 3, 2015 ( dotnews.com [accessed October 31, 2018]).
↑ Timothy Flynn: Charles François Gounod: A Research and Information Guide . Taylor & Francis, 2009, ISBN 978-0-415-97351-9 ( google.de [accessed October 31, 2018]).

personal data
SURNAME	Abbott, Leo
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American organist and composer
DATE OF BIRTH	August 24, 1950
PLACE OF BIRTH	Boston , Massachusetts , United States

[:0-1] Leo Abbott | AGO Boston 2014. Retrieved October 31, 2018 (American English).

[2] Barbara Owen: Organ With Benefits - The Boston Musical Intelligencer . In: The Boston Musical Intelligencer . November 3, 2015 ( classical-scene.com [accessed October 31, 2018]).

[3] Mark Labbe: Abbott retires after 33 years as cathedral music director. Published 10/5/2018. In: https://pilotcatholicnews.com . The Boston Pilot, October 5, 2018, accessed October 31, 2018 .

[4] Music at Michigan . UM Libraries, 1982 ( google.de [accessed October 31, 2018]).

[5] Westminster Cathedral. In: http://www.westminstercathedral.org.uk . Westminster Cathedral, accessed October 31, 2018 .

[6] Te Deum: brass quartet and organ, with opt. timpani. 2016, accessed October 31, 2018 .

[7] Dot native records Yule album with NYC choir . In: Dorchester Reporter . December 3, 2015 ( dotnews.com [accessed October 31, 2018]).

[8] Timothy Flynn: Charles François Gounod: A Research and Information Guide . Taylor & Francis, 2009, ISBN 978-0-415-97351-9 ( google.de [accessed October 31, 2018]).