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E. Power Biggs
Music for a Merry Christmas
E. Power Biggs - Music for a Merry Christmas - 1963 Country - EX - UltSnc Cln - Elegant EX, spins beautifully. - The record has been cleaned using ultrasonic technology and is in strong EX/EX condition. The cover is crisp, only a VG+ because of age!
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E. Power Biggs
E. Power Biggs was an English-born American organist, harpsichordist, and recording artist, renowned for his significant contributions to the revival of classical organ music. He was born on March 29, 1906, in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England, and passed away on March 10, 1977, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at the age of 70.
Biggs spent his early years on the Isle of Wight after his family relocated there shortly after his birth. He received his musical training at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied under G.D. Cunningham. In 1930, Biggs emigrated to the United States, and in 1932, he accepted a position at Christ Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he would reside for the remainder of his life.
Throughout his career, Biggs played a pivotal role in revitalizing the classical pipe organ and was a leading figure in the mid-20th-century resurgence of interest in pre-Romantic organ music. His first concert tour of Europe in 1954 featured performances and recordings of works by composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Sweelinck, Dieterich Buxtehude, and Pachelbel on historic organs associated with these figures. Biggs championed the idea that music from this era should be performed on period instruments, utilizing historically informed styles and registrations. This philosophy contributed to the American revival of organ building in the manner of European Baroque instruments, particularly through the rising popularity of tracker organs, akin to the European Orgelbewegung.
Among the instruments he promoted was G. Donald Harrison's Baroque-style unenclosed instrument with 24 stops and electric action, crafted by Aeolian-Skinner in 1937 and installed in Harvard's Busch-Reisinger Museum in Cambridge. In 1958, a three-manual Flentrop tracker organ was also installed there, and many of Biggs' CBS radio broadcasts and Columbia recordings were made in this museum. Another notable instrument in his repertoire was the Challis pedal harpsichord, on which he recorded works by J.S. Bach and Scott Joplin.
Critics of the time included fellow concert organist Virgil Fox, who favored a more flamboyant performance style. Fox criticized Biggs' commitment to historical accuracy, arguing that it risked turning the organ into a "museum piece." However, many observers concurred that Biggs deserved considerable credit for his innovative recording choices and for elevating the profile of the instruments he featured. Despite their differing approaches, both artists enjoyed successful careers, with Biggs emerging as a leading figure in his field.
In addition to his concert performances and recordings, Biggs taught at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts, throughout various points in his career and edited a substantial body of organ music. For his achievements in the recording industry, he was honored with a star on California's Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 6522 Hollywood Blvd.
Description
E. Power Biggs - Music for a Merry Christmas - 1963 Country - EX - UltSnc Cln - Elegant EX, spins beautifully. - The record has been cleaned using ultrasonic technology and is in strong EX/EX condition. The cover is crisp, only a VG+ because of age!
- Record was initially cleaned manually, then ultrasonically cleaned with iSonic Ultrasonic Cleaning prior to grading
- Records are packaged with a poly outer sleeve, the LP is placed in a fresh white inner sleeve directly after cleaning, (we include the accompanying sleeve, we send you both), separate from the cover to protect the seams during shipment, and of course, shipped within thick cardboard insert pads in a thick cardboard record mailer.
- We offer discounted shipping on multiple records: calculated shipping for the first one and $2 for each additional one. International Buyers, please read International Buyers paragraph below.
SRO Records Record Grading Guide:
SEALED/Mint:
Vinyl: Assumed mint, unverified until opened.
Sleeve: Visible through shrink wrap, graded as above.
NM (Near Mint):
Vinyl: Nearly flawless, with possible minor scuffs or hairlines only visible under strong light.
Sleeve: Appears new, as if freshly printed.
EX (Excellent):
Vinyl: Bright, with minor surface wear and hairlines, not affecting play.
Sleeve: May have faint creases or abrasions, but artwork is clean.
VG+ (Very Good Plus):
Vinyl: Obvious wear, scuffs and hairlines, plays with some noise but no major sound issues.
Sleeve: Worn with creases, noticeable wear, acid deterioration, corner dings, chipping, and possible seam wear.
Here's the typical SRO Records line in the sand. Anything below VG+, unless it's rare, unusual or just awesome, we're NOT going to sell online, much less go through the hassle of an ultrasonic cleaning, we're going to put it in one of many $10 Record boxes that we sell at Record Conventions and events. Some will wind up in the $1 Box, just to get it back out into the world for someone to enjoy or make a planter out of.
VG (Very Good):
Vinyl: Dull appearance with many hairlines and scuffs, somehow plays with persistent noise but no skips.
Sleeve: Worn with possible seam splits and moderate ring wear.
G+ (Good Plus):
Vinyl: Numerous marks and scratches, plays with significant noise but music usually overpowers flaws.
Sleeve: Rough appearance with possible seam splits and water damage.
G (Good):
Vinyl: Copious unforgettable marks, probably a skip or jump.
Sleeve: Heavy ring wear and damage, likely large seam splits or water damage.
F (Fair):
Vinyl: It's round with nearly infinite damage, skipper gonna skip
Sleeve: It's basically what's left of the sleeve for the album
International Buyers: We charge $7 for the first record and $2 a record thereafter for Domestic Shipping in the continental United States. This only includes shipping to the International hub here in the United States. Please carefully review the total shipping and VAT charges for your order before committing to a purchase, which will be different from what we are able to view or control on the US eBay site.
SRO Records Office
Record Testing Equipment:
Turntable:
Yamaha Direct Drive YP-D6
Ortofon VMS 20 E Mk II Cartridge
Amplification:
Yamaha Natural Sound Receiver
Speakers:
JBL 4312 Studio
We're Not Happy Until You're Not Happy Dept.
We kid! Since 1983, we simply don't exist without happy customers; we offer hassle-free returns on all vinyl LP record album purchase that are returned in the exact condition they were sent. We cannot accept returns on factory sealed/mint new/unopened lp albums that have been opened. Please send us a message if you have any questions, concerns, or issues with your purchase; please do not open a return or an eBay case without contacting us first, we will make it right!
We are professional, quite reasonable to a fault and are ALWAYS willing to work to resolve any issue with a purchase!
Thank you for buying from SRO Records! You can catch us at the Spring and Fall Austin Record Convention, many Austin popups, so drop by and say hello to Gabi and Jeff!
