Rare Ohio Private LP Piano Masterpiece HARRY FUSSNER IMPROVISES CHRISTIAN HYMNS

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  Rare Ohio Private LP Piano Masterpiece HARRY FUSSNER IMPROVISES CHRISTIAN HYMNS 

HARRY FUSSNER IMPROVISES
You've Never Heard Hymns Like This!
Harry Fussner
1967 / Doer 001 Mono
[Private Label Pressing]
Vintage 12" 33rpm Record

Improvisational Christian hymns seems like a contradictory concept, but not to Harry  Fussner.

Harry Fussner (1888-1967) was a piano and organ virtuoso who was the long-time organist at several churches in Cleveland, accompanist for the Singers Club of Cleveland, and organist for the Evangelical United Brethren Annual Conferences for nearly 20 years.

He spent every summer at Linwood Park, near Vermilion, Ohio, and played organ and piano in the famous Tabernacle at Linwood Park for over 50 years.

This exceptionally rare private label recording was his swansong magnum opus, recorded by him at the Cleveland Recording Company two months before he died, at the age of 79.

He intended it to inspire young pianists and organists to embrace improvisational  techniques when they played Christian hymns.

He wrote, "In this country we are desperately in need of improvising as actually we are  scores of years behind European folks on both Organ and Piano in original  improvisation."

From the liner notes: "To Pianists and Organists. This record was meant primarily for you. Consider for a moment the usual hymn book harmonics. Are these harmonics not unispired? In this record, Harry Fussner presents you with some unusual harmonics. Listen closely to how  he uses octaves, how and where he makes his runs, how he shifts the melody into the base, how he makes and accents a beautiful descending base. Listen closely to his triumphant  tempo and to his soft, melodic tempo."

A worthy addition to even the most advanced collection of American religious and improvisational popular music.

Condition: A rather nice copy. Record is excellent, lightly played. Sleeve is attractive,  no damaged edges and not much surface soiling. Please note that the sleeve's front graphic is intentionally drawn with rough edges -- it is NOT surface damage. 

SIDE 1

Jesus Loves Me
The Old Rugged Cross
O God Our Help In Ages Past
Bach-Fussner I
Into My Heart
Break Thou The Bread Of Life
O, Son Of Righteousness
I Know Whom I Believed

SIDE 2

O, Come All Ye Faithful
He Leadeth Me
Bach-Fussner II
Precious Jewels
Work For The Night Is Coming
From Greenland's Icy Mountains
Greensleeves-Fussner
'Nim Jesu Meine Hande

All photographs are of actual item.

Full refunds cheerfully given for any item that I have misdescribed.