Diane Bish
Encyclopedia
Diane Joyce Bish, born on May 25, 1941, in Kansas
, is an organist
and composer
as well as executive producer
of the Joy of Music television series. As a concert organist, she performs frequently at recitals throughout North America
and Europe
.
installed in the school auditorium. In 1984, she returned there to play a benefit concert, which raised enough money for the organ to be restored.
Bish began studying organ as a student of Dorothy Addy, then of Mildred Andrews. Later, she was a recipient of Fulbright and French government grants for study in Amsterdam with Gustav Leonhardt
, and in Paris with Nadia Boulanger
, and Marie-Claire Alain
.
in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
, where she designed the 117 rank Ruffatti
organ in the sanctuary. While at the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, she began producing a weekly television program of organ music, The Joy of Music. A music writer for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel newspaper said in 1986 that Bish "combines masterful music and religion in a life filled with church work, concerts, and writing and producing her own TV show".
As of 2009, The Joy of Music is broadcast on EWTN, TBN
, WTLU
and various PBS stations, and continues to feature her performances taped on-location at prominent organs in North America and Europe. Since the program's beginning in the early 1980s, she has recorded over 500 episodes as of 2009, each of which shows her playing one or more different pipe
or digital
organs.
No longer resident organist at the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Bish now makes frequent concert appearances at recitals throughout North America.
of America, considered to be the Federation's highest honor.
, was completely consumed by fire. The house and contents were a total loss. Among her possessions lost were a black Yamaha grand piano and her Rodgers 940 digital organ. After the fire, she went to live with her friend and fellow-musician Susann McDonald
.
, Canterbury Cathedral
, and Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. She is the first American woman to record at the organ of Freiburg Cathedral in Freiburg, Germany
. Her recordings include music for organ and orchestra, brass and organ, cello and organ, most of the great organ masterpieces, original compositions and hymn arrangements.
. Her compositions include:
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, is an organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
as well as executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
of the Joy of Music television series. As a concert organist, she performs frequently at recitals throughout North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
Early years
Bish graduated from Wichita East High School, Kansas, in 1959. She had played on the 1925 Austin OrganAustin Organs, Inc.
Austin Organs, Inc. is a manufacturer of pipe organs based in Hartford, Connecticut. The company is one of the oldest continuously-operating organ manufacturers in the United States...
installed in the school auditorium. In 1984, she returned there to play a benefit concert, which raised enough money for the organ to be restored.
Bish began studying organ as a student of Dorothy Addy, then of Mildred Andrews. Later, she was a recipient of Fulbright and French government grants for study in Amsterdam with Gustav Leonhardt
Gustav Leonhardt
Gustav Leonhardt is a highly renowned Dutch keyboard player, conductor, musicologist, teacher and editor. Leonhardt has been a leading figure in the movement to perform music on period instruments...
, and in Paris with Nadia Boulanger
Nadia Boulanger
Nadia Boulanger was a French composer, conductor and teacher who taught many composers and performers of the 20th century.From a musical family, she achieved early honours as a student at the Paris Conservatoire, but believing that her talent as a composer was inferior to that of her younger...
, and Marie-Claire Alain
Marie-Claire Alain
Marie-Claire Alain is a French organist and organ teacher best known for her prolific recording career. She is particularly known for her ability to perform substantial works entirely from memory.-Background and education:...
.
Career
Beginning in the 1970s, Bish served for more than 20 years as organist at the Coral Ridge Presbyterian ChurchCoral Ridge Presbyterian Church
Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. It was founded in 1960 by D. James Kennedy , who served as the church's senior pastor until his death in 2007. The present church building seating 2,800 persons was...
in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
, where she designed the 117 rank Ruffatti
Fratelli Ruffatti
Famiglia Artigiana Fratelli Ruffatti is a manufacturer of pipe organs based in Padua, Italy.- History :...
organ in the sanctuary. While at the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, she began producing a weekly television program of organ music, The Joy of Music. A music writer for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel newspaper said in 1986 that Bish "combines masterful music and religion in a life filled with church work, concerts, and writing and producing her own TV show".
As of 2009, The Joy of Music is broadcast on EWTN, TBN
Trinity Broadcasting Network
The Trinity Broadcasting Network is a major American Christian television network. TBN is based in Costa Mesa, California, with auxiliary studio facilities in Irving, Texas; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Gadsden, Alabama; Decatur, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida; and New...
, WTLU
WTLU-CA
WTLU-CA is an independent television station owned by Liberty University with studios and offices located at the university's campus in Lynchburg, Virginia. WTLU first came on the air in January of 1991 as a translator station for the FamilyNet Television Network...
and various PBS stations, and continues to feature her performances taped on-location at prominent organs in North America and Europe. Since the program's beginning in the early 1980s, she has recorded over 500 episodes as of 2009, each of which shows her playing one or more different pipe
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
or digital
Electronic organ
An electronic organ is an electronic keyboard instrument which was derived from the harmonium, pipe organ and theatre organ. Originally, it was designed to imitate the sound of pipe organs, theatre organs, band sounds, or orchestral sounds....
organs.
No longer resident organist at the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Bish now makes frequent concert appearances at recitals throughout North America.
Awards and honors
In 1989, Bish was awarded the National Citation by the National Federation of Music ClubsNational Federation of Music Clubs
The National Federation of Music Clubs was founded in 1898, became an NGO member of the United Nations in 1949, and was chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1982. NFMC is a non-profit philanthropic music organization whose goal is to promote American music, performers, and composers through quality...
of America, considered to be the Federation's highest honor.
Personal life
On October 30, 2002, Bish's home in Bloomington, IndianaBloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the southern region of the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 80,405 at the 2010 census....
, was completely consumed by fire. The house and contents were a total loss. Among her possessions lost were a black Yamaha grand piano and her Rodgers 940 digital organ. After the fire, she went to live with her friend and fellow-musician Susann McDonald
Susann McDonald
Susann McDonald is an American-born classical harpist. In addition to a successful performing career, she has made a number of recordings and held significant academic and organizational posts.-Life:...
.
Discography
Bish has made over thirty recordings on many of the great organs of the world including the celebrated Müller organ of the Grote of St. Bavokerk in Haarlem, NetherlandsHaarlem
Haarlem is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic...
, Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site....
, and Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. She is the first American woman to record at the organ of Freiburg Cathedral in Freiburg, Germany
Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In the extreme south-west of the country, it straddles the Dreisam river, at the foot of the Schlossberg. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain...
. Her recordings include music for organ and orchestra, brass and organ, cello and organ, most of the great organ masterpieces, original compositions and hymn arrangements.
Works
Bish has also published seven books and numerous solo pieces for organ, along with arrangements of various hymns including Christ the Lord Is Risen TodayChrist the Lord Is Risen Today
Christ the Lord Is Risen Today is a Christian hymn associated with Easter. Most of the stanzas were written by Charles Wesley, and the hymn appeared under the title Hymn for Easter Day in Hymns and Sacred Songs by Charles and John Wesley in 1739...
. Her compositions include:
- Festival Te Deum, for organ and orchestra
- Lead On, O King Eternal, for organ and choir
- Joy of Music, organ settings of hymns
- Passion Symphony, for organ and narrator
- Symphony of Psalms, for organ, choir, orchestra and soloist
- Morning Has Broken, for organ, choir, orchestra and narrator.
- "German Carol Fantasy", for organ solo
- "Dance of the Trumpets", for organ solo
- "Introduction, Theme and Variations on "All Creatures of Our God and King", for solo organ