David Bohn

A native of Wisconsin, David Bohn received degrees in composition from the University of Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and the University of Illinois. His primary composition teachers were Joel Naumann, Yehuda Yannay, and William Brooks. He has taught theory at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin - Parkside and the University of Illinois. In his career as an organist, he has given world or American premieres of over 150 organ works. He currently resides in West Allis, Wisconsin, and is the music director at Peace United Methodist Church in Brookfield. He is President of the Wisconsin Alliance for Composers, and Vice President and Newsletter editor for the Wisconsin Chapter of the Organ Historical Society. He was Program Chair for the 1990 National Convention of the Organ Historical Society and Handbook Editor for this convention.

Concert Dates

15 one-minute selections for David Bohn

  • Little Prelude for Organ

    Luis Patricio Bell

    A short prelude specifically written for the range of this organ. The piece uses the musical cryptogram B-A-C-H and D-S-C-H by combining them in a gradually blurring rhythmic study. Inspired by the short preludes of Bach, the piano works of Ligeti and the insistent chromaticism of Ustvolskayas Piano Preludes.

    British composer and pianist. Born in Cambridge and studied music in London at Kingston University and in Cambridge at Anglia Ruskin University.

  • Doppelflöte

    Paul Cowell

    Doppelflöte means ‘double flute’, and is the name of an obscure organ stop whose pipes have two mouths. The historic organ at Ozaukee does not have this stop, but this piece is for a flute, and is in two parts.

    Paul Cowell played percussion for many years, but after becoming more interested in Baroque music, switched to continuo playing. He is a composer and arranger; his pieces have been played on the BBC and ABC, and performed across the UK, USA and Australia. He lives in London.

  • The Monster Named Milton

    Douglas DaSilva

    Douglas DaSilva left the safety and warmth of NYC To confront the Beast threatening Florida The Monster Named Milton Asked, “Whatchu got?” “A house built of concrete block, Corrugated steel storm shutters Steaks, beer, ice cream, ammo And a call-for-scores I’m ready!" Florida, October 9, 2024

    Douglas DaSilva spends his days teaching music & martial arts to very young children in NYC. He feeds off the positive life-energy of children. Every day he questions whether the relationship is symbiotic or if the souls of the young will wither away prematurely as he recharges parasitically.

  • Hopping kids

    Sébastien Devillers-Thijssen

    A short bouncy piece, kind of children game, not very disciplined fuga.

    I'm a French composer born in 1958 in Paris, retired from National Education (French teacher). (My father is an organist and still accompagnies masses at the age of 94...)

  • Circling Above

    Rob Funkhouser

    Circling Above is from a collection of small compositions for music box I have been creating for the last seven years. The ascending melody voice juxtaposed with the almost pitiable two note accompaniment reminds me of sitting in church and dreaming of the sky while the organ played.

    Rob Funkhouser is a composer and performer living in Indianapolis who can never quite sit still. He spends his time writing music for various groups in and out of Indianapolis, and regularly performs of invented instruments of his own design. His work can be found at robfunkhouser.com

  • Jack be nimble, Jack be quick.

    Mark Langford

    Jack be nimble, Jack be quick is specifically written for, and dedicated to David Bohn. The work refers to the children’s nursery rhyme — of the same name. The idea was to jump over the candle stick, without extinguishing the flame.

    I completed my degree in composition at Victoria University and then continued my studies at the Institute of Sonology in Utrecht. I have received commissions from various organisations and had my music performed in New Zealand and overseas.

  • A German Fanfare

    Juan Luis de Pablo Enríquez Rohen

    This is a joyful miniature written specially for organist and composer, David Bohn. A German Fanfare gets its name from a certain use of German Augmented Sixth Chords in the internal cadences of the piece. The feel of the work is bright and the organ should sound full and majestic.

    Most of his academic compositions are based on a multidisciplinary theory between music, astronomy and archaeology called: the “JLPER Theory”. However, on this occasion we will hear a style of tonality highly esteemed by the composer and which is encountered in his catalogue of more than six hundred compositions.

  • Tenebre is darkness

    Volker Ignaz Schmidt

    Tenebre is darkness. Jesus' last words on the cross were “My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me”. Shouting this out he quoted Psalm 22:2. In Christian faith, this moment of abandonment is necessary to feel the need for God’s presence and love.

    Volker Ignaz Schmidt (born 1971 in Germany) studied computer science although his passion is music. He has composed solo works, chamber music, vocal pieces, orchestral music, one opera, conceptual and electronic music. He has written piano textbooks and he worked in school projects on contemporary music.

  • Transfiguração

    José Jesus de Azevedo Souza

    This work for organ for David Bohn’s appearance for Composer’s Voice Fifteen – Minutes – of – Fame contemplates characteristics of the instrument, built without a pedal board, in Ozaukee Congregational Church in Wisconsin and is inspired by Christ’s transfiguration. Typical for this composer is a progressive identifiable motif while maintaining forward motion.

    José Jesus de Azevedo Souza studied in England at the Purcell School with a scholarship from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. He then studied at the Trinity College of Music and the University of Sheffield. His music has since been performed in Europe, Asia, North and South America and the Pacific.

  • Energia Segurada

    André D. Tuffo

    Energia Segurada Energia Segurada is a piece composed for organ. The music features melodic motifs that repeat, creating an energy that propels it forward. In its micro A B A form, the B section enhances the energy cultivated by the A section.

    André D. Tuffo, https://linktr.ee/andredtuffo. Master's student, graduated in composition and piano from UNICAMP. Creator of D.Tuffo Trio and Descompasso. Arranger for Big Band São Junqueiro. Student of Jônatas Manzolli, José Augusto Mannis, Mikhail Malt, Manu Falleiros, Rafael dos Santos, Amilton Godoy, Hercules Gomes, Hans Peter Schurz.

  • The Great Mountains

    Lien Vanspringel

    "The Great Mountains" invites listeners on an exhilarating journey through the Grand Canyon, soaring with an eagle over breathtaking landscapes. This musical piece intertwines various themes reflective of American culture, capturing the vastness and spirit of the land. Experience the adventure and majesty of nature through melodies.

    I'm Lien Vanspringel, a young composer from Mol, Belgium, born in 2007. I've been studying composition at the Academy of Music and Word since 2021. I have written several pieces, including "The School of Violin," which earned me second place at the Prinses Christina Concours in 2022.

  • Interlude

    Anna Vriend

    This short piece is dedicated to David Bohn. A sequence of seven notes is the starting point of the piece and the basis for some further development before reaching the required length of time for this call.

    Anna Vriend won third prize in the VIII International Composition Competition Opus Ignotum. Her works for bass clarinet solo and reed quintet respectively have been published by Alea Publishing. Several of her pieces for various instruments have been performed on Fifteen Minutes of Fame recently.

  • Quietly We Step

    Blair Whittington

    This piece was written with the historic organ David Bohn will be playing in mind. This short piece is divided in half - the second half is similar to the first but is in a different key and gives the organist a chance to use different stops.

    Blair Whittington is a Los Angeles native and composer. He primarily writes chamber music, songs and electronic music. His music has been performed across the United States and Europe.

  • A Flat Temperament

    David Tze Wan WONG

    A Flat Temperament marvels at the full expression of the organ, even as a single manual. Pushing at the margins of tonality, it breaks out with its vocabulary, the music into a new dimension.

    David holds a BA (Music) and an MA (Composition). While working in IT management, he earned a PhD in ethnomusicology. He is also qualified in Computer Science, Management and Divinity. In 2024, while experimenting with playing the pipe organ, he was asked to play regularly.

  • Ad manus

    César Zumel

    Born in Burgos (Spain), I like to compose music for choir, brass band and organ. Three of my pieces were awarded and my works are available in some publishers and Amazon (three books). Apart from composing I conduct choirs and play organ.