RIP Dr. Marilyn Mason (NOT Marilyn Manson!)
UM lost an icon today. Dr. Marilyn Mason was Professor of Organ from 1947-2014: 67 years, the longest tenure ever at Michigan. To put that in perspective, she was hired while Fritz Crisler was coaching, and she retired the year before Harbaugh. She almost certainly played at your (or your parents' or your grandparents') graduation at Hill Auditorium. She was no meek organist, she was an absolute giant in the field (she was the first woman to play at Westminster Abbey) and a fierce advocate for the organ and for the University of Michigan. Just an amazing artist and teacher, and the classic example of the Michigan difference.
RIP to Dr Manson
thankfully no one on this board is tasteless enough to trot out this joke, as it would be in poor form:
Q. What’s better than roses on your piano?
A. Tulips on your organ.
Absolutely in poor taste to make humor at a time like this... and it's always better when someone else's hands are all over your organ.
Beautiful people.
That was taken in her living room!
Beautiful person, amazing family.
She lived a long life doing what she loved to do. A person can't ask for more than that.
I don't play any instruments myself, but I can appreciate the skill it takes to play one well. The organ in particular fascinates me: all four limbs can be in motion, along with all 10 fingers. How anyone can do that and play the music both technically and artistically is beyond me.
The HR at U of M always has a banquet at the League ballroom honoring milestones and longevity for both staff and faculty. My wife was invited for 30 yrs at the U. in 2014 and Dr Mason stole the show with all her accomplishments and honors over 67 years. Needless to say she received the longest and most heartfelt applause after her presentation.
RIP Professor Mason.
I love organ music. It's pretty much the main reason I still go to church. There's nothing like the power and majesty of a large organ played well.
Fun fact, the organ at Hill is one of the largest on earth. Top 75 worldwide IIIRC and top 50 in the US. The oldest organ still in playable condition was built in the 1400's and similar instruments (water organs) were played in Greece and Rome over 2,000 years ago.
I don't even know how to respond to this.
Tasteless jokes work for all occasions.
This is my first time hearing of her. Was she better or worse than Al Green?
Let’s set the bar at Tom Scholz.
Definitely not Rick Wakeman.
Thanks for sharing. RIP! Dad and Uncle both graduated from UM music school in the 60's so will have to ask them if they knew her.
Aside from a similar name, Marilyn Manson and Marilyn Mason have one other thing in common—neither played Paul from the Wonder Years.
I used to see Prof. Mason around all the time when I was a student at SMTD. This was only a few years before she retired, but she was still incredibly active, teaching lessons and organizing regular guest recitals and conferences on campus. It always amazed me to be in the same space as someone whose history with the university stretched back to the 1940s.
Pics or it didn’t happen.
The School of Music, Theatre & Dance posted this video. I had the pleasure of performing with her, premiering a piece for organ and timpani that was one of the many pieces she commissioned. She was an absolute legend - a true example of The Michigan Difference!
Thank you Pharker for posting this very delightful video about Dr. Mason. I've had the pleasure of attending several of her performances and presentations during my years in Ann Arbor.
I don't have a musical bone in my body, yet I am always taken to a higher plane of existence when I hear a great organ played well.
She and Dr. Glasgow were quite the pair (quite competitive of course)...between them that was 110 years of Michigan Organ!
She will be missed. Quiet the party lady - Still hearing about those...
If you ask how good she was? I have met people all over the world who knew who she was.
Side note, her two sons are Mgoblog's reader.
My condolences to Chris and Ed.