Greetings!

* The Erben pictures are here!

I realized that I didn't catch the names of two OHS members, and will
correct this omission as soon as possible. Enjoy!
http://www.organfocus.com/features/sights-and-sounds/erben_stpatricks.php3

Here is a look at another Erben organ, believed to be the oldest
extant three-manual organ in the U.S:
http://www.organfocus.com/features/essays/katsbaan.php3

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* New sites in the Individual Organs and Tours link section:
http://www.organfocus.com/links/index.php?CID=26

Schnitgerorgel Zwolle
The Commission Church and Music of the Great Church Zwolle organizes
concerts on the Schnitger Organ in several series.
http://www.schnitgerorgelzwolle.nl/

Moscow Organ
Marvelous new web site featuring a major new pipe organ being
installed in the International House of Music in Moscow, Russia. This
project, a collaboration between Glatter-Götz and Klais organbuilders,
will be inaugurated in December 2004. The website owner is producing a
video about the creation of a pipe organ and is planning to release it
on DVD in late 2005. Visit the link for a unique video tour of the
Glatter-Götz works.
http://www.moscoworgan.com/

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* The accidental critic

On Halloween night, I went to Liya Petrides' recital at Good Shepherd
Catholic Church in Brooklyn. Having failed to find any information
about their organ on the web, I arrived to find a 3-manual Rodgers
(possibly Trillium, can't tell). The turnout was surprizingly large,
consisting mainly of the Russian-speaking crowd. Director of Music and
Organist Michael Fontana explained a little bit about the organ to the
audience, exalting its qualities and affectionately calling it "a good
toaster". With the wonderful acoustics in the room, the sampled voices
sounded okay. Not great. After 30 minutes my ears just got tired. To
credit Liya, she used imaginative registration. I noticed that the
organ sounded much better when only a few ranks were used. At plenum,
the onslaught of non-blended sound just accosted my eardrums. The
organ is powerful indeed, and it produces vibration that can be felt.
But the vibration is of the wrong kind. Instead of washing over you
and going through you in a smooth wave, it creates an unpleasant buzz
and rattle. The fake reverb did not add to the enjoyment either.

That said, I have a 2-manual analog Rodgers 75 at home, and it
actually has a warmer sound than the sampled-voice model at Good
Shepherd.

The program:
Bach: Toccata & Adagio from Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C
Buxtehude: Prelude, Fugue and Chaconne in C
Taneiev: Chorale Variations on Ave Maria
Alain: Litanies
Bach: Passacaglia and Fugue in c
Widor: Toccata in F (Final from Fifth Symphonie)


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* Historic organ from local church is now making music in Russia

A Hinners pipe organ originally from Holland, MI, traveled to Bryansk.
http://www.thehollandsentinel.net/stories/110104/loc_110104004.shtml

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* New Letourneau Pipe Organ in Recital

Dr. Haig Mardirosian to perform at Nativity Lutheran Church.
http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=42264&paper=69&cat=104

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Today's Organ Stop:
Schweizerflöte
http://www.organstops.org/s/Schweizerflote.html


Have a great week,

Lana