Greetings!

* Spreckels Organ Celebration

Carol Williams, San Diego Civic Organist, and the Spreckels Organ
Society invite ALL to a spectacular FREE 5 hour birthday concert
celebrating the 90th birthday of the Great Spreckels organ in Balboa
Park on Saturday January 1 from 12 Noon until 5pm. Join the
festivities and bring your friends!
More info at
http://www.organfocus.com/features/events/SpreckelsBirthday.rtf
and
http://www.sosorgan.com/

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* Vital Organs

"The battle of the pipe organs begins this week with the debut of
Russia's largest instrument to date. "
Article about the new Klais/Glatter-Götz organ at Moscow International
House of Music (MMDM) and the soon-to-be-inaugurated Kuhn organ in the
Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin
Mary.
http://context.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2004/12/17/103.html

For those of you just joining in, I recommend visiting the site of a
movie producer who is filming the MMDM project from conception to
completion. Site includes a video of the Glatter-Götz workshop.
http://www.moscoworgan.com/

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* Apple iTunes releases Keith Thompson's Pipe Organ Classic, 'A King's
Christmas'

"Not only does this decision invite serious music lovers to join the
digital music age with Keith's pipe organ albums, but clearly
demonstrates that Apple iTunes+iPod usage is not limited to pop music
lovers."
http://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=12032

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* St. Francis Church wants to replace pipe organ

Quincy, IL: "St. Francis Church in has embarked on a $200,000
fund-raising campaign to buy a used pipe organ to replace one which
was sold about 25 years ago."
They are looking to get the word about this out, and have already
reached a pledge of $100k.
http://www.whig.com/327082958215926.php

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* Parish raising a joyful noise

Article about the new Glatter-Götz organ for Augustana Lutheran
Church, Twin Cities, MN
http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/news/local/10444256.htm

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* Legendary Organist Frank Pellico Returns to The MARK

"Moline, IL-The Mallards are proud to announce that legendary
Blackhawks organist Frank Pellico is returning to The MARK on January
15th."
http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3111260&l_id

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* MPR: Christmas hymn born out of anquish

Profile of composer Paul Manz and his music
http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2004/12/20_olsond_manz/

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* Organ stars in silent movie

Green Bay, WI: 'The recently formed local chapter of the American
Theatre Organ Society held its first fund-raiser at the theater, at
the corner of Broadway and Walnut Street, during a showing of "Big
Business." '
http://www.greenbaynewschron.com/page.html?article=129102

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* Eugene man realizes life's dream by crafting a wooden pipe organ

"Many middle-age people dream of quitting their jobs to pursue
unlikely artistic dreams. Five years ago, David Petty stopped dreaming
and took the plunge."
http://www.registerguard.com/news/2004/12/14/a1.organbuilder.1214.html

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* Organ Project Gets More Notes from Lottery

"The Royal College of Organists (RCO) has secured a further £2.6
million from the Heritage Lottery Fund towards its £8.4 million target
for the project at Curzon Street in Birmingham."
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3898004

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* New link:

In Individual Organs and Tours:
http://www.organfocus.com/links/index.php?CID=26

Who looks like a cowboy and plays like an organist?
Read about the Hoopernacle, the pipe organ Hal Stoddard is building in his barn.
http://members.aol.com/Hooprncle/

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* Coming up in the next newsletter: MP3 samples of Iveta Apkalna's
exciting new CD, "Himmel und Hölle". I have been publishing news
updates about Latvia's organ star for almost a year now, and have
finally heard her playing when her concert manager Lukas Pollack sent
me a few of her CDs. Iveta is a wonderful artist, and I think you will
agree when you listen to samples in the next update.

In the meantime, visit Iveta's news page here:
http://www.organfocus.com/features/events/iveta_apkalna.php

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* Today's Organ Stop:

Lochgedackt
http://www.organstops.org/l/Lochgedackt.html

Have a great week,

Lana