FNS
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The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
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Post by FNS on Oct 16, 2009 21:01:38 GMT -8
INAUGURAL CONCERT OF REBUILT AND EXPANDED ORGAN AT ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL www.rhsseattle.org/www.pipeorganfoundation.org/news/The Pipe Organ Foundation finished the rebuilding and expansion of the 1940 Moller pipe organ at Roosevelt High School in Seattle in August, 2009. The free inaugural concert will occur at the school at 2 PM on Saturday, October 17, 2009. Everyone is invited. My dad's high school building has been completely redone in the inside. The exterior remains basically as is and restored. The instrument has a two manual console with pedals and drawknob stops. From the school's daily bulletin, October 16, 2009: "SO HOW MANY PIPES ARE IN THE REFURBISHED FROULA MEMORIAL PIPE ORGAN? – There were 644 pipes in the original. The refurbished organ has 1,060 pipes. Come to the Organ Concert on October 17th at 2:00 PM for the debut of the newly installed pipe organ. WHAT’S FOR LUNCH TODAY? – Roast Turkey Tetrazzini" This will be a fun afternoon in Seattle for us pipe organ geeks. Installation notes and pictures: www.pipeorganfoundation.org/news/archives/news_april_2009.htmlwww.americantowns.com/wa/mercerisland/videos"of JS Bach from BWV 534. This was part of the program at the open house event held on Tues, Aug, 18th, 2009 presenting the almost completed organ in the school's theater to the public for the first time. VK Froula Memorial Pipe Organ MP Möller, Opus 6861, 1940 combined with Opus 10339, 1967 by the Pipe Organ Foundation, Mercer Island, WA James Stettner, Tonal Director (for this project) and volunteers (Opus 5, 2009) 17 ranks, 2 manuals, Pedal."
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 17, 2009 8:21:53 GMT -8
Wow, thanks for that. Mr. Bach and the pipe-organ were made for each other. I always find it strange to just watch the organist at the "console" during such a performance. Really, the show is happening with all those huge fat & skinny pipes. It's kind of like going to watch an RC-boat show, and instead of watching the boat moving around the pond, you just watch the person and the hand-control box. I guess that the solution is to actually attend one of those concerts in-person where you can see and feel and hear the actual pipes. It would be neat to put on some ear-plugs and stand next to pipes and enjoy the performance by touch.
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,948
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Post by FNS on Oct 17, 2009 20:08:59 GMT -8
Wow, thanks for that. Mr. Bach and the pipe-organ were made for each other. I always find it strange to just watch the organist at the "console" during such a performance. Really, the show is happening with all those huge fat & skinny pipes. It's kind of like going to watch an RC-boat show, and instead of watching the boat moving around the pond, you just watch the person and the hand-control box. I guess that the solution is to actually attend one of those concerts in-person where you can see and feel and hear the actual pipes. It would be neat to put on some ear-plugs and stand next to pipes and enjoy the performance by touch. It sure is neat to be able to go to these organ recitals and watch the musicians master these instruments. ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL'S ORGAN RE-INAUGURATED! While a, perhaps, few were watching the PACIFICAT DISCOVERY loaded aboard the TEAL for the trip to the Persian Gulf, I attended this afternoon's historic musical event in a theater built in a "new" school within old restored outer bricks and decor. There were a few speeches said. The most important "speeches" were from the various ranks of pipes themselves sounded by the touch of fingers on the keys and the feet on the pedal. There were five organists performing. Two of them are sixteen years of age. The program opened with JS Bach's very popular TOCCATA AND FUGUE IN D MINOR (the ending sounds like the QUEEN OF OAK BAY's whistles) and ended with Louis Vierne's CARILLON DE WESTMINSTER. The playing of the instrument's chimes preceded the final work. The organist waited for the sound of the chimes to diminish before playing the work. There is great stereophonic sounds from this instrument. The "Swell" division is located on the right side. The "Great" and "Pedal" divisions with the chimes are located on the left side of the theater. Inside Roosevelt's new theater. The large fabric area is where the "Swell" division is located. Lighting is located behind the two narrower fabrics as well as overhead. One of the organists sets up his music on the rack prior to playing. I used my cell phone as a camera, so no high quality pictures at this concert. The chair is for a page turner when present. After the concert, we were invited on stage to get a closer look at the console. The knobs (stops) on the sides are for the selection of the various sounds. The pistons under the keys can be programmed to change the stops "on the fly" during a piece. Another view. The three foot pedals you see adjust the loudness from the pipes. It's been a great afternoon within those historic walls. Seattle has, yet, another great pipe organ restored and expanded to be enjoyed by music lovers of all ages. Yes, there are already lessons being taught by master organists to some of the lucky students of RHS. Let the music continue!
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Post by BreannaF on Oct 18, 2009 3:59:49 GMT -8
Oh, my.... This is one of those things that I would have gone out of my way to attend, wit ha bit more warning. I attended Roosevelt in the late 70's, and I do remember that people had mentioned that there was a pipe organ in the building. I was active both in the theatre program and in a closed circuit TV station that we operated back then, so no one questioned it when we went exploring in the crawl spaces around, above, and below the auditorium several times. In our exploring, we did indeed find the business end of the organ (among some other interesting things). However, in four years there, I never remember that there was an opportunity to hear it being played, or even whether it was actually operable or not. (I'm pretty sure that if I had heard about a concert that I would have been there. The school has always (both then and now) had a very active and successful music department, as well as in the creative arts. The various bands and the orchestra were often very successful in competition. Local parents went out of their way to support the programs. The organ will again be a valued part of the school. Thank you very much for attending and documenting this event, ferrynut. Just wanted you to know that somebody appreciates it! BryanK -- RHS Class of 1980.
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Post by Northern Exploration on Oct 19, 2009 9:17:31 GMT -8
I love a real pipe organ and good organist. Part of my Christmas traditions is to attend Christmas Eve First Evensong at St. James Cathedral in Toronto. I am not an Anglican, nor attend church there, but the combination of the Boy's Choir and Pipe Organ is perfect to set the mood for me. It is held at 4pm and preceded by a half hour organ recital. It is extremely popular and you have to get there very early to be assured seats, as it normally is standing room only despite the huge number of temporary seats set up in the aisles. After hearing the organ postlude, walking out to hear the bells pealing is perfect. Unfortunately, unlike Montreal or Ottawa that are significantly colder than Toronto, the majority of time there isn't snow. But the odd time it has even been more of an event when there is snow falling when you leave. The college I attended had an Allen Digital Organ. Basically a computer in a traditional organ case with keys, ranks of keyboards and stops. But you could electronically set a bunch of series of stops and then hit a button to select them, without the pushing and pulling of dozens of the stops. The organ faithfully reproduced the tones of the pipes but didn't include the sound of the air moving, nor the slight imperfections that are always part of an organ, and even the slight delay between the different ranks of pipes. The flexibility of moving the organ around in a multi-purpose auditorium is one of the benefits. And while the organ was very expensive, it was a fraction of the costs of installing real pipes. Kinda like playing a recording of a ships horns over a speaker vs. actually using the real thing . And here you thought this would have nothing to do with ferries.
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,948
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Post by FNS on Nov 11, 2009 2:34:26 GMT -8
Whilst looking for recent videos of organ music from the massive Saint John The Divine Cathedral through the YouTube channels of this great world of the Internet, I came across this neat demo of the State Trumpets.
As I say on this posting, this building is immense in size! 600 feet long!! It takes about half a second for the sounds of the State Trumpets, located at the west end, to reach the organist, some 400 feet away in the choir section. Makes for some very masterful timing and performing of pieces.
The State Trumpets are sounded by very high wind pressure, just like ferry whistles. Their sounds blazes like fire, like a saying goes there.
I've taken the vertical tour of this cathedral. More than 500 steps on various stairs, including spiral ones. All the way up to the top of the structure.
Anyway, here is the demo of the State Trumpets. ENJOY!
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,948
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Post by FNS on May 3, 2010 21:49:28 GMT -8
Time for me to get a feather duster and dust off this thread and provide you with a music concert announcement from Roosevelt High School here in Seattle: May 6th Symphony Concert - Please Join UsGet ready to enjoy an extremely fun event which will highlight all orchestras. The Chamber students will demonstrate their recent work learning to play early stringed instruments - Viols, to be exact. There will be a senior concerto, solo and ensemble festival winners, and, a special performance with the Froula Pipe Organ of Saint-Saens Symphony No. 3 in C minor (the "Organ Symphony"). Please see the Pipe Organ Foundation's website for more information about the organ piece. The Roosevelt Orchestras will be joined by special alumni guests from the community; the organ will be played by George Shangrow. There will be a suggested donation of $15/person at the door. www.rooseveltorchestra.org/www.pipeorganfoundation.org/news/announcements.htmlJust found this out this evening. I've seen the Seattle Symphony perform the Organ Symphony several times since they moved into Benaroya Hall with its majestic pipe organ that dominates the back part of the stage. The SSO will perform this again next season.
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