6600dt@ucsbuxa.ucsb.edu (Dave Goggin) (01/14/91)
Hi Mr. Stauff!!!!!!!! Gald to hear from you again. I think you are _again_ entirely correct on your comments about eh organ and it's music. I'd like to comment on a fewof your points. a) Please, OH PLEASE, post a copy of this in rec.music.classical and any other similar areas. This must be distributed for all the wolrd to see. b) I have tried to do some popular music on the organ, with mixed results. I think that there is a sigular aspect of popular music which is basically incompatable with the playing of classical instruments, in anyexcept a margeinal way. That is, modern pop music relies to a large extent, on percussive effects, particularly with respect to drums and guitars (usually electric.). The organ (and piano, to a lesser extent) is not good at capturing these. and as I have been reminded of on numerous occasions at my concerts, "Gee, that would sound really cool with a drum track." Howeer, I must add that in my experience, instruments follow music and not the other way around. The organ developed because it had the sound the the music called for. and the same can be said of the pop music, however, I don't think the popular music today requires the knind of sound that is implicit in the organ. Second, And perhaps most importantly, the pop music fans today have VERY NEGATIVE though patterns, re: organs and organ music. As far as many of them are concerned (I have gotten this from my concerts.) organs belong either: 1) in churches, preferably in wedding ceremonies, and 2) in second-rate holloween movies, usually covered with dust and played by figures of questionable benevolence. This is an outrage. Pianos and other 'classical' instruments do not have this stigma attached to them, since they are intruduced, (usually by a benevolent visit fromthe local symphony orchestra) in the elementary school years, but I have never heard in either American Organist or elsewhere of any such thing happening in the elematry schools re: organ. In addition,don't forge the benvolent teacher who could also play piano. This is the main reason why the organ is so far out of favor (perhaps least liked instrument, second only to the pan flute) amoung the mainstream music world. Anyway, mr. Stauff, I think all your comments about the electonic modifications, etc. are entirely appropriate, although there are members of the the more concervative school of thought that would not agree, I think. Anyway, that's it from mee. followups to my article are very much invited, especailly from the electonic musicians here. *dt* Dave Goggin 6600dt@ucsbuxa.bitnet
tmm@sdd.hp.com (Tim McDonough) (01/15/91)
Well following on in this thread, I thought I might venture a bit of the
groups subject and tell you all about the spreckles organ. This outdoor (well
actually it's in a building which faces and uncovered seating area) pipe organ
was built by the austin organ company in 1915 and stands in Balboa Park. It
has been in continuous use since in was installed. The city has a hired
civic organist (Mr. Robert Plimpton) who performs a one hour long concert
every sunday afternoon at 2:00. In his concerts he always tries to pick
music that will apeal to the widest audience range. In doing so, I have heard
many songs that I'm sure you would never hear your church organist play. These
include Sousa marches, Joplin rags, Cole Porter Tunes, music from Broadway
musicals, Big band music, and even a few tunes that have made the top 40,
like "That's what friends are for". I'll admit that I believe performance of
this sort of music is enhanced by the bass drum, snare drum, and cymbal that
are included in the pedal division. I'd also like to add that the Spreckles
Organ Society sponser thurdays noon day demonstration recitals for the 5th
grade students of San Diego. I can't say exactly what kind of music is
played, as I've never been to one (That darn work thing always gets in the
way), but they do always say that they try to play music the kids can identify
with, and that the organ curator (Lyle Blackington) brings out some pipe, and
explains some of the inner workings of the organ, and that none of the sounds
produced are electrically synthesized.
Glad I Got That Off My Chest!
-Tim
===============================================================================
Hewlett Packard - SCI Timothy M. McDonough
16399 W. Bernardo Drive 1350 N. Esc. Blvd. #40
San Diego, CA 92127 tmm@hp-sdd.sdd.hp.com Escondido, CA 92026
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--
Hewlett Packard - SCI Timothy M. McDonough
16399 W. Bernardo Drive 1350 N. Esc. Blvd. #40
San Diego, CA 92127 tmm@hp-sdd.sdd.hp.com Escondido, CA 92026
(619) 592-8657 uunet!hp-sdd.sdd.hp.com!tmm (619) 489-7863