There's a new addition a-comin'!!! Part 2

Greetings!  So you're wondering how the great trip to a little town in Georgia went.  Well...read the following account and you will see the end result.

Monday night, my grad school friend, Ed, and I hit the road for the almost 1800-mile, 36 hour round trip to Tennille, Georgia.  The weather down was manageable, with some hard rain when we got into South Carolina.  There is something intense about driving during the night with a purpose.  The mission of December 26th-to pick up the long awaited 1905 Estey Reed Organ.  As an organist, to have an instrument to practice in the comfort of my own home is a dream.  That dream was soon to become a reality.  This organ is a unique two-manual Student Model E-56 built in 1905 by the New England organ firm.  Something this old in working condition tells a story of it's care and love.  The nuns did a fantastic job.

After a breakfast stop outside of Columbia, South Carolina at a Waffle House, we hit the road for the last leg of the trip.  We arrived at the owner's home just a little after 1:00pm, Tuesday.  Dr. Iron's, a retired Episcopal minister, greeted us and I was able to get my first in-person look at my "new" Estey.  She was beautiful!  The craftsmanship, the Student Model emblem engraved on each side of the key cheeks, the age of the ivory keys, the beautiful aged quarter sawn oak--this was an awesome find and I could imagine the music that I would create.  I played the instrument for the first time and my friend Ed looked at me and smiled.  He knew this was the instrument for me.  We looked at the owner's four other reed organs, but they certainly did not compare to the two-manual Estey.

If we were planning to make good time back to New York, it was time to take some of the parts off, place them by the van and load the console into the minivan.  Pedal board, check.  Blower, check.  Organ bench, check.  As we were moving the main organ itself to the back of the van, the goal was to angle it on the side and slide the console.  No check.  No matter how we tried to get the console into the van, the extra two inches of height was not going to allow for entry.  My heart drops.  Frustrated, saddened and a feeling of being overly ambitious, we would spend the next two hours trouble shooting.

By 3:00pm, I looked at Ed and we decided that the console would not make the trip to New York.  While I discussed with Dr. Iron's some of my options, Ed was very kind enough to put the parts in the back of the van.  With everything discussed, we departed for our return trip back to New York.  I must have had a look on my face that would have made even the saddest infant stop crying.  Ed and I talked some about the logistics of the organ and some options, when suddenly the tire monitor light came on.  Not good.  I already checked the tires and filled one up before leaving Tennille.  Could it be the same one?  We had to stop for gas anyhow.  To my surprise, it was a new tire and it was leaking air very noticeably.  We tried to patch it and had our fingers crossed, but the light appeared again and we were just outside the city limits of Columbia.  When in doubt, search for Sears with an auto department.  Before we left Tennille, I noticed the small cracks along the rim and just prayed that we would get home safely.  Columbia, SC was good to us, again.  We got there in time before closing at 7:00pm for them to put a new round of tires on (7:00pm in SC??  Wow indeed!!).  While that was happening, it was deemed necessary to search for some good comfort food.  Within an hour, the van was ready and we were able to get back on the road.

By 7.30am, Wednesday, we were back to Ed's home, where I crashed on the living room couch to claim some needed sleep.  His wife is a gem.  How many spouses would let their husband go on a road trip like ours?  So, as I recollect the events from the last 48 hours, I felt that our mission was 45% successful.  I have a potential trek planned in January, with a better vehicle, to get the console.  Meanwhile, here in my apartment, I've given the bench and pedal board a nice polish.  I have to admit, with two parts that are over 100-years old, they look untouched.  Check out the pictures below.

Mishka checking out a potential perch

Mishka and Liam enjoying the new bench view

Bench and pedal board in place waiting for the main console

Close up view of pedal board.  Not bad for a 106 year old!

So, my dream will still become a reality.  I just have wait a few weeks.  Meanwhile, my Siamese is having a little fun checking out her pedal techniques.  Who knows-she might have the music gift in her.  Check back again in the new year for the third part of my Estey's journey to New York!!

Merry Christmas!  Happy New Year!

There's a new addition a-comin'!!!

So, you are wondering what I'm babbling about?  Well, let me explain a little bit.

There a moments when you see something and that little voice inside your head says "buy it."  Well, I bought it!  Let's call it my Christmas present to myself.  Still wondering?  OK OK.  I bought a lovely two-manual and pedal Estey reed organ that was built in 1905.  It has been loved and cared for its lifetime by a convent of nuns, then made the move to a retired Episcopal priest with roots from the Church of England living in Georgia, and at the end of this year, the organ's new home will be with me in New York!

I just had to share this with my friends!  And now you're asking why.  Well, for years I have wanted a practice instrument at home.  A piano would be ideal, yes.  A keyboard even more effective.  But when I was looking around doing my normal eBay shopping, I thought and pondered if there was such a thing as a two-manual reed organ.  And behold!  There she was right before my eyes.  I asked about the dimensions and I'm happy to say that I'll make it fit in my home.  You have to smile and chuckle about that one.

Like I said.  Built in 1905.  Has been loved and cared for more than 100 years.  And will be cared for into another century of music making.  Have a look!

The Girard Experience--Part II

Well...it has been a while since I first created my blog about some of my organ adventures.  I figured it would be time to come back and try to update and share little.  The long-short of it all, I had an awesome time visiting Girard College!  The fruit of my labors were several good tracks of this magnificent organ.  While one can be their own worst critic about one's playing, I have to admit that for what I achieved that morning in July was euphoric for me.  Sadly, this was a few days before the passing of my father on the 25th of that month.  When I go back and listen to those recordings, I get a little emotional.  I have this attachment with a lot of recordings I own--you know where you were in body, soul and mind when you hear certain pieces.  July 2011 will be a very poignant one for me for a long time to come.

So...will I get back to Girard again?  Certainly so!!  And with more purpose than ever!  Dad always wondered where my studies in music would take me.  If he only knew.  He was proud of his boy and I always knew that, although it wasn't discussed much.  So my future visit to Girard will be one in honor of my father.

Just like the title of the Dr. Seuss book..."Oh the places you'll go!"  Thanks dad for helping me go places in my life.  I love you and miss you.

The Girard Experience--Part I

July 15th was just an ordinary day.  But for me, this was another chance to visit a gem in Philly.  There is a beautiful pipe organ that is known in the organist circle, but up until last summer--I knew nothing about this instrument.  Some of the greatest musicians have played on her--yes, just like a car or a boat, we do refer to the instrument in the feminine.  She is, in my honest opinion, a grand dame that we should take a closer, careful look before we let her slip through our fingers.

But, before I give you the experience, I think a little history lesson is needed.  Ernest Skinner was the premier organ builder at the start of the 20th century.  His attention to detail and sound, even if a project was behind in time and over its budget, have left some lasting fingerprints in the world of church music and organs.  Many of his earlier instruments have been revisited over the decades and went through alterations--some good and some that have forever changed the instrument from its original mission.  Some good examples of Skinner's work can be found at St. John the Divine and St. Thomas, both in New York City.

So--get in the car, make a trip to Girard or watch a YouTube clip and you will understand what I am talking about.  This is one of Ernest M. Skinner's last instruments before the company was restructured into what was known as the Aeolian-Skinner Company.  So far this instrument has not suffer drastic changes and she is being loved and shared.  But come back...there's more to the story of this timeless gem from the viewpoint of a small village organist from New York.

Tah for now