Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!thunder.mcrcim.mcgill.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!usc!sdd.hp.com!tmm From: tmm@sdd.hp.com (Tim McDonough) Newsgroups: comp.music Subject: Re: organ research Summary: Spreckles Outdoor Pipe Organ In Balboa Park, SD Keywords: Organ Popular Music Drums 5th Grade Students Message-ID: <1991Jan14.215915.25964@sdd.hp.com> Date: 14 Jan 91 21:59:15 GMT References: <9101112035.AA22841@hplpm.hpl.hp.com> <8145@hub.ucsb.edu> Organization: Hewlett Packard, San Diego Division Lines: 36 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 (619) 592-8657 uunet!hp-sdd.sdd.hp.com!tmm (619) 489-7863 -- 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