mike and ruth

Richard Elliott gave an amazing recital tonight at the Salt Lake City Tabernacle on the 207 rank Aeolean Skinner organ installed in that building in 1948. This was a remarkable study of contrasts including music from the time of Sweelinck to middle 20th Century. Grandpa and I were fotunate to arrive early enough to find seats on the front row of the east balcony, a location we consider to be the best in the house. Not only was the music memorable but the visual effects provided by the lighting technicians was unique and quite spectacular. The organ sounded superb, reflecting careful work by the organ technicians. Congratulations to Rick and his colleagues for an absolutely first-rate performance in every regard. In recent weeks a newly-issued recording of the organ was presented to me by Richard Elliott. The recording was made in November 2004, about a month before the Tabernacle was closed for rennovation for over two years. I was invited by the organist to assist, and turned pages at the console for several pieces during the recording sessions. What an honor this was, and I was pleased to be asked also to help in the studio when not turning pages. This new album is a treat; the first new CD of the organ in many years. I believe Clay Christiansen’s Klavier CD was the latest, released in the late 1990’s. That makes this one the first organ solo CD released from the Tabernacle Organ in more than ten years. It’s about time! Ask me anything you like about it.

The leaves are now brown and red and yellow, and the temperatues are getting cooler as the days and weeks move towards the end of the year. I took this photo after work, with the moon still showing in the mist of the early morning sun above the reds and yellows of the trees around our building. It was cool, quiet, and beautiful. Word has it that snow is not too far away again. Our last major snowfall was April 17, and I will add a photo to this post later on to show you what it looked like.