OK, I lied

In my last post, I said that I would let my students offer their own report after attending the second annual East Texas Pipe Organ Festival. But some things keep coming to mind that need to be said, and said by me:

For the record, this was a festival honoring the splendid work of Roy Perry as manifested in the Aeolian-Skinner organs in East Texas: First Baptist Church, Longview, First Presbyterian Church and St. Luke's United Methodist Church, Kilgore, and First Baptist Church, Nacogdoches. Last year's festival was the first, and I'm told it was utterly splendid. I was determined not to miss this second one. I took FIVE students and a faculty colleague along with me. None of us was disappointed, not in the least.

My students comported themselves flawlessly, making many new friends and offering hope for the next generation. They were the life of all the parties, the subjects of many photo opportunities, and the features in several interviews for newspapers. And they were a constant source of belly laughs for me.

My students' ears have been changed forever. They have now experienced what a sufficient amount of 8-foot tone will do for an organ. They have now heard what reed stops that actually sound different from one another can do. They have now heard what thick boxes can do. They now are full of fresh ideas and a new appreciation for their art and American organbuilding history. For me to literally watch ears be changed forever right in front of me was an experience I won't forget and one that I wish to repeat as often as possible.

My students were the only students there, other than the occasional Kilgore College students who would show up for concert attendance credit. One question that kept coming up during the Festival was, "Why don't more teachers bring their students to these things? There were none here last year!" One could go on and on answering THAT one, but I wouldn't make any friends. Let's just agree on two things:

1) There are more than a handful of healthy organ studios within five hours' drive of these organs. My crowd drove sixteen hours.

2) The Appalachian State University organ studio has thrown down the gauntlet and is saying it's time for American organ teachers to get on this wagon, whether they like the subject matter or not. These organs have stood the test of time in this country. It is time to explore why and to establish the future champions for these landmark, iconic instruments. Batter up!