OrganMaestra Carol Williams..

[Corno Dolce]

Here a great humanbeing playing a thrilling organ:

http://www.youtube.com/user/BellVideo

[Krummhorn]

Indeed a very talented gal ...
She's also the Civic Organist in San Diego (CA) and plays the huge Austin organ situated in an outdoor amphitheater in Balboa Park there.

[Contratrombone64]

Krummhorn - I just read that rather lengthy account of the history of that amazing instrument, fascinating. I love the descriptions of the amphitheater and the over the top design. Fasciating place to stick a pipe organ ... at least with a 20,000 pound metal curtain it's safe from the weather. Must be a bloody nightmare to keep in tune however.

[AllanP]

Talking with the Curator, it is difficult to keep in tune. He usually does a quick touch up before each use. A complete tuning is not easily done very often. It is especially bad when the wind direction blows into the organ. The afternoon concerts at 2pm are usually ok, however the evening concerts when the sun is going down and the temperature starts changing drastically can have interesting effects.

The most significant effect for the listener is the total lack of sound reflections giving a unique type of sound.

The organ has a wide range of stops which enables a lot of variety in sounds if the player is good at registration.

[dll927]

Does that make Dr. Williams the "organiste titulaire" of Balboa Park? Odd, we don't use such titles, but we aren't French, either!!

Balboa Park has a few other attractions, such as one world-class zoo. One can spend several days at B.P. and not run out of things to see/do.

[acc]

we aren't French, either!!

Who's “we”?