I have heard Jim Welch play the organ about a half dozen times, most recently for Convocation at Stanford Memorial Church, but I was embarrassingly excited for his Annual Halloween Concert. I thought about it multiple times a day. I told nearly everyone I know about my Halloween plans. And that excitement has in fact bled over into November; I have listed to Toccata and Fugue in D Minor six times already this morning.
I don’t think an organ concert would excite me so much if it weren’t for my mom. She is an insanely talented organist, and I love to hear her play. We had an organ in our house, and sometimes I would hide behind the couch so I could listen to her practice. She played hymns and scales, and I sat mesmerized by her feet moving over the pedals. I loved making the special drive to her lessons in Rexburg, which is also where we went to the occasional organ concert or silent movie.
So yes. When I found out that every Halloween for 21 years an organ-playing dude goes to a little Episcopalian chapel in Palo Alto and plays in dramatic, minor keys (sometimes dressed as a vampire) – I got pretty excited. Happy Halloween indeed.
britt
That is an amazing way to spend Halloween. And I am super impressed with your mom. What an accomplished woman.
ReplyDeleteTrue. She is the coolest.
DeleteI love this idea - it sounds like an incredible experience. I used to help record organ (and other types of music) concerts in The Cathedral of the Madeleine in SLC and was always struck by how the church itself seemed to be an instrument - changing the music.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Adam will get a job in California...attending this concert would be a nice perk. The only thing that could make it better would be a lovely old cemetery next door.
Bonnie! My boyfriend in college lived right across the street from the Cathedral of the Madeleine! I LOVED going to hear the organist there (who at the time, btw, was Mormon).
DeleteAND MOVE HERE RIGHT NOWWWWWWWW
This was a great idea btw. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting us go :)
DeleteUmm, this is really cool. I totally want to go next year! Also, in the interest of full disclosure, I should probably mention that I am creepy and somehow found your blog, and proceeded to stalk you. Your blog is really neat. Because you are neat. That is all :)
ReplyDeleteUh. Not creepy: we are friends in real life :) And you are neat.
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