Oh yeah! I love the smell of a evergreen tree in the house!!

I haven't heard a organ play live in years. Do you play an electric or pipe? I've actually never seen a pipe organ except in person.

@godlessinal I play either, but in the place I play now, they have a digital computer organ. Those instruments are really remarkable, because they they have digital samples of the great organs around the world. There are four organs in one instrument programmed where I play, so I can make it sound like a French cathedral organ or a small Baroque organ , or an English organ, or one from America, with more contemporary sounding stops. That is state of the art, and all electronic organs made today are similar. It's really kind of interesting how far they have come since I was a music student. Most small or medium churches can't afford pipe organs anymore, which is sad. I love to play the organ, and they don't have a clue I'm agnostic, just there for the music.

@Organist1 Thank you for another memory. When I lived in Seattle I was literally next door to an amazing place. It was a 1915 dance hall now converted to a vaudeville theater. I/we volunteered there often and it is still growing strong. They had an amazing organ (with an interesting history) that was actually connected to real instruments on the wall and a set of pipes on the stage. The pipes were shielded by a black hanging/strip curtain and when they were being played the curtain would open and close. You could see the instruments being played and the flickering lights from the organ pipes. Here is a link: [pstos.org] Look up Kenyon Hall on fb . The original name was Hokum Hall (after the founder Jeeves Hokum). The guy was a super A type personality and created the most remarkable moving piano that he actually rode around the stage.

@JackPedigo Thanks for the great pictures! That is the quintessential theater organ, and the pipe ranks visible are exposed. Usually, the two keyboards, called manuals, have pipes which are in two separate chambers. One, the upper manual (called the Swell) often is enclosed, rather than exposed, and has shutters which open and close, according to how the organist wishes to adjust the volume. In my area, the Longwood Gardens organ is one of the largest pipe organs in the country. They have lots of concerts there. I was lucky to play it once. We also have a local theater which has an organ and features silent movies with organ accompaniment every so often. The organ and organist rise up out of the floor. That's fun!

@Organist1 Right, shutters (couldn't think of the name). Yes, yes many shows were silents and accompanied by the organist. A screen would descend from the ceiling and the film would be shown. The place has a kitchen and window bar and we would make and serve popcorn, cookies and, of course, root beer floats. I still remember one showing of Bink Crosby's "Going My Way" and the man who played for the film came and played for us (he was in his late 80's).

@JackPedigo We have a theater organ society here, and many willing organists. The craft is still being taught!

@Organist1 Sorry, my mind sometimes sees weird things. Craft is one thing and it might make good musicians but how does art fit into the picture? [differencebetween.net] Perhaps it is art that makes a good musician great.

On the classical music stations is a program called "From the Top." [fromthetop.org] I wonder if there are any musical instruments that are no longer being taught how to play? Something like an organ is a major instrument. BTW Music is a big deal here and even though I don't play I often help set up. Here is a clip from the recent 20th anniversary of our community center. It took a day just to transport and unload all the equipment. The guy singing and woman next to him are Nick and Susie Teague. They are a real duet/couple and have been singing/playing for years. They have the most amazing relationship any of us have ever seen (they met in the army during the first Gulf war).

@JackPedigo Well, music fits just under the broad umbrella of the arts. But specifically, if I feel I am not creating art by playing and composing, I am just creating clutter. I feel pretty strongly about that. However, I love all genres: blues, rock, folk classical...etc., as long as it's good stuff. That includes music for the holidays. There are some good things written by reputable people, and some perfectly awful stuff, too, just as with anything. As a general rule, though, I tend to want to hold my ears and run screaming from the room whenever I hear Xmas music, because I have been playing it so much in the course of my job, and for so many years. I still love the old European carols; they are lovely.

@Organist1 I looked up the longwood organ, holy smolly 10,010 pipes, and in a residential setting. That would be great to hear (if it's not too loud, I have sensitive ears).

The xmass music would be better if it were in another language. I belong to a travel group, SERVAS, Int'l. [servas.org] One year we had a great guy from Amsterdam. Long story about that summer). He offered to sing for his supper and, sure enough it was a Christian meal blessing. We didn't care for it and told him. The next day he sang again, but the same blessing in German. He was a great guest so we forgave him.

@JackPedigo If you visited the Longwood organ site and heard the organ piece by Samuel Barber, it is an impressive history. Barber has a connection to this area. In September, my piano partner and I played a 4-hand piano duet by Barber at a local university.

@JackPedigo BTW, Longwood is tacky and overcrowded during the holidays. It's much nicer to go there in the spring through fall.

@Organist1 Good to know, I don't like to travel during the winter, anyway. I also have a problem with flying (some friends that have a cabin in Michigan's UP have been bugging me to visit. They say one can go by train). However, if the reason is strong I will fly.

@Organist1 Funny, when I looked up the organ that piece was played. Remind me to tell you how some of us once built an inside entrance light using a large organ pipe.