We need to get together a church tour of the city. For those who haven't been, it's one of the most incredible collections of church architecture. You don't really have a "Polish cathedral" church (for you upper Midwesterners), but you have nearly everything else, some being really fantastic examples of styles.
Looking at the schedule, I am thinking Monday morning or early afternoon before the colloquium officially starts. Otherwise there isn't much free time, but I am open to suggestions.
Earl_Grey: do you know if they are letting people in the "Rock" church to look at the Wicks anymore? [It's a Wicks voiced by Henry Vincent Willis III, so really tremendous...just north of the convention hotel]
The Catholic parishes are all prettier, but alas, many of the best organs in Protestant parishes.
Registration starts at 2:30. What if we started at the seminary around 10:00 or 11:00 and then we could drive around the area for a few hours and see as many churches/organs as we can and make a lunch stop? I'd be willing to contact some churches to confirm that we can visit/get access to the organ. Let me know if there are any requests. I still don't know the area very well. (I spend most of my time at the seminary and the Cathedral). The old cathedral by the arch would be worth a look, and I can contact the Rock church.
I know there is a new Casavant and Shoenstein in the area (both non-catholic churches), though I have not yet heard either. Most of the Catholic Churches I have seen have either a Wicks or an electronic. There are a couple small trackers by a local builder if that would be of interest.
I know the organists at both churches you mention, Earl, just not sure if I'll be in town by Monday morning. Maybe Horst can help, too, or Stephen Eros?
G'day, at this point a scarily exciting thing is going and flying overseas and testing out my jet lag.
I'm looking forward to polyphony and chant. Anything about semiology. Improvising chant. Organ improvisation. Organ accompaniment of chant. Hearing my compositions? Anybody open to this?
If there is an organ crawl can you please let me tag along?
Most of all I want to meet all these American church musos and make some new mates.
@jes... if you will be in town soon enough to go to the pre-conference organ extravaganza, I suggest pm'ing some who plan to attend so that you can find a way to get around. There should be enough locals to assist with this (particularly Earl_Grey). If you exchange contact info in advance you should be able to meet up.
Always looking forward to the colloquium, even more so after I get my breakout sessions together. My brief glimpse of St. Louis earlier left me intrigued and I hear there's a fine collection of Spanish colonial art in the town.
Nota bene, historian buffs: don't waste your time on Grant's Farm. Those expecting to find the famed general's old stomping grounds will find a glorified petting zoo.
For those who take into account the beer culture, Schflay beer is is certainly worth pursuing. The tap room at the brewery is one of my favorite places.
Greg'll be safe on the train as long as he doesn't don his usual Californian board shorts, flipflops and Guns n Roses tank top of which he's quite fond.
The priests! The fabulous amazing priests! That's what I would look forward to if I were going! I wish I could meet Father Morgan again. He was such a delight!
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