Pride

[vaneramos]

Yesterday afternoon internationally-renowned organist David Palmer gave an inaugural recital on the new instrument at St. James Anglican Church in Dundas. Dad and Danny attended with me. The large church sanctuary was filled to overflowing, with several hundred people. During the program David acknowledged the workmanship of Les, who rose to considerable ovation. But at the end the church rector, Jim Sandilands, asked Les to stand again along with his work crew, including me and Henk (John, who has been undergoing chemo, could not attend). The applause went on for some moments, and I was closer to tears than I have been in months. I am truly my mother's son, crying when I'm happy rather than sad.

Accolades also went to St. James and the elderly donor for bringing such a gift to the musical community. It is a respectable instrument: three manuals, 31 stops, and 2,297 pipes. Les and I have been working on it full-time since Easter 2007. Contributing to this construction is one of the biggest tangible accomplishments of my life.

A greatly enjoyable aspect of this job has been the people we worked with: Jim, church organist Douglas Brownlee, minister-at-large David Linn who assisted with construction, and many people from the church who volunteered time and muscle cheerfully. They were fun to spend time with, and I will miss them. However the work isn't done (one stop is yet to be installed), and it seems an organ is never really complete, so our relationship with St. James doesn't end.

Comments

[mhkrabat.livejournal.com]

That had to be a hugely gratifying event, Van. Wish I could have witnessed it with you. I think it's just terrific that your boss and those around him realize that this all came to fruition through the efforts of many. I'm so glad you were acknowledged.

...and strangely, I too can be moved to tears when I've heard or seen something like you experienced. Sometimes it's music, sometimes machines, but the result is often the same; discreetly reaching to my face to brush the wet from my eyes, hoping no one notices.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Yes music, more frequently than anything else, makes me weep. The emotion took me somewhat by surprise yesterday. I think it came from knowing how much of my perspiration and dexterity went into helping craft that grand, beautiful machine. Being a part of it was enough; I didn't really expect to be recognized that way. But Les's written bio, in the concert program, also pays tribute to me and the others who worked with us.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

Does it affect you at all to know that it's possible the organ might still be in frequent use even after all of the rest of us have passed on? That's the kind of longterm legacy which always leaves me warm inside.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Yes. Les has made it his specialty to adapt and restore vintage organs to new locations. Although the entire mechanism of this organ is new, a majority of the pipes came from old organs built 90 years ago or more. So I've frequently handled and renovated parts built by hands long since turned to dust. The organ-builder's name is inscribed on the console, but we find assistants' names and dates scrawled inside wind chests or behind panels, so I have learned to leave my mark the same way.

[deanarae.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! How nice to see your work come to fruition, and in such a wonderful way.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thank you!