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Organ pipes to usher in summer at Scotty's Castle

Started by KB7DQH, June 21, 2013, 02:15:35 PM

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KB7DQH

QuoteOrgan pipes to usher in summer at Scotty's Castle

The public is invited for a rare chance to hear the pipe organ at legendary Scotty's Castle in Death Valley National Park Friday, June 21, the first official day of summer, and Saturday, June 22.

   

By Mike Bodine
STAFF WRITER
mbodine@ridgecrestca.com
Updated Jun. 20, 2013 @ 3:33 pm

    The public is invited for a rare chance to hear the pipe organ at legendary Scotty's Castle in Death Valley National Park Friday, June 21, the first official day of summer, and Saturday, June 22.

    This is the one and only time of year that hands touch the organ, with this year's player Ty Woodward.

    Woodward's current gig is tickling the organ at Disney's El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.

    The concert will be played on the Welte-Mignon theater pipe organ delivered in 1928 and costed more than $50,000 at the time.

    "The Welte-Mignon features 1121 pipes, a grand piano, glockenspiel, xylophone, chimes, orchestra bells, sleigh bells, bird calls and a drum and cymbal assortment," according to the park's official website.   

    The concert is being sponsored by the Death Valley Natural History Association. The association's Executive Director David Blacker said this is the ninth year of the concert. He explained that the concert series was inspired by a live recording of the organ taken a decade ago, the first recording since the 1970s.

    The instrument sounded so beautiful, it was decided to put on a concert.

    The rub is that Scotty's Castle is a museum, packed with rare and delicate treasures, not the ideal setting for a concert.

    Blacker explained it was decided to hold the concert the same weekend as the annual curatorial cleaning when volunteers are trained on how to clean the treasures. In the process, rugs, chairs, tables and other delicates are removed for cleaning, clearing up space for a concert.

    Blacker said he is well aware that Death Valley in June is not the ideal time, but the castle is well air conditioned and that if all else fails, he said he has a short stand-up routine up his sleeve if he has to entertain. 

    "You're guaranteed to have a good time," Blacker said, adding that the concert at the castle is one of the most unique and wonderful experiences a person could ever have.

    He also said that any visitor to Death Valley at night will get to experience one of the best places for star gazing on the planet. Seats are available for purchase for $45, call (800) 478-8564 ext. 10 to reserve your seat or make a donation. All proceeds go to the Scotty's Castle Organ Maintenance Fund. For more information visit DVNHA.org An event update – as of June 17, there were still seats available for both the 5:30 p.m. And 7 p.m. Shows are Friday and Saturday.

http://www.ridgecrestca.com/article/20130620/NEWS/130629976#axzz2Wr4ULCAu

Eric
KB7DQH
The objective is to reach human immortality—that is, to create things which are necessary to mankind, necessary to the purpose of the existence of mankind, and which have become the fruit that drives the creation of a higher state of mankind than ever existed before."