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A Rare & Unique Musical Experience
#357262 10/22/11 05:52 PM
Joined: Sep 2011
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While the following is not specifically about modern stereo systems, I thought that it might be interesting to music lovers here.

Last month we undertook a long road trip to the Desert SW of the USA. We accumulated 7745 Kms/4800 miles in 3 weeks & satisfied our 'desert fix' for another year. One of the highlights was a visit to Scotty's Castle in northern Death Valley, California where there is a phenomenal 'Music Room' from the 1930s.

The full pipe organ there is comprised of:

The Welte-Mignon theater pipe organ features 1,121 pipes, a grand piano, glockenspiel, xylophone, chimes, orchestra bells, sleigh bells, bird calls and a drum and cymbal assortment. It cost more than $50,000 to purchase, deliver, and installed in 1928

The US Park Service Ranger fired up this monster & allowed the 'Player Organ' to play a couple of tunes for us (there is also a full organ keyboard for those who can play). What is really unique is the volume control. There are several banks of louvers in the sound wall between the organ & the room that mechanically open & close to control the volume as required when the organ is playing. The mechanical complexity of this beast is mind boggling.

And the sound - all acoustic & simply stunning & stupendous. Talk about bass!! It's the stuff that today's amp & speaker designers strive so hard to achieve.

Have a look here to see & hear it in action - note the louvers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKPBsIX13xo&feature=related

If you are ever in that part of the world, stop in at Scotty's Castle for a most unique musical experience.

Tom
Comox, BC

Re: A Rare & Unique Musical Experience
exlabdriver #357265 10/22/11 07:26 PM
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That sounds like such a cool thing to experience. I'll have to remember that if I'm ever down that way.

Re: A Rare & Unique Musical Experience
exlabdriver #357286 10/23/11 03:29 AM
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axiomite
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Very cool Tom. A live performance from a quality pipe organ is on my bucket list.


Fred

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Blujays1: Spending Fred's money one bottle at a time, no two... Oh crap!
Re: A Rare & Unique Musical Experience
fredk #357289 10/23/11 03:34 AM
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That's what she said.

Re: A Rare & Unique Musical Experience
CV #357290 10/23/11 04:20 AM
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axiomite
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Not to me. Thas 'splains the divorce.


Fred

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Blujays1: Spending Fred's money one bottle at a time, no two... Oh crap!
Re: A Rare & Unique Musical Experience
fredk #357311 10/23/11 05:27 PM
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I visited Scottie's Castle many years ago. I remember being quite impressed, and also very strange to find it in the middle of Death Valley.

Re: A Rare & Unique Musical Experience
michael_d #357447 10/26/11 04:55 AM
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Thanks for that tid bit of information. I'm with CV, must remember to stop in and hear it if I am ever down that way.


Jason
M80 v2
VP160 v3
QS8 v2
PB13 Ultra
Denon 3808
Samsung 85" Q70

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