The years I spent in Bonn were some of the happiest and most fulfilling of my life in spite of the personal issues that were going on in my life. I miss my friends there so very much.
One of the highlights of my time in Bonn was when my friends from Kentucky, now near Philly, came to visit the Klais Organ Factory in Bonn. Ted Barr and I studied at Western Kentucky University together and shared many special times doing music during our time at WKU. Now that I reflect on it, I am reminded of all of the things we experienced, from studying voice and conducting with Dr. Charles S. Hausman, to doing Faust together, the 83 Tour of Europe with the Chamber Singers, the Western Union Shaker Singers, we sharing a Junior Recital, and even turning pages for his organ recital. I learned so much from him just by observing his impeccable taste in music, his skill as a pianist and organist, and his excellence as a singer.
Tony Thurman came with Ted to visit the factory in Bonn and they were good enough to let me tag along for the day which turned out to be quite amazing. They gave us a tour of the factory which, when you consider the massive projects they build worldwide, is quite humble in size. We toured the famous Kolner Dom, after closing, so we had the entire cathedral to ourselves. Ted and Tony played on that magnificent organ and I actually got to play a few chords too! We climbed up to the Sparrows Nest, or otherwise called the Langhausorgel. The incredible sound of those huge tubas at the front of the church was something I had never heard before.
They were having an open house party outside in the Hof of the factory and we had a great time talking organ stuff with a really nice and welcoming family.
I thought I would take Tony and Ted to the Petersberg because of its amazing view of the Rhein River. We also went to the Kolsch Restaurant in Kolle and enjoyed the local brew with the obligatory Mettwurst Broetchen as well! Yikes, I'm craving this now!
My friend Veronika Brychy from the theater in Krefeld arranged it so I could play on the Klais Organ in the Kirche of St. Dionysius. I was really rusty during all of this time so my playing was not anything to write home about. But, honestly, it was such a thrill to play on these truly magnificent instruments. Playing these instruments reminds me of driving BMWs, in a way with the clean, crisp, tight and brilliant high performance feel of a masterpiece of technology and art.
Time spent with music is golden and the relationships that music enables us to form over a lifetime are priceless. Thanks for being with me on this short and brief tour back into the memories of great happiness.
