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Pipeline Press Newsletter January, 2020

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Welcome to the year of perfect vision (wish)!

Christmas 2019 came and went before we realised it, and now New Year 2020 is also in danger of vanishing without a greeting from us at Pipeline Press. So here it is, although my heart is heavy. It is hard to wish cheerful greetings when across the Tasman Sea our Australian neighbours have been battling for their lives, their homes, their environment, animals, livelihood - pretty much fighting to survive, with the out-of-control bushfires raging around the country. Relief is here with the heavy rains, but the threat of floods now makes a new danger. We've all seen the images and read the stories of this apocalyptic event (more like a series of events) but the horror of these raging fires and resulting harsh conditions for surviving animals must be far worse than any description or photo can convey. The pictures shown on the NASA website go some way to demonstrating the extent of this disaster. Several suggestions for ways in which you can help can be found here.

Cameron Carpenter

Dubbed as one of the most controversial, extravagantly talented, smasher of cultural and classical music taboos, organ superstar Cameron Carpenter is making one of only 2 appearances in New Zealand (both in the South Island) in Christchurch Town Hall with the NZSO on Friday, March 20. The orchestra's MAVERICKS series is the perfect vehicle for Carpenter, who will be playing Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor and the Poulenc Organ Concerto. You MUST hear this extraordinary artist, who has a technique most of us would die for. Details on the NZSO website And yes, we are thrilled he will be playing the Rieger, and not his touring organ.

Meanwhile in Tokyo

Martin and I are deeply disappointed that we will have to miss Cameron's show, but on that day we will be happily working in Tokyo's Musashino Civic Cultural Hall, preparing for a concert ourselves. Organisers invited Martin to reprise his popular Bach's Back and Pictures at an Exhibition show which he performed in Japan in 2008. The 3-manual 1984 Marcussen and Son organ is used for an annual international organ competition and its specification can be viewed here You can watch New Zealand organist Thomas Gaynor's live wonderful performance here which earned him second place in the 2017 competition.

Time to note in your diary now!

Martin Setchell's next solo concert on the Rieger in Christchurch Town Hall will be on Queen's Birthday holiday weekend Monday, June 1, 2020 at 1.10pm. More details about the programme and how to book, will come in the next newsletter.
So, make a note of this concert now (accommodation and flights to Christchurch will be limited that weekend of course, so remember the early bird and its relationship with worms etc)

Competition

Win Great Australasian Organs VIII, a cd of Douglas Mews playing the Wellington Town Hall Norman and Beard organ. All you have to do is tell us what your favourite piece of organ music is. Simplicity itself ! Competition ends at midnight (NZ time) February 14th. Go here to read more

Time to talk about gifts

February 14 is swiftly approaching, and even if you don't believe in Valentine's cards, there are always birthdays, anniversaries, special occasions, weddings, and even times when you want to buy someone a gift or a simple greeting card. We have three main online stores you can wander around and choose the perfect thingy to suit the occasion. The three have much in common but differ in subtle ways in the products they offer, and of course the cost, which varies according to where they are made.

Although organs feature as the recurrent theme, much more can be found if you potter: Try these:

Organgifts.com - thousands of mainly organ-themed products
Redbubble (more than just organs) - based in Australia, but sell world-wide
Fine Art America includes organs - ( well, what a surprise) but has other themes such as symmetry and patterns, travel, nature

For those in the northern hemisphere, shipping costs may be cheaper if you go to Dr J.Butz for a huge range of music, CDs, DVDs, and books (ahem, cough cough, including my "Organs and Organists: Their Inside Stories" in both English and German) . Butz have just released their new 2021 catalogue with 19 new editions. And don't forget of course, us here at Pipeline Press, where you can buy Martin's CDs "Cardboard Cathedral Organ Capers" and "Resounding Aftershocks" and printed music as well as my "Organ-isms: Anecdotes from the World of the King of Instruments".

From the Swellbox

There can be few animals more appealing than koalas and to see them suffering so much in the Australian bushfires is heartbreaking. Learn more about them and how you can help at the website of the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital.
For a taste of Cameron Carpenter's appearance on March 20th in Christchurch, here is a video of him playing Bach's Prelude and Fugue in d minor.
Little bit of irrelevance: The Box. A CGI animated short film recommended by Bobby and Kate. (Absolutely nothing to do with organs or music, obviously)
Absolutely incredible performance. And maybe something to try in the car on a long journey?

Talking of car trips, the kitties have developed a taste for adventure after their 24-hour car journey and almost every day they jump in the boot in the forlorn hope it might take them somewhere exciting. Hope springs eternal in the small mind of a Burmese, but then they say it is better to travel hopefully than arrive. I'll remember that next time I'm crashing hamfistedly through a long-neglected organ piece.

Cheerful noises,
Jenny
PS Don't forget to enter the competition, and book your travel to the Christchurch for the Queen's Birthday holiday weekend concert!