Keeping the Sound of the Story Alive
Jeannine: Your work in promoting the organ is not limited to the PIPEDREAMS broadcast. It also includes ways to experience the great organs of the world live through organ tours to exciting locations worldwide. Where have these tours taken participants and where/when is the next Pipedreams Organ Tour?
Mr. Barone: Beginning the annual PIPEDREAMS Tours in 2002, which have taken me and a bus-load of increasingly familiar friends (several folks have participated in all but one of the Tours!) to many exciting venues in Europe, Mexico and Canada. http://pipedreams.publicradio.org/events/tours
Jeannine: With PIPEDREAMS LIVE! I understand you venture out into the real world to produce audience-friendly performance events. Please tell us more.
Mr. Barone: Beginning the idea of PIPEDREAMS LIVE!…replacing the requested visits to speak at AGO chapter annual banquets (and preach to the choir, as it were), turning what bit of ‘star power’ I might bring to a public outreach and organ-community-generated PR effort to showcase young performers in public concerts, some of which find their way into the broadcast schedule. http://pipedreams.publicradio.org/events/pipedreams_live/ It is an opportunity to meet some wonderful people united in a fascination with the music of the King of Instruments.
Jeannine: Let’s look to the future. We’re both passionate about the organ, its music, and its performers. In your opinion, what can be done to ensure its future?
Mr. Barone: Plenty remains for us all to do to celebrate and promote awareness of the King of Instruments. I encourage AGO members (or any organ-friendly individual) to spread the word about PIPEDREAMS (on radio, online), support local broadcasts (where they exist…with money, also with communication with the station so the managers know people listen).
There are several million potential listeners who could be reached and ‘made aware’ by simple means. Take nothing for granted. People interested in the organ music you play may not know about PIPEDREAMS. And people who listen to PIPEDREAMS may well be among the people who show up for your performances….it’s a win-win situation.
Jeannine: Thank you, Michael, for keeping the sound of the story alive!
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Dr. Jeannine Jordan, concert organist with her husband David, are the creators and performers of Bach and Sons, From Sea to Shining Sea, and Around the World in 80 Minutes — live organ concerts with multi-media.