a special gift?

[Preston]

I got a very thoughtful, special, meaningful, etc. gift as a holiday present. I wanted to share it with you all, and wondered if any of you received any very sentimental, etc. gifts?

That, and I know a few on the forum would like this gift given to me, I think? Or, it seems.

Here it is (photo and all):

[Peter]

Very nice Preston - nothing sentimental really this year for me but I did get the Brendel lectures on dvd which I'm looking forward to watching.

[Chris]

Looks good, Preston - right up your alley!

Nothing really sentimental for me, but most of my time was spent playing the organ and violin for various Christmas Masses, which I consider a most special privilege!

[Megan]

Looks good, Preston - right up your alley!

Nothing really sentimental for me, but most of my time was spent playing the organ and violin for various Christmas Masses, which I consider a most special privilege!

Indeed it is a special privilege Chris, sounds like it was a wonderful Mass.

I remember one year we went to Easter Mass at the Oratory and they played a most beautiful piece by Haydn. I was in my element.

[Preston]

Thanks Peter and Chris, just wanted to clarify - it is not sentimental in the sense of it relating to LotR - it is sentimental because of the thought, care, etc. the person whom I love dearly put into it, and therefore will always remind me of such a beautiful thing in every way.

Now, I think it is only fair that Peter post a picture of Brendel's lectures (btw, are they on Beethoven?) and Chris post a full video of his entire performance! Seriously though, how about a picture of the box set and a picture of the organ, so that I am not the only one who posted a picture?

Also, Chris perhaps one day it will be sentimental to you? And also, that does seem very special and beautiful.

[Preston]

on a side note...

I wanted to clarify this because I feel as though I have gone off on LotR for the past 3 years on the forum.

What I have come to is that, for a very large part, I am not a fan of the LotR movies, and I imagine I would not be a fan of the books (a true fan), for a very large part - larger than the movies.

Let me explain, for a while I got very into the movies - too into them. Why, I don't really know - I blame it on madness, . Though, I have come to see that in truth I do not enjoy a large part of the artistic style (which I once thought was great) though I do find some of it very moving, I think the characterization of Gollum is most interesting but at the same time ludicrous (based on what I have read, while he did have a playful side occasionally, he was far deeper and much more weird, etc. (so yes, imo, they made a good/excellent attempt at creating Gollum on screen, but, also imo, it was a complete failure), I cannot enjoy watching the movies - they are simply too violent too often (yes they have touching scenes and enjoyable music but it is quite rare), the lacking of comfort and subtleties is appalling, etc. etc. etc.

As for the books, I will not be reading them - as beautiful as I imagine much of it is there are other books I hope to read.

As for movies, the only movie I like is Pink Floyd's The Wall - though unfortunately, I cannot even watch because it hurts me too much to see such madness.

Also, I think the Star Wars would have been better off as a book, documentary, etc. GL's thoughts of the future - which, imo, seem to be quite good at that time. Though, my favorite scene, as of now, is actually in SW - when it shows, the mystic, Yoda living on Dagobah telling Luke about The Force - the scene called "Try not, Do or Do Not, There is no try".

Sorry for going on, I just felt I needed to clarify that.

[Chris]

Hm, I don't have a picture of the exact console, but it's basically this:

[Preston]

Hm, I don't have a picture of the exact console, but it's basically this:

Chris, I know the organ is an extremely complex instrument to play, so, well I don't really know what to say but - - great!!!

Also, thank you for sharing a picture, truly, - now I am not the only one with a picture.

Peter, it is your turn now, ! And don't slack on it, lol!

[Preston]

So, anybody else have something they would like to share? Come on, !

[Peter]

Chris, I know the organ is an extremely complex instrument to play, so, well I don't really know what to say but - - great!!!

Also, thank you for sharing a picture, truly, - now I am not the only one with a picture.

Peter, it is your turn now, ! And don't slack on it, lol!

If you insist! I haven't watched it yet, but one of the lectures is on 'musical character(s) as exemplified in Beethoven's sonatas.'

[Sorrano]

That looks a lot like the organ I play, Chris, except that there are only two manuals.

[Chris]

That looks a lot like the organ I play, Chris, except that there are only two manuals.

A Rodgers, then?

[Preston]

If you insist! I haven't watched it yet, but one of the lectures is on 'musical character(s) as exemplified in Beethoven's sonatas.'

First, thanks for the picture... I don't really know why - I guess it gives the thread some more life? Anyway, hope you will start a thread about the videos after you watch them?

I guess most of the members got "coals and switches", .!? - that or they do not take part in festivities this time of year, or they do not have any festivities. I was raised with a christmas tree, etc. - you know - so seeing as a large portion of the family (relatives and all) have festivities, I take part in them. And, think it is a beautiful thing, in many ways.

[Sorrano]

A Rodgers, then?

I'll have to get back to you on that one, but I believe it is.

[Sorrano]

Chris, the organ is a Rogers (not spelled with the "d", "Rodgers"). It's an electric and not a pipe organ. I've had the opportunity to play several pipe organs on a regular basis, but currently there are not any available to me.