From hammond321@yahoo.com Sat Feb 16 17:26:51 2013
Subject:OT: Times change

This comes as a response to some of the videos posted here recently which, in a funny way, mock the "old school" home organ market and general "aura" of those kinds of instruments. Here's an example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nDmM3qrm8o

But it occurred to me that there is a kind of sad and serious side to this, and that is of an aspect of family and social life that is rapidly fading away, if it hasn't already. That aspect is of social and familial (non-professional) involvement with the creation and performance of music. For many years, and up until recently, it was very common to see a piano or organ in someone's home, and at least one or two of the family members could play.

At one time, there were literally hundreds if not thousands of piano and organ manufacturers in this country, providing not only instruments for people to enjoy, but employment for generations of skilled and semi-skilled workers.

Try to find a "mom and pop" piano and organ shop today. See how many homes  you visit where there is a piano or organ that is played by the family on a regular basis. People are becoming less and less involved with music and the making of it, leaving it in many cases to lip-synched pseudo-celebs and satire such as "Barry Morgan's World of Organs."

There's my rant of the day. Thanks for listening!

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