Triumphs & Trials of an Organ Builder
Virgil Fox (continued)
CASA LAGOMAR
9 LAGOMAR ROAD
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA 334BO
13051655-8775
May 28, 1980
Mr. Jerome Markowitz
Allen Organ Company
Macungie, Pa. 18062
Dear Jerome:
Although it has been our policy, because of my position as
a concert organist playing all makes of instruments, to
never endorse an organ (even though I own one), I feel that
I must write to you now and share our feelings about the
incredible experience we endured several weeks ago.
As I related to you on the telephone, our touring organ
that you so beautifully custom made for me was enroute to a
performance in San Antonio. A driver pulled onto the road in
front of our truck in Lordsburg, New Mexico, sending it down
and into the ditch.
We were shocked and frightened to learn that the truck had
rolled over and we anticipated the worst when we heard that
the technician had been pinned inside for nearly an hour
with gasoline pouring in on him as the vehicle lay upside
down on its roof. The windshield was removed by a passerby
and in due course he was rescued, shaken but otherwise
unhurt.
The truck was completely destroyed and we expected that
that would be the same story with the organ.
The organ was ultimately loaded into a U-Haul truck and
brought to San Antonio where we waited for it on stage.
After taking stock of the damage that was visible, we
hesitatingly connected everything up and were delighted
beyond all possible imagination when the instrument actually
played without any trouble.
Jerome, this is nothing short of a near miracle when one
considers that the console and computer sections came to
rest in the wreck in an upside down position with the
keyboards hanging free and the stop jams knocked out of
alignment, I thought computers were delicate!
While we would like to take a portion of the credit for
the fact that the instrument survived the crash inasmuch as
we requested from the Allen Organ Company that they take
certain steps in the building of this instrument to make it
more durable for touring, we must, however, say that the end
result of surviving this crash comes to bear upon the fact
that it was designed and built superbly.
I would also like to tell you that I am pleased as I
travel about the country and have exposure to other Allen
products, as I have seen the same care and attention going
into these instruments that has been incorporated into mine.
Although I would like to believe I was given preferred
treatment at the Allen Organ Company with regards to
workmanship, I have come to appreciate the fact that the
same quality seems to go into every instrument although I
would not recommend every owner of an Allen Organ run it
through a truck wreck to bear this fact out.
You are to be congratulated, Jerome, as well as all the
technicians who worked on my instrument and I must say that
the organ has truly passed the "touring organ" test in
respect to both tone quality and dependability. The computer
tone generation system of the instrument has been an
enormous asset to the successful production of our concerts.
We never cease to be approached at all concerts by people
who are delighted with my choice of organs, specifically the
Allen, for our touring instrument. It is a joy to play. The
state-of-the-art reverberation systems, digital delay and
the voicing techniques that you have employed provide us
with a continued spirit of adventure as we move from one
auditorium to another.
Nevertheless without meaning to get off the track, I wish
to again tell you that I am still in a state of amazement
and joy realizing that this great instrument, which has been
seen by so many people and enjoyed by so many could, after
three years on the road come right through such a calamity,
although dusty and bruised, working perfectly suitable for a
concert.
I want to tell you [and] all those who worked on this
organ because most certainly your company deserves the
credit for building such a wonderful organ for me.
Warmest regards as always,
/s/ Virgil
Virgil Fox
P. S. Feel free to use this letter.
cc: Virgil Fox Society
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