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| June / July 2014 | www.allenorgan.com |
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 Allen Installation South Carolina |
 Allen Abroad Spain and Japan |
 Website Addition |
 Special Project |
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Dear Readers: Balmy weather has finally come and that means it's almost time for summer vacation travel. As those of us who do it on a regular basis know, travel can be a thrill but it's also rigorous. If the hassles of travel have got you considering a "staycation" this year, but your wanderlust is still calling, this e-notes might just be the solution to your dilemma. Grab your tablet and an ice tea, head for the deck and let these stories about Spain and Japan give you a vicarious thrill without draining your bank account. The world's most-chosen organ company might just also become your favorite travel guide! Whether you vacate or "staycate" this summer, enjoy! Best Regards, Barry Holben Vice President, Sales Allen Organ Company |
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WEBSITE ADDITION!
Organist Resources |
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A new page has been added to the Allen Organ Company website. This page,
entitled "Organist Resources", can be found by clicking on the "Customer Support"
tab at the top of the Allen Organ Website Homepage. Organist Resources was
created with the church organist in mind and offers links to the websites of
companies with which Allen has partnered. Last year, in partnership with Church Music Solutions, Allen introduced the Substitute Organist Service, or S.O.S. Now, we are pleased to announce two additional relationships with companies that also provide valuable services for our customers: |
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| Worship Hymns for Organ, a division of Fred Bock Music Company, is the online home for the organ music of Carolyn Hamlin. Each of Carolyn's arrangements of traditional hymns can be found in the digital library, as well as the complete collection of her printed volumes. There's also a Hymn of the Month subscription available for new settings of the most beloved hymns of the Church. Allen Organ is pleased to announce that Hymn of the Month subscriptions from Worship Hymns for Organ, are now available to Allen owners at special rates. |
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Lorenz Publishing is dedicated to serving today's church musicians with organ
music for all seasons and occasions. With offerings ranging from their flagship
magazine subscriptions to stirring arrangements for the contemporary church
genre, the company's publications are diverse in difficulty level and style.
Click here to visit the new Organist Resources page and to view more details of these networking relationships and special offers! |
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SUMMER CONVENTIONS! |
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Look for the Allen booth at these three summer conventions: American Guild Organists Boston Convention - June 23-27, 2014 - take your "Selfie" with Allen's Q475 Classical Organ! American Theatre Organ Society Indianapolis Convention - July 4-9, 2014 - play the all new Allen T321Q-SP Theatre Organ! National Association of Pastoral Musicians St. Louis Convention - July 14-18, 2014 |
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Allen Installations - Belin UMC, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina |
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When Belin United Methodist Church in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, realized that their 1986 two-manual organ was falling into disrepair, it was decided a new state-of-the-art digital organ was the way to go. Having long-term plans to enlarge the current building, members wanted an instrument that would handle their parish growth. |
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"We had been looking at Allen organs for several years,
and chose a three-manual Quantum™/Custom. The entire
installation has had an overwhelmingly positive reception
by our congregation. "I never knew it could sound that
good", is the common reaction. We included a pipe
facade to not only dress up the chancel area but to satisfy
our pipe organ enthusiasts. They love it and can't believe
how true it sounds. In the few short months since the installation, we have been creative with the MIDI sounds. The very first Sunday we played it, everyone - even our pastor - thought we were singing to an orchestra recording. They cannot get over the flexibility and range of sounds available. The orchestral instruments not only enhance our music but allow us to have orchestrations without hiring additional musicians. We look forward to many years of creative, vibrant sounds from our Allen Organ." Jim Sellers Director of Worship Arts Belin Memorial United Methodist Church Murrells Inlet, SC |
The Choir at Belin UMC is vibrant with 90 choir members. They sing a variety of styles from every period of history. Jim Sellers and organist "Sissy" (Dorothy) Rogerson have been blending MIDI accompaniment using the Navigator™ every Sunday. Their pastor commented on the organ purchase that "this was one of the best things they've done." The organ has a custom stoplist, custom audio design and custom features, plus is "pipe-ready" should Belin UMC add pipes at a later date. |
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Read more about Belin UMC's organ and church expansion project Click here to see this organ as an Organ of the Week |
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Allen Abroad:
The Royal English College in Valladolid, Spain |
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The Royal English College in Valladolid, Spain, recently
installed a Three-Manual, 50 Stop Allen Quantum™/
Custom Q350 organ in its Chapel. Allen's previous five
Valladolid installations, including a Four-Manual, 79 Stop
Organ in the Cathedral of Valladolid, and Allen's ongoing
commitment to service, made the selection very easy. The new instrument, the sixth Allen organ installed in the city of Valladolid, replaced an older transistor-based electronic organ from the 60s. This organ boasts a wide variety of Stop Lists, such as Cavaillé-Coll, Schlicker, Arp Schnitger, Aeolian-Skinner, English Cathedral, Orchestral and Classic Allen. Guest organists appreciate the instrument's ability to play virtually any style of music from liturgical accompaniment to a broad spectrum of concert repertoires. The speakers are installed within three chambers under the dome of the Chapel. The left side is dedicated to the Swell, with the Pedal and Great stops in the middle. The right side houses the Choir and Festival Trumpet divisions. International organist Pilar Cabrera played the newly installed organ at the dedication concert held in May. Ms. Cabrera, who also owns a Two-Manual Allen, is known for playing concerts at the Cathedral of Valladolid which attracts as many as 2000 spectators! A YouTube video was created of France's Allen Organ Dealer and Organist Jean-Philippe Le Trévou playing a choral improvisation in the style of J.S. Bach using the Arp Schnitger stop list on this versatile organ. |
The balcony view of the Chapel at Royal English College 
Organist Pilar Cabrera playing the Chapel's new Q350 
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Allen Abroad:
Osaka, Japan The Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra, one of western Japan's most famous professional orchestras, introduced an Allen organ in their official blog site. An Allen Bravura™ L-322 was on loan for their concert at Osaka Festival Hall. The Orchestra played "An Alpine Symphony" by Richard Strauss. |
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The blog, written in Japanese, shows various photos
during practices prior to the concert. Two of the photos are
about the Allen L-322. Translated the descriptions read: "This is an Allen Organ. Allen is the global standard organ with natural and resonant sound." Seiko Katagiri, shown here, is the house organist of the Symphony Hall in Osaka where she plays a pipe organ. After playing the Allen digital organ at the Festival Hall she commented, "This Allen organ can create characteristic sound of the wind moving across the pipes of a real pipe organ. I can't believe this is a digital organ, because the organ has delicate delay from keying to sound, which a pipe organ has. I hope you enjoy the organ sound at the Festival Hall!" Click to view the Blog on 26 Apr. 2014 |
 
Photography courtesy of The Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra blog April 26, 2014 |
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In another story from Japan, a recent Allen Organ
installation might just be the "highest" Allen installation
in the world. An Allen organ was recently installed in the
Chapel within the Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills Hotel. The
chapel, used for weddings, is located on the 52nd Floor
overlooking Tokyo! Click to see the hotel website |
Photograph courtesy of Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills Hotel |
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The Allen Organ Company also featured a Bravura™ L-341 with Drawknob Package as one of our recent Organ
of the Week selections. This organ will be installed within the next month at the Kobe Central Church in Kobe,
Japan. As of this writing, the customer is eagerly awaiting their new Allen! Click here to see this organ as an Organ of the Week Articles submitted and translated by Allen Organ Dealer, Len Matsunaka, Osaka, Japan |
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Allen Video on the Web
World-renowned Classical Organist Carol Williams performed J.C. Kittel's "Fantasia" on the Allen Q475 organ during a live performance at Allen Organ's Octave Hall in Macungie, PA. Williams has the distinction of being the first woman appointed Civic Organist for the City of San Diego, California, performing regularly at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. 
Watch Video:
Classical Organist Carol Williams plays "Fantasia"Click here to go directly to the Video section of our website |
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Free MP3 Downloads Our newly released "Suite Sounds Historique™ Historique III™" CD demonstrates the remarkable capabilities of these compact, versatile and affordable organs. Enjoy! To Download: right click on the song title, then click "Save As". Classical Selection • Fugue in G Minor (Little); J.S. Bach Performer: Allen Artist; Suite: Arp Schnitger From: Suite Sounds Historique™ Historique III™ Religious Selection • Sine Nomine; Vaughan Williams Performer: Allen Artist; Suite: English Cathedral From: Suite Sounds Historique™ Historique III™ Theatre Selection • Pick Yourself Up; arr. Hazleton Performer: Tom Hazleton; Suite: :Morton From: Suite Sounds Historique™ Historique III™ Click below to visit the music download page: http://www.allenorgan.com/www/store/maindl.html |
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NEW SPECIAL PROJECT UPDATE!
Curved-Jamb French Terrace Console |
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Our Curved-Jamb French Terrace Console project
continues its journey through the factory! Follow the build
graphics and video of how this gargantuan organ console
is being constructed. We hope you enjoy this project as much as we are! Click to follow The Curved French Terrace Project. |
Extended Curved French Terrace now moves to final phases |
Vote for
your favorite Organ of the Month |
Organ of the Month Thank you all for your votes last month and for your enthusiasm! The previous Organ of the Month winner was the Heritage™ Quantum™ Walnut Finish Three-Manual. Click the link below to visit the AllenOrgan.com site for photos and more! http://www.allenorgan.com/www/allenews/organoftheweek/2014/20140217/OrganOfTheWeek.html Choose your favorite from the list below. In the next issue of e-notes, we will let you know which one of these beauties was the readers' choice for Organ of the Month! For June/July 2014 the contestants are: • Bravura™ with optional Drawknob Package Walnut Finish Four-Manual • Quantum™/Custom Walnut / Satin Ebony Finish Four-Manual • Bravura™ Walnut Finish Three-Manual • Bravura™ French-terrace-style Walnut Finish Three-Manual • Bravura™ with optional Drawknob Package Walnut Finish Three-Manual • Quantum™/Custom Walnut / Oak Finish Four-Manual • Bravura™ Walnut Finish Three-Manual • Chapel™ with optional Drawknob Package Walnut / Oak Finish Two-Manual |
Links to popular
Allen Organ web pages |
Allen Organ Company Web Site http://www.allenorgan.com/index.html Allen News http://www.allenorgan.com/www/allenews/mainallenews.html Allen Organ Installations http://www.allenorgan.com/www/installations/maininstallations.html Allen Organ Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Allen-Organ-Company/102311786594094 |
