Magnificent (maybe not woodworking…)

Dr. Elderbarndottir has been a pipe organist since before she could drive, and some of the treasured times of my life were driving her back and forth to the church where she was employed to play.  We had precious time together alone talking in the car coming and going, and I got to sit and listen to her practice pieces for worship.   They had a small pipe organ and she loved playing it, and would frequently exclaim, “It comes alive!” when she turned on the blower.  For a time I thought she might actually go into the business of building and repairing pipe organs.  IIRC the pipe organ company offered her such a job even while she was in high school, troubleshooting is just in her veins.

Instead she went off to college, graduating with a Physics BS (summa cum laud; both daughters were HS valedictorians who went on to be summa cum laud in college, proving that Mrs. Barn fit the description when I was in the market for the smartest BabyMomma), although she did continue pipe organ studies her whole time there.  Then off to more college for her PhD.  She never lost her love for the organ even though she does not get to play much anymore.  I too have maintained a longstanding love for the instrument, and this performance and organ are both sublime.

Now that I think about it, pipe organs are about the most complex wood-and-metal things out there.  One of the most famous organ builders in the world is just over the mountain from here.

And this is just weirdly wonderful.  I think I first learned of this music form from reading Richard Feynman’s autobiographies.