Too bad about Carl Frei, Jr.  My friends, Wolfgang and Heinz, are very
correct in saying we are losing a great family in the organ building
business.  Four years ago Angelo Rulli and I had chance to visit Carl
Frei.  He was 80 years old at the time but still quite witty.

After we had chance to "warm up" with each other he was very friendly and
took us for a tour of his home (which included industrial-strength wood
working machinery) and his attic, which contained boxes and boxes of
fairground organ masters.  What I wouldn't have done to have a chance to
go through some of those.  Anyway, it was a fond memory and we really have
lost another great organ person.

On the other hand, we do have upcoming organ people in these young
Germans, Wolfgang Brommer & Heinz Jaeger.  They are carrying on the
tradition of quality organ building, and for those organ people that are
"anti-Midi" they are continuing to produce small street organs that play
mechanically and pneumatically without electronics.  It is refreshing
to see young people continue on with the hobby (and business) of organ
production.

Ron Bopp

 [ Editors note:
 [
 [ Wolfgang wrote to me today, "On Tuesday is the funeral.  Now we have
 [ Easter and I'm occupied with my family and my church music (I play
 [ the church organ and have my own choir).  Thanks for bringing the report
 [ about Carl to MMD.    As soon as possible I'll write something."
 [
 [ Earlier I joked with him about the limited accommodations in Waldkirch
 [ for the 1999 Festival.  He responded that "we have several organs in
 [ which you may sleep; we also have had beds in Waldkirch for quite a 
 [ while !  Let us know in time what we should reserve for you."
 [
 [ "Seriously -- Possibly some of the MMD members can tackle a group tour 
 [ here.  We'll keep this in mind."
 [
 [ MMD will help publicize any efforts toward a tour; is this something
 [ that MBSI might organize?  (I'll start saving my Deutschmarks!  :-)
 [
 [ Robbie