Préparation du Voyage

     It has been almost three years that we've been preparing for this experience. As new Luther College students a few of us organists rhetorically introduced the idea of playing organ in France to Dr. Peterson and he basically said, "Sure, let's." What a super-hero! So, here we go. On January fourth we will travel to Chicago and fly from O'Hare to Charles de Gaulle. Then it's nearly three weeks that we'll be spending in the city of light (or the city for lover's if you are one) perusing art galleries, monuments, cathedrals, basilicas, and églises. Much of our attention will be focused on the organ lofts of the many churches, of course!
 
     Here you can expect to find anecdotes and photos from our travel experience nearly every day we are there. Please enjoy reading and sharing this with all who are interested-- and leave comments so we can feel the love and maybe fill you in on something we left out.

     In addition to reading through no less than three standard travel guides, watching famous Paris movies and the recent Midnight in Paris, and sifting through French language websites, I have been reading an immense history of the city of Paris. It's called Seven Ages of Paris, by Alistair Horne. I hope it will inform my tourism and trivial knowledge. The book covers everything to the fashion of the times as well as the many formative exploits of each French Monarch (and Spanish and English for that matter) as well as the story behind each building, street, and lamppost. It's fitting that Paris is dubbed the city of light-- it was actually the first European city to have public lighting. Thanks to the enduringly awful Louis XIV, who mandated streetlights to cut down on nighttime dangers of prostitution, crime, and other filth, Paris was healthily lit back in the 17th century. London followed, and Paris served as the model for urban planning everywhere else. I've only read as far as Napoleon and have several hundred pages to go. But I find it to be a satisfying nod to an informed visit to what is already known to be a wonderful city as well as a magnificent opportunity to further study the organist's craft!
Merry Christmas-- I hope you will enjoy this chance for us to bring you along  :)