After lunch, our chapter switched locations--we were too numerous to take the tour in one body, so half of us at a time were at the console, and half in the various chambers.
At 2, we made our way to Girard College, founded as an orphanage and home to a simply stunning Classical style chapel--really, a temple--with what we now feel is Ernest M. Skinner's all-time finest installation. (We leave out Woolsey Hall because it is not Skinner from the ground up--and only for that technical reason.)
Organist Bruce Schultz was a nice and friendly host and gave us unlimited access time. A real highlight was chapter member Paul-Martin Maki's stunning rendition of the Tournemire Ave Maris.
Eventually, we wended our way to Victor's Cafe, an operatic institution in South Philly. A pleasant dinner, accompanied by opera (and one full-throated rendition of Caro Mio Ben!) set us up nicely for a quiet and rapid drive back to Brooklyn. |
