(to S. Kolbinson)
from Calgary, Alberta

Christmas, 1966

Dear Kolbinsons; ---

Man the time travels, --- ran into your cousin, Mrs. MacIlmoyle today, (bet I mis-spelled the name!), and read of the Saskatoon CCO do at the Kolbinson Kathedral, and thought I should pen an epistle.  So what is the status of your instrument now?

I have your `Clutton & Dixon" set out here with a brochure on First Baptist rebuild, to send, but shall wait till after Christmas mail rush has cleared.  I'm sorry, I've kept the C&D too long, and I'll get it back to you shortly.  A while back I did some research on Cavaille-Coll and was comparing Notre Dame and Saint Sulpice stoplists from several sources to see how C-C had left it, before subsequent additions and modifications, and your C&D was most helpful in this regard.  Many thanks for the prolonged use of it.

We did hook up trailer and saw a bit of country this summer; --- Betty was at University Summer school most of the time so after that we did 10 days driving around.  Did some work on an old tracker at Pincher Creek, --- Casavant Op. 143, 1901, Alberta's first, apparently, with quite a story (newspaper article enclosed!).  Then over to Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, (no signif. organs so far.)  Moose Jaw saw HNB at Zion, not in best of shape, then a day or two in Regina.  Hooper was busy installing 1875 Stevens in Grace Lutheran.  Saw the Hinners tracker at Trinity.  Then to Saskatoon, liked the big Knox.  Looked at but didn't play HNB at St. John's, saw one or two others though,  missed 3rd Ave.  Saw Dr. Hart's effort at Wesley.  No comment.  From there up to Battleford, Lloydminster and home.

Was up in October to Stettler Lutheran, tuning, and playing for Dedication of new Church bldg.  In it went their 1-8 1890 Farrand & Votey tracker, its fourth building.  That just about sums up my activities so far.  Have done the odd service here and there.  First Baptist came off very well, as did Scarboro, --the latter very very salty and bright, then in the LDS Chapel here, Bob Blanchard installed a small 2-8 Casavant:   Ped: Soubasse 16' Gt-Ped  Pos-Ped;   Gt: Rohr 8  Oct 4  Mixt IVr (1')    Pos: Ged 8  Koppel  4    Gemshorn 2   Zimbel II r.  No trem, combons, sw-box,  no nuttin.  How will the good Mormons emote with that, but it's a gem of an organ.  ($16,000.00) At that price it should be!  Then Bob built a fine little 1-manual in St. Gabriels's here:  Ped: Bdn 16'  Choral Bass 4'  Man-Ped 8'  4';  Manual:  St Diap  8'  Gemshorn 4'  Principal 2'  Mixture II ranks.  The latter is new Casavant pijpenvaerk to composition of yours truly.  John Searchfield did a humdinger of a recital on it.

Any further developments on your research into construction of a slider chest?  How did you get along in Edmonton?  These smaller jobs offer quite a challenge to get the most out of them.  I find them fascinating.  At Stettler I did a morning 1-1/2 hr service, then another in the afternoon, then at 4 pm a recital.  So after I gave the `Commercial' and trotted up to the console, there were 20 or 30 kids standing around the console!  After initial shock, I sez to me `What would Marcel Dupre do?'  And quick-like comes the yanswer:  `E'd concentrate, -- that's wot!!'  So I did and it wasn't too bad!  If you can translate the variegated spelling, I'll send along a booklet from there too.

Meanwhile, all the best to all the Kolbinsons, from all the Kennedys.

Sincerely,

Stuart Kennedy    
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