Freehand MusicPad Pro - Christmas

I have created a separate folder for Christmas music on my MusicPad Pro and have started the long process of loading all the Christmas songs I thing people might request.

Vista is here!

Vista is finally installed on my 311 and it is GREAT. I finally have:
a good 16' trumpet w/trem
a useful quintedena
extra strings (gamba + viola) which give a lush sound

There is more to explore.. but it was worth it just for that. The plain 311 is really missing a trumpet for topping off a decent ensemble sound. Now it sounds REALLY great.

Robert Hope-Jones book

I just acquired a used copy of Robert Hope-Jones biography (through Amazon - they may have more.) The first thing I looked up was his suicide because of Walt Strony's comment in his own book that Robert Hope-Jones invented many things, including some interesting methods for suicide. It was interesting. I have now started reading from the beginning of the book. He was very forward thinking... and his competition did not like him. Many of his ideas for organs flew in the face of traditionalists. He appears to have been considered in his time much like the "toaster salesmen" of today who sell digital organs. In face he envisioned an organ with all sounds electronically generated... close to 50 years before the Hammond organ. The author, David H. Fox was very precise and thorough in his research. It is an interesting book.