This is a short clip of Eric Anderson, a degreed, concert organist and assistant to Richard Pelland of the Pelland organ company, playing the organ at Holy Rosary Shrine, at its majestic best. I know the piece but the name has slipped my scolapasta brain at the moment.

It is a late French 19th century recessional, something you would hear in French cathedral at the end of Mass in the days before civilization fell and “Gather Us In” became the aesthetic norm for liturgical music.

The guest appearance of Santa Claus in the back ground elegantly scratching his nose was quite accidental. I was listening intently and left to go downstairs to hear the organ from there. The clip cut of my applause and loud bravos.

Eric has played on many a fine instrument and his comment on this organ was again how shockingly versatile it is and how it can handle the whole vast historical repertoire of organ music with relative ease.

Many organs are ruined over the years by unfortunate restorations. In our case it seems any time significant work was done the quality of the instrument was raised even higher. It is not an understatement to say that this is in its own way miraculous.

John Donovan, Organist & Choir Director at Holy Rosary Shrine