Better than real – recreating a memory

IMG_0931 and 6163 85, originally uploaded by oamcsinger.

Pictured: The Radio Hall concert as it would have been seen if the organ repair had not begun.

In spite of pleas from OAMC, the Bucharest Radio Hall organ repair went ahead. That meant the organ was not available for the April 25 concerts.

Thus, a huge white curtain was hung to cover the gaping hole left when the organ's pipes were removed.

Through the magic of computer technology, Ralph merged two photos to show what the concert hall would have looked like with the chorus and the organ pipes.

Ralph explains:

In preparing for our Mission in Romania, it was our goal to provide the best music we could. This required commitment, preparation and lots of rehearsals in both countries. From what I’ve heard of the recordings, the results are wonderful. Lou often says it is “more than the music” and, from the stories we are hearing, many lives were impacted.

Another part of the preparation was in arranging for the halls where we sang. Our final concert was in Radio Hall, Bucharest. The demand was so high that we rearranged our schedule to present two concerts instead of one, and they both filled up. The advance team was making final arrangements at the hall two weeks before the event when we found out the organ was going to be repaired. We unsuccessfully requested a delay. On the night of the concert, there was a white curtain covering the gaping hole where the beautiful organ had been two weeks before. The concert was a wonderful success, but the missing organ was a disappointment.

I had pictures from our original visit to Radio Hall and intentionally took pictures during the concert from the same location. With a little editing, we have a memory of both.

As with so many things in life, it is important to be real, yet pull together the best for our memories of people and our surroundings. I believe God does that for us.