RAGBRAI volunteer David Raymond will present a concert on the magnificent Casavant pipe organ at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul the evening RAGBRAI rolls into Des Moines, Tuesday, July 23. The concert will be at 7:30 p.m. The Cathedral is located at 9th and High in Des Moines (and, yes, there is A/C!). The organ concert will be preceded by a short carillon concert (best heard outdoors) at 7:00 p.m. performed by Carl Gravander, Cathedral Carilloneur.
David handles the radio communications for RAGBRAI, a volunteer position he has held since 1988. At that time he was working for Motorola and had previously provided radio communications for the Des Moines Cycle Club. Wagonmaster Don Benson had heard about the success with that effort and contacted David to see if something similar could be done for the RAGBRAI administrative personnel. David worked with Motorola which subsequently donated a sizeable quantity of equipment for RAGBRAI’s use. He has since retired from 33 years at Motorola but continues to oversee RAGBRAI’s radio communications which connects our ambulances, sag wagons, and other administrative personnel with each other and with Iowa law enforcement agencies.
In addition to his RAGBRAI duties, David is organist at The Cathedral Church of St. Paul (Episcopal) in Des Moines. He has held that position since 1988 and oversaw the design and installation of the Cathedral’s Casavant pipe organ. The pipe organ, which is said to be one of Iowa’s best, has 3916 pipes and commands quite a presence with its quiet and charming sounds as well as its majesty and power. David will be presenting a concert in two parts. The first half of the program will present pieces from the standard organ repertoire including works of Bach, Vierne, Roberts. During the second half David’s duo partner, Carl Gravander, will join him at the console for a variety of organ duo works with two people at the console. This portion of the program includes a beautiful patriotic medley, a lovely setting of well known Irish tunes, a ragtime piece, as well as a hair-raising transcription of Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries.
David is a long time RAGBRAI rider, having started in 1985 and has completed 26 rides on his bike.
Thank you David! All the best from your RAGBRAI Family!
via RAGBRAI http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RAGBRAI/~3/FdIaurGOycg/
