Steve Viger

Our little village in 1913, pre-war. German hand-to-hand combat was seen in the field some 500' from us. This church building, built upon the 3rd century Roman church building was re-done after a 1600's fire in 1860 and then finished in 1891. Seats 175 with an electronic organ (given by us) and would be a small cathedral in the US- here just a country church. I work in the village. I take my job seriously, do it well and proudly. You see, I am the Village Idiot. Ruff work but somebody gotta do it. St Cyran du Jambot is located 3 hours south of Paris, below the Loire River, and did see Charlemagne pass through on his way to a McDonalds for lunch one day while Holy Grailing. Other than that, the only other significant thing here is me.

Who says I don't like to cook? This is whole salmon, stuffed with crab meat and fake fish surrounded with red cabbage cole slaw, tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce. Didn't see the end of the meal though, no left-em-overs, neither... Love the hat. French wine, cheese, bread are staples in our diet. In the countryside, we can get fresh poultry, whole lamb, veal calves, pigs if desired. I have learned more about cooking than could Julia Childs have taught me. Somehow, I weigh less than you remember me in high School. (Liver doesn't work as well tho..) Gardens abound and if you don't have it, well a neighbor usually will share if you share back. Fruit trees? I have 32 of them. Jams and jellies, every year.

1894 Stoltz II-15 which was redone in 2004 back to its original glory. Some 20 miles away and France being a non-religious country following the Revoultion of 1789, small, inactive congregation so no careers being made here. Fun to play, encourages me to work over French Romantic literature and be a better organist, what for I ask myself but you gotta do something and knitting is not for me (yet). I did concert work on this instrument but the audience was never where it should have been. Hence, I do concerts or recitals when asked, gratis, am here Sunday mornings (since 1999), funerals, weddings and the occasional demonstration. I must admit, playing French Romantic period music (1820-1920) on an original insturment, well maintained, cannot be matched. This organ has made me much more of an organist in a world that could do without us...oh well... I tried. About 900 pipes so lots of possibilites to make mistakes.

OK it is finally done. Yes, with blue rolling dolly below and bowling shoes (best for sliding on wooden pedals) this II-19 ancient/modern instrument is made of pipes over 100 years old and still have a few hundred years of life left. Dedication concert to be the end of July, '13 and you gotta bring your own chairs as it will be outside. Craziness, I know but it will outlast me by 50+ years. A new Jag wouldn't...