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Pipe Dreams

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photoHistory suggests the roman emperor Nero played a mean organ. In the medieval era, the great pipe organs of Europe drew crowds to God. Mozart called the organ the king of instruments. A century ago, American towns and cities prided themselves on local organs.

New York Times reporter Craig Whitney was a boy organist. As a longtime foreign correspondent for the Times, he followed his obsession with pipe organs around the world, from Europe to a bamboo organ in the Philippines to cathedrals in Vietnam.

Guests:

Craig Whitney, assistant managing editor of the New York Times, amateur organist and organ builder, and author of "All the Stops: The Glorious Pipe Organ and Its American Masters."

This program aired on January 23, 2004.

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