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Hi Darren,

I think that you would need to explain that it is not just the swirling
'sound', but also the 'feeling' that is transmitted.... it is an overall
captivation of your senses, which in turn sucks you into the music. If you
listen to this tune played on any other instrument it just does not 'grab'
you in the same way... it just HAS to be a played on a tonewheel Hammond.

If it is played on anything else it doesn't breath life into the music, the
Hammond/Leslie combination is alive, by that, I mean it animates the music.
The sound 'moves' around, it is like a living thing, the tune is brought to
life. That is the feeling that I get when playing the Hammond... sometimes
I feel like the organ is playing me, does that sound ridiculous?

I have been playing Hammonds now for 27 years (and my hands are killing
me... LOL!) and still it sends shivers up my spine, I don't know of any
other instrument that has that much effect on people. Even people who don't
know what a Hammond organ is, will ask "what is that sound?" When asked
"what sound?"... they can't describe it.

The words... 'sombre'... 'crescendo'... 'emotional'... 'dark'... 'bright'...
'assault on your senses' may help in some way.

In a way it is unfair of them to ask this of you, as you are being requested
to comment on the emotions of other people. The 'Hammond' cannot be
described... you have to hear and feel it. I once taught a deaf lady to
play the organ. She was profoundly deaf in one ear and 90% in the other.
She had a Yamaha and could 'feel' the music through the wooden floor in her
lounge. One day, I had to bring her to my house as her organ had packed up.
She was so enamoured with my Hammond/Leslie that she went out and bought her
own the same day. The reason being, the 'feeling' she got from the rotating
speaker actually brought tears (not kidding at all) to her eyes... I had
never seen this emotion from her before. She had the Leslie speaker
touching the bench and with having wooden floors, she said it was like the
organ was 'singing' to her. Her name was Beryl, and has now sadly passed
away.

Sorry for the long mail, hope it helps in some way.

PS... My Dad has picked up a lot over the last few days, his speech is
returning now, so I feel I can now return to a semi-normal life and re-join
the group. Thanks a lot for all the support expressed by all, it is good to
know that there are so many people who care.

Daz