Re: Diane Bish... the real story

[mikecala]

I know that Diane was organist at Coral Ridge Presbyterian in Fort Lauderdale for many years and was the driving factor behind the installation of the huge Rufatti there. I know that Coral Ridge is to the VERY far right concerning gay issues. Diane is far better off in her concertizing anyway. Her improvisations on hymn tunes are beyond compare especially her improvisation on "Holy God We Praise Thy Name" which I have learned and play at my own church from time to time.
Mike

[GospelOrganist]

I'm new to the forum. I've been a big Diane Bish fan for a number of years. I hadn't heard this rumor and until a year or so ago. In her biography, the issue is glassed over.

[radagast]

&gt;&gt; I'm new to the forum. I've been a big Diane Bish fan for a number of years. I hadn't heard this rumor and until a year or so ago. In her biography, the issue is glassed over. </P>


</P>


I'm sure you meant "glossed over" and what do you mean by "this rumor"? The previous post never mentioned a rumor. As far as Coral Ridge goes, they are a conservative evangelical church, and from what I've heard from Diane Bish on her program, she is evangelical as well.</P>

[soundboarddude]

...hmm, as far as I can tell the issue isn't even mentioned at all.

[radagast]

...hmm, as far as I can tell the issue isn't even mentioned at all.</P>


</P>


If you are talking about rumors of her sexual orientation, I believe she is married to a man.</P>

[NYCFarmboy]

don't ask don't tell. doesn't seem to me to be a factor in her enormous contribution to the organ world.

:)

I missed her show again today though, but try to watch every week!

[mikecala]

Please note that my post was in response to a thread that was started by someone else. In my opinion, Diane Bish is one of the finest concert organists around and that should be all that matters.</P>


Mike</P>

[soundboarddude]

Mikecala, I started this thread hoping to understand better why she isn't at Coral Ridge any more. I wanted to see if her supposed sexual preference had anything to do with it, as I've been told.</P>


Radagast, thank you for the clarification. I suppose that's what I should have asked in the first place, eh?</P>

[radagast]

Mikecala, I started this thread hoping to understand better why she isn't at Coral Ridge any more. I wanted to see if her supposed sexual preference had anything to do with it, as I've been told.</P>


Radagast, thank you for the clarification. I suppose that's what I should have asked in the first place, eh?</P>


</P>


I am basing that on remembering seeing her husband once on Joy Of Music. If my memory is correct, then she must be keeping her "Miss Diane Bish" as a stage name.</P>


</P>

[Choirmaster]

Can we give the speculation of Daine Bish's sexuality a rest please? This is supposed to be an organ forum, what she chooses to do with her body is really none of our business. Thank-you.

[soundboarddude]

Choirmaster, I believe I have already explained the purpose of this thread. Quite honestly, I could care less about her, err, preferences. But have you seen the size of that Ruffatti? I was simply trying to understand why she would just stop working at that church, and I was wondering if the rumors I had heard were true or not.</P>


Unless someone else has an explaination of why she left, I don't believe this thread needs to continue.</P>

[mikecala]

Soundboarddude;</P>


I have an organist friend who lives in Florida. I spoke with him a few evenings ago and mentioned this thread. He told me that the word in Florida is that Diane left to devote more time to her Joy of Music show and her concertizing. In looking at the various Chapter program highlights in my AGO monthly magazine, I do see that she has been performing quite extensively for AGO chapters all over the US, plus she is doing a great deal of promo work for Allen. It's sounds to me like my friend is providing some factual information. </P>


Mike</P>

[NYCFarmboy]

ok, I just read the biography on her last night (quick read).

it mentions that the church in Florida was having finanical issues as well...so much so that the choir director left as well because of the severe cutbacks in paid choir members..... but that the main point as noted above was so that she could pursue the Joy of Music fulltime.

According to the book she left back in like 1991....but still goes back for services on occasion and to also host her show there when appropriate.

[Gamba]

Just to re-affirm what most have said here I can say that when I visited the church in 01 and played the great organ there, the music director at the time said Diane Bish was very occupied with the Joy of Music with travel schedules and such and did not get back to Coral Ridge as often as she might like. Saw her in concert in Hamilton Ontario and she definately was first class all the way.

[OLDESTWISEOWL]

My impression of Ms. Bish is mixed emotions. i don't like the mixing of her personal spin on faith with organ concertizing on her program. Its not wrong it's just not something I like.

Her playing is of the highest order. Her personal life is questionable. My source that did work for her and someone else associated closely with her related what i would characterize as highly uncomplimentary information. Whether factual or false cannot be known.

Her organ playing is at the top of the female organists world-wide and at the top of all organists generally.

[soundboarddude]

<FONT color=#808080>removed.</FONT></P>

[NYCFarmboy]

I try to watch her show every Sunday when its on Dish Network (2:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoons)....amazing show, and has done worlds of good for bringing awareness of the pipe organ to many people.

[TimothyFC]

I was a member of CRPC a long time ago for a year. (1979) I was in the choir by way of a friend. I believe Diane Bish to be one of the greatest female organist of the 20th century. I went nuts over the Rufatti and her. When I knew her she was semi-pretty and just plain brillant. I just wish I was able to find and buy and obtain every piece of music she has ever produced on vinyl, CD or tape. Not to mention any videos. Whether she is gay or not, married or not, does not bother me too much. Just as long as she is out there producing that fantastic organ music, religious or not, for all of us to enjoy.

[handyczech]

I add this quote from Wikipedia biography of Susann McDonald, who I imagine is as noteworthy to the harp world as Diane is to the organ world.

"McDonald currently resides in Bloomington, Indiana with her friend and noted organist Diane Bish."

My memory fails me, but a little searching should reveal a story about a fire at their residence, and reference to them as "partners". My best wishes, however humble, goes out to both of them.

I include this information as just that. I personally have great respect for both of them as performers, and offer no thoughts or speculation on their private lives.

[Dr.Spectratone]

Diane Bish is the Best!
I love that woman!

She shares a home with another woman...So? How BIG a home? Might be gigantic. Could be a split townhouse. Could be a rambling Victorian, could be an old hotel with dozens of rooms. Perhaps it was a great deal on property with room for lots of cool organs and harps. My god, can you just imagine what kind of neat Organs Diane has in her private collection... and this Susanne McDonald probably has just as fine a collection of harps. Believe you me...those things are NOT cheap. The both of them would require a great deal of space and quiet for practicing. Ya know professionals have to practice 4 hours or more per day all the time. You don't get THAT good by wishful thinking. Additionally you or I have NO idea what dedication and devotion it requires to be that good. They do.

Two professional musicians combining resources makes perfect sense and there is no reason to assume that Diane Bish wears flannel and watches the Ellen show regularly. I go above and beyond the "don't ask" policy. Consider me a member of the "don't care" and "Don't wanna care" crowd. That woman can play !! and that is all I care about.

The purpose of the thread...Why leave the Ruffati ??? Well, IMHO she is pretty darn busy and she does come and visit on a semi regular basis. But we are all slowing down a bit and she might want to hang around Indiana. She was brought up in Kansas IIRC so perhaps at heart she is a flatlander. Nothing wrong with that.

P.S. I am also concerned about the fire and hope everybody is OK, with no great loss of Harps or Organs. It is SOOO hard to get smoke out of stuff, especially all those little spaces in between the keys. IF DB needs ANYTHING I am there for her. I am sure all you folks feel similarly on this one.

[Snowbandit]

In and of itself, two women/men/people, living together means nothing more than they share the same address. Unless and until one of them steps forward with different information the Christian position would be to view the situation in the light most favorable to those involved. Doing less is evil and slanderous. I suggest this thread be closed for lack of evidence.

[Dr.Spectratone]

Hey yea Snowbandit, you are right! I mean I was stationed at military bases where thousands of men lived together. To conclude that they were all gay is just absurd. Well, Ok I am sure some of them were gay, but you get the picture.

Fraternity and sorority members cannot be assumed to be gay either. I college I shared a dorm with dozens of guys, I think two were gay, at least openly, prob a few more closeted, but the majority were likely straight. Therefore the conclusion does not logically follow the premise.

However, I disagree about closing the thread as we are all adults here and perfectly capable of rational discourse. Further as Organ enthusiasts we all hold a musician of DB's abilities and her professionalism in the highest esteem, or at least we should. There are always the Jealous "haters" amongst us that seek to drag the great achievers down into the muck due to their own inadequacies. It is part of life and we as better people must take the higher path.

The REAL story is that Diane Bish ROCKS! yee haa! she is the pimp mama, Queen of the organists. All hail !!

Those outfits! that playing! Hip, Hip....Hoorah!!

[Hamman]

This is nothing but rehash! If you are gay....quit looking under every rock to flush out a homophob....if you are not gay then quit the speculations and focus on the talents of the artists!

[hartleymartin]

The Crystal Cathedral declared bankruptcy about a year ago. The building and campus are being sold to the Catholic Church (the evangelical protestants surely resent this) with an agreement that they can rent the building for 3 years whilst they transition to a smaller building. There was a university who was a higher bidder, but they wanted to keep the building as a church and not hand it over for use as a medical school.

I find these speculations about Diane Bish's sexuality rather low-brow and irrelevant. Remember the saying: Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events and feeble minds discuss people (ie gossip).

[Hamman]

Oh well goes to show you that not all evangelicals knows what the "real" church is. The underground churches in the rest of the world are probably shaking their heads in disbelief over this nonsense.
But your point is right!


The Crystal Cathedral declared bankruptcy about a year ago. The building and campus are being sold to the Catholic Church (the evangelical protestants surely resent this)

[hartleymartin]

Further to my comment, I'm sure that although evengelical protestants probably don't like selling their church to the Catholics, they would probably much rather that it continue to be used as a church and not become some function centre. A major problem for them is that they renamed their ecclessial community "Crystal Cathedral Ministries", tying themselves to the building. In hindsight something of an imprudent decision.