Organ matters - Organs matter!

Hi

I am sure David Fetterman knows this organ inside out, I am sure he will give advice as he is a real gentleman.

Barrie

Hi

Songs of Praise came from St Thomas Belfast on Sunday, the singing was accompanied by an orchestra, the organ remaining silent for the whole of the programe. I was curious to see what was there and looked it up on NPOR, ref NO6926. I wish they had used it, a Hill restored by Manders, does anyone know this instrument?

Best wishes

Barrie

Hi

Theres a very interesting article in the latest edition of The Organ about Elgars music for the organ. Well worth reading!!

Best wishes

Barrie

Hi

She certainly brings a smile to my face and I hope you complete the N&B soon as I would love to come and see and hear her play it!!!!

Best wishes

Barrie

Hi

Tony I agree with you totally, I have never played an organ which has no redeeming factors, I quite often play an organ which has suffered water damage, the Great has been disconnected as has the Pedal leaving only the Swell playable used with care its possible to accompany 150 voices with this instrument.

I enjoy small organs, on the outskirts of Worcester theres a small church with a 1 manual H&H and 3 stops;
Lieblich Gedeckt  8
Gemshorn            4
Fifteenth             2
its surprising the effects these few stops can make.

Best wishes

Barrie

She does have the same effect on me David!!!!!! A very versatile player as well.
I would also add Paul Derrett to the list.
Welcome to the board MusingMuso

Best wishes

Barrie

Excellent, good to hear the Town Hall organ in full voice.

Hi

The link would not open for me.

Barrie

Thank you for that information, if only they had listened to Michael Farley, but if the Padre wants rid of it..............
Can anyone from tje Board go and have a look at the organ and report back please??

Barrie

Hi

Whilst eating my breakfast this morning I watched television, there was an item about a choir making a recording in the Chapel at Chivenor , in one shot it showed a pipe organ which I later looked up on NPOR.
It had originally been built by Hill for a private house and moved to the chapel at Chivenor, Michael Farley is noted as having done some work on it, it states on NPOR that the organ was for sale as it is unplayable, seemingly wind is not reaching the bellows!
If it is still for sale this little organ is well worth saving and it looks as if a new blower or trunking would solve the problem over the wind supply.

Best wishes

Barrie

 Every church I've known that's had them has wanted rid of them because they're an expensive Health & Safety nightmare...
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I am sure these factors will have been given the utmost consideration by the people carrying out the restoration work.

Barrie

Hi

There is one big error in the latest edition, it is stated the OBE organ is Drakes Swan song. this is what their website says:
Important Notice
Contrary to a recently published article, William Drake has not retired. The firm are currently undertaking commissions at Christ Church, Spitalfields, Jesus College, Cambridge and Fritham, Hampshire. There are no plans for the firm to cease building and restoring organs.
Best wishes

Barrie

Awwwwww I can tell you its worth reading!!!!!!!
Must be the Bradford Post!!!!!

Hi

Can I commend the latest issue of the magazine to members of the Board, it covers the new Drake organ in the OBE Chapel at St Pauls and also the Mander rebuild of Sacred Heart Wimbledon amongst other interesting articles. The magazine has developed well under its new Editorship, long may this continue.

Barrie

Hi

Girton College is certainly on NPOR, what a complete scheme it is, I would very much like to hear and see it one day.
I agree with you Tony house organs rarely survive when the houses are sold on. I can remember a 3rank Compton in Lapal House Halesowen, it was a typical example of their small extension organs but it made a nice sound, it was scrapped as far as I know when the house became a Nursing Home.

Best wishes

Barrie

Hi

This is such a good idea and hope other churches will follow this example. We need to encourage more people to take an interest in the King of Instruments.

Best wishes

Barrie

Hi Tony,

The church had some major building work undertaken and the organ was cleaned, when the work was completed, by Laurence Snell who removed the quinted reed.

Best wishes

Barrie

Thank you for reminding me about that David, I have read about the Pattman organ in the H&H Story but had forgotten about the quinted reed on it.

Best wishes

Barrie

Hi

I was organist of St Lukes Bristol Road Birmingham in the early 1970s the organ was a peculiar Conacher-Sheffield which had a Quinted Contra Tromba 32, this simply did not work are there any more examples of quinted reeds?

Best wishes

Barrie

Hi

This organ really deserves to have a Grave stone.
It was built in 1877 by Henry Jones as a 3 manual instrument, rebuilt by Nicholsons who extended the Pedal Organ and then in 1891 added a Nave section playable from the main console. I remember the action to this section (tracker) being very heavy.
It had 2 32 ranks, one was quinted but the other went to c1, I hadnt realised that the Swell Reeds were on an early form of extension.
When I played it in the 1980s it was really in a dire state.
The building had been acquired by the BBI who were going to convert it into a Lecture Hall, but the vandals took over and the organ although partially rescued, but stored in the wrong place, a damp cellar, the whole organ was lost.
Henry Jones was an important builder and the Nave Section added by Nicholson was ahead of its time.
Please look at the details on NPOR 7334 Rev Tony Newnham knows far more about this organ than I do, but I feel it needs recording here.

Best wishes

Barrie