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Messages - flared_ophicleide

#1
Is, or was, there a booklet/book out there on a detailed history of the Royal Albert Hall organ?
#2
To travellingorganist:

Am interested in said photos.  My email is tubamirab@yahoo.com

Thank you.
#3
Soon as I spotted part of the thread name before opening, I had a bad feeling about this. 
St. Michaels did seem a bit small for an organ this size though.  Hope it will be useful to smb soon.
#4
This forum seems to most nearly be appropriate for the following:

Nathaniel J. Holmes, of Primrose Hill, London, had the Brycesons build a 4-manual, 65-stop for his home in the 1870s.  Enlarged in 1936, it was re-located to St. Peter's RC, Buckie, Scotland.
NPOR says that St. Peter's shut and was converted into flats, but says nothing about the organ.

Does anybody have any idea what happened to it?
#5
Hopefully, the organ at least will remain in situ, unless there is an appeal to continue to use it for concerts.  The powers that be can tend to get on your wick at times.  Fortunately, this tosser of a priest, who wanted to sell this organ we've been working so hard on, recently got his cards.

Recently, I picked up a CD of it. Organ Works of Basil Harwood, Priory Records.  Though a CD cannot do any organ as much justice as if one were actually there listening to it, I found this organ to be very fine and the church's acoustics to match, not to mention, a well-appointed case as well.
#6
New Pipe Organs / Re: Canterbury Cathedral
May 01, 2014, 11:49:17 PM
Pcnd. With regards to extension and borrowing, the size of the room and its associated acoustic would actually be feasible. To be safe, one could adopt the principles that John Compton used in his work.

With this in mind, I remember reading about how Marcel Dupre remarked that he couldn't tell that Downside Abbey's organ's 90-some stops were derived from just 38 ranks.

Yet it is clear that your 3-division tonal design is largely straight.  This could work and just the Great of which would definitely be adequate for bringing the tone of the main organ out into the Nave.
#7
New Pipe Organs / Re: Canterbury Cathedral
April 29, 2014, 02:36:44 AM
Quote from: flared_ophicleide on April 25, 2014, 10:46:09 PM
If I had to guess, I'd say that the Nave organ would be installed before the Quire organ is reconstructed. But again, I could be wrong. What if they want to base the Nave organ on the reconstructed Quire organ?

Here, I'm quoting my own.
As my excitement - stemming from hearing somebody mentioning a supposed 5-manual organ being installed - was about to peter out, I wrote the above quoted, which I now look upon as babbling.  If anybody here sees meet, disregard the stoplist I posted earlier in this thread.  After thinking about it and reading a few comments about it, I think it's a result of vanity.  Here's one reason why:

I found a photo taken from the ambulatory near Coligny's Tomb looking toward the Nave.  The Norman vaulting is wider than the first Gothic arch in view, which in turn is as wide as the Nave.  This means that on either side of the Gothic arch, there is a solid wall.  I would call these acoustic baffles, which would tend to contain most of the sound to the Norman half; therefore, reconstructing the present organ into another Durham Cathedral organ would be a wasted effort.  Like David D. said, present organ is big enough for the Quire.

Another thing I agree with David on (assuming I properly understood), is a Solo, with a pair of strings, a couple of flutes, C. di B., Orch. Oboe, should be added.

I, like several others, believe a 32' open should be installed, and my own idea: just one stop. An Open Diapason on the Choir.

This would be a total of eight ranks. Seven, if the 32' is merely an extension.

Regarding the Nave....  This could be problematic due to the limited possibilities of placing even a modest 4-manual therein.  I have to say, Dr. Chris Batchelor, Mark Venning, and any others who have final say in a design, have an interesting dilemma to sort out here.

And whatever remains of the 4 million quid, thereafter, can be put toward building maintenance and any outstanding broken items.
#8
New Pipe Organs / Re: Canterbury Cathedral
April 25, 2014, 10:46:09 PM
If I had to guess, I'd say that the Nave organ would be installed before the Quire organ is reconstructed. But again, I could be wrong. What if they want to base the Nave organ on the reconstructed Quire organ?
#9
New Pipe Organs / Re: Canterbury Cathedral
April 24, 2014, 12:27:33 AM
Quote from: Gwas_Bach on April 23, 2014, 07:51:39 PM
Quote from: pcnd5584 on April 23, 2014, 05:44:17 PM
I am puzzled by the comment from flared_ophicleide regarding identifying the work of H&H - Canterbury is one of a number of cathedral organs which this firm has never touched.

I assume he's referring to the choice of stops in his own hypothetical design, e. g. the  "Harmonics" on the Swell.

You are correct, Gwas.  As mentioned at the beginning of this thread, and in a similar thread on the Mander discussions, the Harrisons are to carry out this project, which is why I introduced their influence to this stoplist, which I believe I should pare down for posterity.  Such an instrument may well be quite audible from the Nave, but the poor individuals in the eastern half of the Cathedral might be seen running for their lives out the nearest doors.

Again,  an interesting and healthy exercise for the mind regarding acoustical analysis...
#10
New Pipe Organs / Re: Canterbury Cathedral
April 22, 2014, 11:52:47 PM
I'll admit to being like the lad turned loose in a sweetshop. I knew that at least one of the triforia has organ in it, but wasn't sure if the other is occupied as well.
It goes back to what you said earlier about the Cathedral really being two buildings. I might add that in a situation like this, it seems that just designing a massive instrument and plopping it in place isn't that cut-and-dry here.

You would know much better than I would, David.
#11
Having a problem here.
I clicked on the website above and the only stoplist I found was a list of medical conditions.
Have some help here?
#12
New Pipe Organs / Re: Canterbury Cathedral
April 21, 2014, 12:00:17 AM
Pcnd, we seem to be on the same bus, and I like the second, smaller stoplist.  Without the Posaune, the Great looks identical to the present Nave Organ, and I see a bit of Lewis influence with the two big reeds in the Solo.

Though the Nave is a very large space, there seems to be very limited space for a large organ.  With no triforia, it would be difficult to avoid interrupting the continuous views down the aisles and I sense that the elders would want to maintain these views.  I guess this leaves the Narthex area. Build the organ in two parts, one half on one side, &c. 

As for the Quire, I've tried to find photos showing if there are openings at the west ends of the triforia. Or are there just blind walls between those and the Central Tower area? In other words, is there egress of sound from the triforia directly into the Nave aisles?

At the risk of appearing eccentric, I'll just go ahead & share my idea for an enlarged Quire organ.

Great Organ: Double Diapason 16, Gross Geigen 16,
1st Diapason 8, 2nd Diapason 8, 3rd Diapason 8, Claribel Flute 8, Stopped Diapason 8, Gamba 8,
1st Principal 4, 2nd Principal 4, Flute Harmonique 4, Twelfth, Fifteenth, Quartane 12.15,
Mixture 15.17.19.22,
Trombone 16, Tromba 8, Clarion 4

Swell Organ:  Double Diapason 16,
1st Diapason 8, 2nd Diapason 8, Flauto Traverso 8, Lieblich Gedact 8, Salicional 8, Vox Angelica 8,
Principal 4, Flute Triangulaire 4, Flageolet 2, Mixture 17.19.22, Sharp Mixture 15.19.22.26.29,
Double Trumpet 16, Trumpet 8, Hautboy 8, Vox Humana 8, Clarion 4

Choir Organ:  Bourdon 16,
Open Diapason 8, Hohl Flute 8, Stopped Diapason 8, Viola da Gamba 8, Dulciana 8,
Gemshorn 4, Stopped Flute 4, Nazard, Piccolo, Tierce, Mixture 22.26.29.33,
Corno di Bassetto 8

Solo Organ:  Contre Viole 16,
Viol d'Orchestre 8, Viole Celeste 8, Flute Harmonique 8,
Viole Octaviante 4, Concert Flute 4, Cornet des Violes 10.12.15,
Cor Anglais 16, Orchestral Oboe 8, Orchestral Clarinet 8, Fanfare Trumpet 8

Tuba Organ:  Diapason 8, Principal 4, Harmonics 12.15.17.21.22,
Contra Tuba 16, Tuba 8, Tuba Mirabilis 8, Tuba Clarion 4

Pedal Organ:  Double Diapason 32, Contra Violone 32
1st Diapason 16, 2nd Diapason 16, Bourdon 16, Violone 16, Echo Bourdon 16 (Choir), Geigen 16 (Gt.),
Octave Bass 8, Flute 8, Violoncello 8, Echo Flute 8 (Choir), Twelfth, Fifteenth, Octave Flute 4,
Mixture 15.17.19.22,
Double Ophicleide 32, Contra Posaune 32, Ophicleide 16, Posaune 16, Trumpet 16 (Swell),
Clarion 8, Trumpet 8 (Swell), (4' reed in the Pedal?)

All Green pipework retained and any redundant Green, or new pipes modeled after Green, added.
(Great 2nd Principal and Quartane, Choir Stopped Diapason and Stopped Flute, all Green or re-produced, to complement existing Green stops.

Since St. Bartholomew's the Great, Smithfield, is not including the 32' open metal in the forthcoming Schonstein and perhaps could be up for sale, I thought this could be used here as a Contra Violone, assuming its tone could carry suitably into the space.

The rest of the stops I compiled carefully, referring to the current Organs of Canterbury Cathedral (Toby Huitson), using Fr. Willis' and HW3's as a nucleus.  One or two Mander stops would remain. The other stops, some of which one should be able to identify as H&H.

The Tuba Organ is floating.

#13
New Pipe Organs / Re: Canterbury Cathedral
April 13, 2014, 10:07:17 PM
Although this bit of news is at least 8 years old, I just found out yesterday from one source that says that the Quire Organ is to be enlarged, retaining much of the present pipework (most likely becoming a 4-manual).
And a 4-manual Nave Organ is planned as well (the 1979 Mander Nave Organ being moved to the East end).
I know that the Cathedral is a tall and long space, very possibly lending itself to acoustical difficulties, but two 4-manual instruments seems over-egging the pudding a bit.

It's a bit late now, but just for fun, I came up with a 6-division Quire stoplist of 99 ranks, based on the 1886 Fr. Willis and 1949 HW3 designs whilst retaining Green's ranks and adding a handful more of Green, either second-hand or re-produced.  The remainder of the list is in keeping with a large H&H.

For a new Nave Organ, I can see a smallish 3-manual, for which I haven't started a stoplist yet.
#14
How do, Tony?
Just clicked on the NPOR link in your last, and noticed that HW&S converted the former Keraulophon into the St. Diapason treble. Am sure that this stop indeed does give much colour.
Would its scaling be a bit smaller than that of what a stopped metal from that vintage would be?
#15
Though this may not fit this sub-forum, I figure this is the closest thing. There is an appeal for this organ's restoration though.

The 1891 Walker, re-built by Harrison & Harrison, is a curious one considering that it had been reduced in size by a factor of around 3.5. (was III/46, now II/13). Also, included in its much reduced size is a 32' Open Wood.  This is believed to be the smallest organ with a 32' Open Wood.

According to the NPOR, one entry shows that the 32' OW was installed by Walker, but in another, said stop originated from the III/46 Gray & Davison from 1855. (I think it was the latter)  The one thing that has me wondering is the fact that this big stop seems to have been intentionally carried over into this small organ. Why?

Is there a history of this organ that one could read?  Was visiting St. Sep's a few months ago and didn't even think to even look for any literature of the church itself much less the organ.

Could someone help?
#16
Organ registration / Re: 32ft on a manual
October 20, 2013, 12:46:02 AM
Of the many organs in the UK, I wonder if there's one with a 32' reed on the manual?
#17
Quote from: pcnd5584 on May 03, 2012, 11:34:56 PM
Quote from: flared_ophicleide on May 03, 2012, 01:51:16 AM
My trip to the UK next yr includes a visit to Worcester Cath.  I know little about the organ installed in '08, but I'd like to look at the Handel organ and, from what I gather, it still exists, the Scott case in the transept. ...

When you do get to Worcester, perhaps you could ask them when they intend to build the Transept/Nave Organ - it seems to have gone very quiet on this subject since the inauguration of the new Quire Organ.


'ello pcnd.  Been a little over 5 months since getting back from England, and been over a year since visiting this thread.

Forgot about your suggestion above, which I probably otherwise would've remembered if I hadn't been so poorly when in Worcester. The cold was so bad I was basically walking round the Cathedral like a bloody zombie and was so swimmy-headed that even a few intelligent questions were beyond my ability.  I did briefly meet one of the organ techs, under Mr. Tickell, who was making some minor adjustments though.

At least loads of snaps were taken, including of what I could inside the big Scott case.  It is confirmed that they want to move it to the North Transept to allow sunlight through the South.  (southern exposure, don'tcha know)

uh-oh, just realised I went off-topic...
#18
Restoring pipe organs / Re: Pedal Acoustic Bass 32
March 12, 2013, 10:49:18 PM
I was told that there's a Compton 32' Cube Bass at St. Gregory's Parish, Preston, Lancashire.  When I looked this up, I found a Pendlebury which is no longer there.  Nothing about Compton. 

Any help here?
#19
Organs Preserved / Re: early Fr. Willis organs...
March 04, 2013, 11:49:07 PM
NPOR shows 8' Open Diapason, 8' Dulciana, 4' Principal on single manual, with pedal pull-downs.  Could be a stock model.

I googled this church and clicked "images". I found a couple snaps with the organ's facade in them. An A-pipe fence (from the Diapason), stenciled.  I also saw the tops of Pedal Bourdon pipes behind one end of the facade (unrecorded later addition(?) ).
#20
Organs Preserved / early Fr. Willis organs...
March 04, 2013, 03:32:50 AM
I may not be in the correct sub-forum, but here goes.

My trip to the UK is now less than 4 weeks away, and I'm wondering what of the earliest of Fr. Willis' might still exist in original form?  I know the one, from 1865, at St. George's, Preston, is one, but are there any even earlier than that left?