Hi,
I was looking for something else and I just found this article about the Organ at St Botolph's Aldgate London, which has been restored quite recently. they mention that the Temperament is a "Harris Special " and not suitable for the complete Bach 48 as they put it.
any comments ?
regards Peter B
http://www.cleso.org.uk/html/30_04_2009.html
Hi
The NPOR source has the temperament as meantone, 1/6 comma - maybe that's the same thing? The organ was restored 5-6 years ago to its 1744 specification - Bach was almost, if not completely, unknown in the UK at that time, so no British organ of that period is ideal for Bach - and the Bach 48 aren't really organ pieces anyway (although one of the Wesleys did transcribe some for the organ somewhat later).
The Aldgate organ, and others like it, are ideal for the sadly neglected Early English repertoire (much of which is unplayable on a "Bach" organ because they require a manual compass descending to GG). It's an historic restoration of a British organ - one of a number in recent years.
Every Blessing
Tony