Two Oxford chapel organs at the opposite end of the tonal spectrum: the 1969 Grant, Degens and Bradbeer at New College and the 1937 Harrison at Somerville, which is currently being restored:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdIf40E1s9o (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdIf40E1s9o)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9rN-4f33ec (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9rN-4f33ec)
Hi!
Thanks so much for posting this. I really enjoyed the recording of the GDB instrument but is the excitement we hear there on account of size and resulting versatility rather than difference of tonality?
Best wishes
David P
Not necessarily. The Somerville organ is somewhat underpowered, even for an instrument of its size. The pedal stops in particular just lack definition and character. It's very well suited to more lyrical pieces, early romantic music and choral accompaniments (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIwxmEKdIQw (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIwxmEKdIQw)), but it certainly doesn't generate as much excitement as its counterpart at New.