Organ matters - Organs matter!

This has been for sale for some months now.  It's on my list (along with the chapel) when my Lotto numbers come up.
N

Well, it may not be an ideal specification, but I'd be very happy to play it.  Certainly far superior to a toaster.  Unfortunately their idea of a reasonable offer and the state of my overdraft are likely to be at some variance  :'(
N

Signed.  This is an excellent idea and I hope it succeeds.
N

Perhaps an over optimistic price tag:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130580655165&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1123
N

Many thanks,

N

A friend has asked me to try to find out whether there is a website listing redundant French organs. She is enquiring on behalf of a college in Latvia.  Any help appreciated.

Nigel

Just spotted this one; http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pipe-Organ-/250881222468?pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Keyboard_RL&hash=item3a69afa744

N

A very fine sounding and versatille organ for a parish church.  Interestingly, the 'leathercloth' console is also a feature of the HNB (later  worked on by Michael Farley) organ in Porlock church.  At Porlock, the bench is also upholstered in matching green leathercloth.

I agree that it is a great loss that such instruments are being lost to the country, but it is better that they go to other countries where they are appreciated rather than fall victim to the bulldozer.  An organist  friend from Latvia, who now lives and works in England, played an English organ in Riga.  The Latvian composer Romaulds Jermaks rescued that and several other organs from redundant churches over here and they are much loved in their new Latvian homes.

Let us hope that the organ may again become popular in England - perhaps, as has been said elsewhere we need to be pro-active in encouraging young players.

We can be thankful that no organs fell victim to the recent riots.

Nigel

What a great report!  The language is, to an English ear, very much more' forceful' than we would expect from an English newspaper, but that adds to the excitement of the article (I'm wearing my media hat now  ;) ).  The phrase which really sums it up for me is "There's a power that a full organ can give," she said, "that invokes God himself."
Let's see that engraved in every organ loft!

Nigel

Yer tiz.  Good luck.

http://www.organmatters.com/index.php/topic,483.0.html

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Walker-2-manual-3-stop-practice-organ-/130487154880?pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Keyboard_RL&hash=item1e61a3f8c0

N

There are often parts on Ebay.  Fairly recently someone was trying (unsuccessfully) to sell a Walker practice organ for £8000 on Ebay.  I think I saw a link to it on the forum.  It might be worth teying to contact the seller and make an offer.

Nigel

Many thanks,

Nigel

Thanks to Twanguitar for the heads up about Pilton.  I remember the church well from my childhood - my late uncle rang there all his life and his house was almost in the shadow of the tower.  I was last in the church about 20 years ago.  I have asked family in the area to find out what's happening to the church and the organ.  I would hope that it can be rescued if the building is unsafe.  As an aside, Shapland & Petter who built the case are still trading, but as part of a new company.   My cousin worked for them for some years as a French polisher. At that time, Shapland's were specialising in shop and bar fitting as well as very high class joinery.

Nigel

Slightly on a tangent:  I've just heard rumour that Pilton Parish Church in Barnstaple, Devon is being closed.  The organ was originally by Hope-Jones but has been alterered several times.  I played it very briefly many years, and seem to remember that it was in poor condition, but playable. Does anyone know the fate of the organ? (I'll keep my ears open as some family members still live in the town).

Nigel

This looks like an absolute gem and I dearly wish that I knew a church who could use it.  It's perfect for what it was designed for - service accompaniment in a small parish church.  I hope that it finds a sympathetic new home where it will sound infinitely better and far outlast any toaster.

Nigel

The oldest playable Wurlitzer in  England is installed in a Congregational Church in Beer, Devon.  It is used regularly for services and is being restored by a group of enthusiasts who arrange regular concerts.

Nigel

Vowles were based in the centre of Bristol, and, I think I am right in saying that all of their records were lost when their works was hit by a bomb during the war.  They built a large number of instruments, and this one manual with pedal is typical of their smaller instruments.  When I lived in Weston-super-Mare, many of the local organ were Vowles, with quite a few like this one.  They were surprisingly versatile and were perfectly adequate for service accompaniment as well as coping with a reasonable repertoire.  Sadly, a number of them were replaced with toasters during the 80's - a great loss.  I hope that this one (and the other Vowles which have come up in the last few days) can be saved - they certainly deserve to be.

Nigel

I've played quite a few Vowles organs over the years.  They are still plentiful around Somerset, Bristol and South Wales.  The largest I know from personal experience is the three manual in Holy Nativity, Knowle in Bristol.  There is another three manual in Holy Trinity Barnstaple on the IBO redundant list.  Generally, Vowles built good workmanlike instruments.  Very Victorian in specification, but reliable and perfectly good for their main purpose - service accompaniment.  I would guess that this one could be restored to playing condition without too much work, but, of course professional organ-builders don't come cheap (nor should we expect them to in view of the long training and high craft skills involved).  The starting price is, as has been previously mention, probably optimistic.

Nigel

I've just noticed a couple of decent consoles on Ebay.  One is a Compton and the other a Rushworth & Dreaper Apollo.  There are also various pedalboards and other parts.

N

A fabulous celebration.  I remember hearing a documentary which BBC Radio 4 broadcast about the Wanamaker organ a few years back.  I must put hearing that organ live on my 'things to do before I die' list.

Nigel