Organ matters - Organs matter!

Thank you for this, obviously NPOR and Elvin are wrong, it is after all 30 years since Elvins book was produced, I will endeavour to get more information.

Best wishes

Barrie

Hi

A friend of mine has been given permission to try the organ in this church next week, he saw it on a previous visit and tells me its a 4 manual instrument. I have searched NPOR and can only find details of a survey in the 1970's which is of a 3 manual instrument by Hele & Co, Elvins book Pipes and Actions gives the specification at 1992 after a Michael Farley rebuild. Has some other work been carried out since that date and does anyone have the current specification?
Michael Farley added 3 digital stops in 1992 to the Peadal organ.

Best wishes

Barrie

Hi Ben

Thank you for clarifying the situation for us, we all know what an awkward beast the C of E can be at times!!
Can you please keep us informed as the project progresses in the section New Organs, it would be really good to follow the development of this project.

Best wishes

Barrie

You cannot remove the organ without a Faculty, what is it going to be replaced with?

Best wishes

Barrie

Hi

I had this once pn a later 1980s Makin there was a back up battery that had failed, its quite easy to replace, if you ring David F I am sure he will tell you where the battery is located in the Hammerwood organ.

Best wishes

Barrie

I did that once, had the organ set for the final hymn dropped the hymn book, it hit the solo first and yes the Tuba was drawn, Canon Bryan Green saw the funny side of it though!!
A few months ago I was playing at the local Crematorium, the courtege had arrived and I was preparing to play the deceased into the chapel, when all of a sudden I heard my name being called from the main door, there were the Undertakers straining under the weight of the coffin no one had moved the bier from the previous service to the back. I had to move very quickly from the console get the bier and look dignified taking to the back. The look of relief on their faces was well worth seeing!!

Best wishes

Barrie

Hi

After looking at spec leaflets from H&H most of their 32's started from tenor C so was this the norm? I cannot find the Willis brochure about Liverpool so do not know if this was the case there.

Barrie

Paul

Could you possibly add the stoplist to NPOR please, or email me and I will add it.

Best wishes

Barrie

Hi
Isn't the cathedral organ being rebuilt by Tickell?
I must agree with MM that the city has lost many fine organs, theres a video on You Tube showing the sad condition of the Town Hall organ.

Best wishes

Barrie

Hi
Please keep us imformed, I do hope they see sense, if they are going to scrap it the value isnt a great deal.
I wish I had funds available to help you.

Best wishes

Barrie

Hi

Many thanks for the information Tony, I wish I could remember more about the instrument I saw, but the church closed many years ago.

Best wishes

Barrie

Hi

I can remember in my teens trying a 3manual and pedal reed organ somewhere in Shropshire, memories of this have made me wonder what was the biggest instrument of this kind ever built.

Best wishes

Barrie

A very good question!!!!

Its a bit like playing it from the garden shed!!!!!!!! ;D

Matt can you pm me please and let me know your locality.

Barrie

Hi

A pipeorgan properly installed and looked after will outlive any toaster. A toaster always seems to be the cheapest way aroung things, but in the long term its not their life expectancy is 20 or so years, you also have to bear in mind that the parts are not always available. A methodist church near me had a toaster by a dutch firm one of the generator boards went down and a replacement could not be found even from the manufacturers or their agents in this country.
A pipeorgan, preferably tracker will carry on working well for over 100 years and apart from tuning costs is by far the better option. I would look to a reputable builder to do the work for you and listen to their advice. I know initialy this will not be cheap but in the long term the church will reap the benefits from both a cost and sound aspect.

Barrie

Hi

This news is very sad indeed, I am sure the organ could have easily found another home. Who oversees buildings and fabric in the Catholic church or is it simply a parochial decision?

Barrie

It also looks like an old HNB console was used for it as well, look at the thumb pistons!! Theres no mention I can see of this organ on NPOR, I also wonder what they are replacing it with.

Hi

Does anyone know if the HJ is still in Warwick Castle? NPOR is showing another organ of 13 stops in the nave. Where was the HJ situated as the Chapel does not look very big, I have been there years ago and my memory is vague... old age!!!!

Best wishes

Barrie

Hi

Good news indeed, would it be at all possible to have some photograhs of the project as it develops?

Barrie