Hi everyone!
Within our Parish we have two brilliant instruments one of them being an 1865 "Father" Willis. The instrument is listed on the National Pipe Organ register as last being surveyed in 2006 and 'playable'. Since then the organ has deteriorated and although still slightly playable is in a state of disrepair. I have recently been made Organ Scholar and we have decided to make it a project to have this instrument restored. From the information I have read online and in a report by Ian Bell, it appears that this organ is one of only a few remaining of its kind, bearing in mind its age. I therefore feel it is important that this organ is restored so that it can be enjoyed by many generations to come and does not simply become 'unusable'. With all this in mind and obviously being in the very early stages of getting our appeal up and running, I have a few questions which I would like to be answered.
Firstly, is this organ likely to qualify for the Historic Organ Scheme and if so is it advisable to have it put on this register? Secondly, can anyone advise of companies who are seen as leaders in the present day as organ builders suitable to restore such an instrument?
If anyone can answer my questions or have any advice, please either send me an email or post a reply. Your input would be very much appreciated.
Thanks!
The link to the details of the instrument on the National Pipe Organ Register is:
http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=N10719
Within our Parish we have two brilliant instruments one of them being an 1865 "Father" Willis. The instrument is listed on the National Pipe Organ register as last being surveyed in 2006 and 'playable'. Since then the organ has deteriorated and although still slightly playable is in a state of disrepair. I have recently been made Organ Scholar and we have decided to make it a project to have this instrument restored. From the information I have read online and in a report by Ian Bell, it appears that this organ is one of only a few remaining of its kind, bearing in mind its age. I therefore feel it is important that this organ is restored so that it can be enjoyed by many generations to come and does not simply become 'unusable'. With all this in mind and obviously being in the very early stages of getting our appeal up and running, I have a few questions which I would like to be answered.
Firstly, is this organ likely to qualify for the Historic Organ Scheme and if so is it advisable to have it put on this register? Secondly, can anyone advise of companies who are seen as leaders in the present day as organ builders suitable to restore such an instrument?
If anyone can answer my questions or have any advice, please either send me an email or post a reply. Your input would be very much appreciated.
Thanks!
The link to the details of the instrument on the National Pipe Organ Register is:
http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=N10719