Organ matters - Organs matter!

Appeals => Fundraising for an Organ => Topic started by: KB7DQH on June 21, 2011, 01:10:27 PM

Title: Church launches organ appeal
Post by: KB7DQH on June 21, 2011, 01:10:27 PM
http://www.barryanddistrictnews.co.uk/news/latestnews/9088416.Barry_church_launches___70_000_organ_appeal/ (http://www.barryanddistrictnews.co.uk/news/latestnews/9088416.Barry_church_launches___70_000_organ_appeal/)


QuoteBy nature of their age and complexity, pipe organs require refurbishing every 25-30 years and the organ at All Saints' has now reached this stage.

Although regularly cared for, the wind chest which supplies air to the pipes needs to be re-leathered. Air is leaking from it and you can hear this leakage when the organ is played. Many pipes are not working consistently and soundboards also need replacing.

The Parochial Church Council has therefore decided to launch an appeal to raise funds to restore the organ. Alternative options have been explored - eg purchase of an electric organ. However, restoration of this fine instrument represents the best value for money.

So... Will news of this restoration fundraising campaign result in 5 pages of responses ??? ??? ???
Eric
KB7DQH
Title: Re: Church launches organ appeal
Post by: Barry Williams on June 21, 2011, 01:23:01 PM
This makes for refreshing reading!  How nice it is that a church wishes to restore its organ and considers that doing so is the best value for money.

Let us hope that it is nor scuppered by the anorak brigade insisting on a historic restoration, with hand pumping, nags head Swell pedal, etc!

NPOR discloses no Swell to Great coupler.  Is that an omission?

Barry Williams
Title: Re: Church launches organ appeal
Post by: KB7DQH on June 21, 2011, 02:05:40 PM
Barry-- As you have looked the instrument up on NPOR and I haven't... :o Your guess is as good as mine on the coupler issue :-X  As this story just hit my inbox it is what it is... the section I quoted should provide food for thought considering some of the other threads under discussion recently, (and some not so recent ones :(     My "guess" based on what I read in the article is the church looks to get what amounts to their instrument "working like new" upon completion of work...

If you dig around on this forum one may note that a number of US instruments, in addition to renewing of worn or malfunctioning components, may receive additional pipework either new or salvaged from another instrument, additional electronic stops (or entire divisions) and an upgrade to playing aids, generally a modern combination capture system and in the case of some electric action organs, conversion of the console to MIDI, etc...

What's even more fun is when a church organization or school seeks out an historic instrument redundant elsewhere and "rescues" it for their new building 8) 8) 8)

Eric
KB7DQH
Title: Re: Church launches organ appeal
Post by: Barry Williams on June 21, 2011, 02:27:39 PM
"What's even more fun is when a church organization or school seeks out an historic instrument redundant elsewhere and "rescues" it for their new building."

Yes.  In my capacity as Diocesan Organs Adviser this happens frequently.  The joy that parishes have when they hear the organ for the first time is really rather moving.  Quite often I am asked to give the opening recital or play for the (re)dedication service.  These occasions are splendid and I greatly enjoy them.  To see and hear the results of much local fund raising, and know that the organ will serve the parish for a very long time, is a special privilege.

My fellow adviser and I take trouble to ensure that the organs are adapted as necessary to make them easy to play.  We have no hesitation, whenever possible, at adding 'Pedal Bass Couplers', (i.e. Autobasses) so that pianists can make a reasonable sound when deputising.  After all, those things have been around since about 1854!

Even more fun was hearing our own pipe organ, itself a 'rescue' organ, in the house.  (BF, BM & L decided that the 'synthetic' instrument should go and that we had to get a real one.)  There is no doubt that the pleasure from even a few pipes is huge.

Barry Williams

Title: Re: Church launches organ appeal
Post by: revtonynewnham on June 21, 2011, 03:53:45 PM
Hi

Looking at the NPOR survey, I would guess that the omission of the Sw-Gt is an oversight on the part of the surveyor, or the person who dealt with the entry.

Old organs with only a TC Swell don't usually have a Sw-Pd coupler for obvious reasons (there are a number on NPOR), but the Barry stop list looks more like 1920's than 1820's!

Maybe if anyone from the church sees this they could check the NPOR survey - since the news item talks about work every 25-30 years, there may have been some further changes since the survey was put on line.

Every Blessing

Tony
Title: Re: Church launches organ appeal
Post by: Jonathan Lane on June 21, 2011, 10:24:19 PM
Excellent news, and as Barry says good to hear they consider restoration 'value for money'.

Jonathan
Title: Re: Church launches organ appeal
Post by: KB7DQH on August 16, 2011, 10:51:54 PM
http://www.fatherwillisorgan.org.uk/ (http://www.fatherwillisorgan.org.uk/)

QuoteWelcome to FatherWillisOrgan.org.uk, the website for the Father Willis organ installed in the chancel at St Michael's Church, Rectory Road, Retford, DN22 7AY

Here you can find notes about the history of the organ, details of the regular free lunchtime recitals given on the instrument, and information about the progress of the restoration programme which is in progress.

For any queries or further information please contact the webmaster at:

webmaster@FatherWillisOrgan.org.uk

More about the appeal can also be found on the "Not Just for Hymns" Facebook page...

Eric
KB7DQH
Title: Re: Church launches organ appeal
Post by: KB7DQH on August 22, 2011, 02:56:41 AM
Another one...

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Published: 8/19 10:03 am
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Updated: 8/19 10:06 am
A historic church is raising money for badly needed repairs to its organ. Old St. Mary's is the oldest church still standing in Cincinnati. It has an altar that was given to the church as a gift from the pope in 1844. Local 12's Angela Ingram explains how parishoners are hoping that gifts come in to help fix the organ.

The pipe organ at Old Saint Mary's has played for thousands of services. It was a gift from a German shoemaker back in 1928 -- and like nearly every other piece of this historic church, it's a treasure to the people who worship here.

The Catholic church at 13th and Clay Streets is the oldest church still standing in the city. The corner stone was laid in March of 1841-- by immigrants. "The ladies supposedly the story went, baked bricks in the ovens at home. The German bakeries would bake them on days off."

Michael Crusham has been giving tours of the church for years -- he's an expert on the history. "This was the Annunciation of Mary, she was going to be the mother of God."

nd, he can tell you why he thinks St. Mary's is a modern day hidden treasure. Today, mass is held in English, Latin, and even German -- much like the immigrants in the 1800's would've worshipped. As parishoners traveled back to Europe, they returned with carved artwork. "Everything you see back here is wood, there's not a bit of marble there's not a bit of stone."

These days the organ is in need of repairs --- to the tune of $380,000. Maintenance and upkeep is crucial with a building this old. But, it's worth it to the parishoners. "To me it's a temple to the mother of God. It's a sanctified temple that, everything in here is regarding her. And if you know all of the things that are here, you know it's all about Mary."

A brass band from Bavaria will play at mass on September 18th. They will visit from Germany for Oktoberfest Zinzinnati-- and has offered to help the church raise money to repair the organ.

And the comments posted under the article :o :(

QuoteOld St Marys is indeed a treasure, and preservation is most important. However, in today's world, and especially in Over-theRhine where there is great need, $380,000 is a lot to spend on a 1928 organ. It's not original to the church. How much would a new organ cost?

QuoteThe church is historic and beautiful, but the organ not so. It is not even the church's original organ and has served its purpose. I've heard and played some great digital organs lately---made here in the USA---and they are stunning at a fraction of the cost mentioned here. Folks at Old St. Marys need to do their due diligence and save their church a bunch of money on this project....sounds like they've only looked at one option so far. What a shame to waste the church's limited resources.

http://www.local12.com/news/local/story/Historic-Church-Raising-Money-For-Organ-Repairs/5i6SEjS5M0qXyDi1TwD5HA.cspx (http://www.local12.com/news/local/story/Historic-Church-Raising-Money-For-Organ-Repairs/5i6SEjS5M0qXyDi1TwD5HA.cspx)

Eric
KB7DQH