Can a 284 pipe instrument be inspirational???

[KB7DQH]

Well, can it?

Sounds of the organ at St Barnabas Anglican Church, Westmead

THERE will be organ music on a high at St Barnabas Anglican Church, Westmead, on Saturday, September 24.

The pipe organ playing is believed to be the only one of its type in western Sydney and its published history will be released at the recital.

Organist Alan Currie and assistant organist John Hanna wrote the history of the organ, which was installed in the church in 1964.

"This is one of 18 positif organs built by JW Walker & Sons Ltd of England and exported to Australia in the 1960s," Mr Currie said. "It is now the only one of this particular type of pipe organ in western Sydney."

The 53-page history booklet will be released at the organ recital, starting at 7.30pm, by David Osborne, the organist and director of music at St John's Anglican Cathedral Parramatta.

St Barnabas Anglican congregation has a proud history, starting in 1912 with home Sunday school classes.

In 1936, a property at 75 Hawkesbury Rd was bought and the hall where the church had previously met was moved to that site.

The foundation stone for the current church building was laid on December 26, 1954, and on May 6, 1956, the building was dedicated by Archbishop Mowll .

In 1958, a committee was formed to find a suitable pipe organ and in 1961, negotiations started with JW Walker & Sons Ltd.

The premier organ company suggested that a Walker positif model C would be appropriate to the needs of the church.

Mr Currie said that, despite financial difficulties, the committee persisted, although at one stage the church hierarchy were leaning towards another organ.

After much to-ing and fro-ing, the organ, which cost 2861 pounds, was installed in November 1964. It was given a good going-over to restore it to its original glory in 2000 by Walker's experts when they were in Australia.

Mr Currie said many wondered how effective an organ of 284 pipes could be.

"In fact, the instrument is surprisingly effective and musical, and it sounds much larger than it is. It can provide considerable variety of sound, notwithstanding the limited number of ranks," Mr Currie said.

http://parramatta-advertiser.whereilive.com.au/lifestyle/story/sounds-of-the-organ/

Eric
KB7DQH

[revtonynewnham]

Hi

These, for those that don't know - are small extension organs - all 2 manuals.  Walker built a few different sizes.  There's one in a local Catholic Church - not bad for what it is - except that the General Crescendo pedal is to the left of the swell pedal - and it's all in one swell swell box (as is typical of many of this type of organ).  The local one would be fine in a smaller church, but is somewhat lost in the 500 seat building that houses it, but as the report says, surprisingly versatile for the size of instrument.  I'd prefer one to an electronic any day!

Every Blessing

Tony

[Barrie Davis]

Hi

I have played several, they have a mixture stop which is only of 2 octaves from memory, which keeps repeating itself but totally independent of any other rank, it works well!!
I have played the larger model with the Trumpet rank in, it was a shame the bottom octave of the 16ft extesion wasnt put it.
Very versatile little organs and I love the Walker stopkeys (apart from the double touch cancelling).

Barrie