Hi
I noticed this organ on a recent television prog and looked it up on NPOR, it seems that heating engineers cut the wind trunking to the organ a few years ago. Is there any hope of it being made playable again??
Best wishes
Barrie
Hi
From what I hear locally, some of the pipework has "disappeared". Sadly, there doesn't seem to be any hope of it being resurrected in the foreseeable future - there's just no interest in the local council, the city has a large Asian population, and the hall is very busy presenting other events. I did try and persuade the Bradford Organists' Assoc to take this on as a project for our centenary year with no success. Very sad.
At least the weekly lunchtime recitals at Bradford Cathedral seem to be thriving.
Every Blessing
Tony
Yes, a shame. I remember school speech days there with Keith Rhodes playing. I seem to remember it had a lovely tone.
I suspect that Willis made the best of a very underpowered organ, originally by Holt, but it was never a particularly striking instrument down in the hall. I last heard it played at a recital probably when I was 15, back in 1964, when the recitalist was none other than Fernado Germani. I'm afraid the organ left little impression, which considering the performer, was a pity.
When Germani played at Leeds PC, (perhaps around the same time), I was so stunned by what I heard, I have even remembered parts of his recital to this day. It was absolutely breathtaking.
So although the St Geroge's Hall organ was pleasantly musical near the stage area, it was never going to be a concert organ, and all that Willis really achieved was to make the reeds loud enough to be heard above a full choir at a choral event. An organ with a similar problem was that at the old Methodist Eastbrook Hall, by William Hill, which made little impact. Now carefully restored and living in a much smaller building in Cambridge, it sounds glorious.
Best,
MM
Hi
The first organ recital I went to was by Germani playing at one of the Anglican churches in Hove. Very impressive.
Every Blessing
Tony
Quote from: Barrie Davis on December 10, 2012, 10:02:22 AM
Hi
I noticed this organ on a recent television prog and looked it up on NPOR, it seems that heating engineers cut the wind trunking to the organ a few years ago. Is there any hope of it being made playable again??
Best wishes
Barrie
I am beginning to wonder if the version of the NPOR which I am able to access actually exists in a parallel universe. I have tried:
'george bradford'
'bradford'
george hall'
'saint george hall'
... and still I cannot persuade the site to disgorge the stoplist.
So, what DO I type?
Tsk...tsk...tsk
Hi
I just put in Bradford and found it in the listings.
Best wishes
Barrie
Hi
This is one of the rare buildings that needs the apostrophe - i.e. "George's" - it's not a church after all! Entering Bradford does find it - I've just done it to check. It's well down the resulting list, but it is there. Details at http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=G00438
Every Blessing
Tony
Quote from: Barrie Davis on December 14, 2012, 09:32:15 AM
Hi
I just put in Bradford and found it in the listings.
Best wishes
Barrie
Weird - So did I - and did not find it in the listings.
(I looked twice - carefully.)
How very odd....
It's listed as St George's Hall (Civic Hall)l....try again very, very carefully. :)
Best,
MM