Organ matters - Organs matter!

I have a Norwich organ which dates from 1990 and uses the Musicom system.  The tone generation side of the organ has expired (not a problem as I want to use an external tone source) but the capture system remains intact and workable.  The organ is 2 manual and I would like to add a third manual with 8 stops (for which I have matching drawstops ready to go and compatible keyboards) My questions are:
1.  There appears to be space on the capture boards to accommodate the extra 8 stops, so should it be as simple as wiring them in?  The boards with Darlington transistors appear to have selector switches at the bottom to 'channel' the system.
2.  The Musicom system uses 8x8 matrix for scanning keys and pedals.  It is possible to add midi to the existing system easily or is it best to bypass with a stand-alone encoder?

Thanks in anticipation

I've been asked if I can draw attention to this one manual and pedal Renn circa 1840 and featured in the Organ Magazine May 2018:
https://www.ibo.co.uk/resources/pre-owned/detail.php?refNo=637

In a private home now and the owner is seeking its relocation.

Let's hope the trend continues.  There's still not much on Radio 3 aside from perhaps 2-3 tracks in the middle of the night.

Every Blessing

Tony

The instrument of  Waltrin-Callinet-Schwenkedel  restored in 2012 -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxzmomPTHF4

It's really great to see a radio station as popular as Classic FM giving the organ an appropriate position on the musical horizon - https://www.classicfm.com/composers/elgar/nimrod-on-asia-largest-pipe-organ-taiwan/
and encourages people to play the organ on their laptop . . . !

Best wishes

David P

I was contacted by my Rector who said that guidelines now allow us to go in to church to check on the condition of our organs.
I have to enter by the side door, lock myself in, wash my hands and log my arrival and leaving times in the book provided.
I have no problem with giving the organ some generous excercise to check on it's well-being!
Probably two or three times a week would be a good regime at the moment!
David_M

Hi

I've been watching live streamed concerts by a couple of Dutch organists.  I've noticed a number of organs have some of the stops positioned above the console - just wondering about the logic behind that.

Every Blessing

Tony

Hi

Wolston Baptist Church, where I play regularly, is closed due to the Coronavirus epidemic.  I've been recording some music (chosen by our minister, or anyone else (including me a couple of times!) who has put the worship material together.  Due to the age & lack of computer knowledge the church leaders decided to circulate this in printed & e-mail form.  The e-mail recipients get links to my recordings to sing along to if they wish.  All the recordings are available on my You Tube channel.  https://www.youtube.com/user/revtonynewnham

Every Blessing

Tony

Hi, there are many things to worry about nowadays,
but this should certainly I think be one of them !
I guess the phrase " don't take anything for granted would apply "
on the Oragn related front, I still haven't got a basic practice Organ working.
regards Peter B

Personally I worry that our harvests will be disrupted and with calls ignoring history
https://www.businessinsider.com/what-san-francisco-can-learn-spanish-flu-pandemic-coronavirus-1918?r=US&IR=T#as-much-as-cabin-fever-may-be-setting-in-for-people-in-the-city-san-franciscans-can-perhaps-take-a-cue-from-their-predecessors-that-lived-through-another-viral-outbreak-a-century-prior-and-be-patient-23
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8261013/San-Francisco-1918-flu-pandemic-warning-against-lifting-lockdown-soon.html
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2020/03/how-cities-flattened-curve-1918-spanish-flu-pandemic-coronavirus/
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/3/24/21188121/coronavirus-covid-19-social-distancing-1918-spanish-flu
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/what-cost-the-lockdowns-they-may-have-helped-in-1918-krtmv6ppj
a return of the virus in October could be cruel.

Time to start thinking about growing something
https://youtu.be/4xe4lQzZDRE
finding soil
https://youtu.be/sNQAao866fc
digging and planting potatoes
https://youtu.be/dncQY9dfT_I

Best wishes

David P