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Organs As Visual Works Of Art


MusingMuso

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You're quite correct, its Amorbach. I've obviously got to an age where I'm no longer able to remember where I've been (it was about 20 years ago I should think).

 

Nevertheless I think the photo you have provided a link to backs up my suggestion that its quite a sight.

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Guest Nigel ALLCOAT
Surprised that no-one's suggested Bath Abbey ........

 

Beverley Minster for something newish of fine proportion and attention to detail?

 

Best wishes,

NJA

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=======================

 

Oh yes, Sydney TH is absolutely magnificent.

 

The following also represent something of an unusual visual feast, from Poland, and organs of which we hear very little:-

 

http://www.organy.art.pl/instrumenty.php?instr_id=488

 

http://www.organy.art.pl/instrumenty.php?instr_id=164

 

An unusual modern design below

 

http://www.organy.art.pl/instrumenty.php?instr_id=118

 

Although a magnificent organ-case, I adore the "console" of the organ below, which more resembles the average teenage bedroom-cum-playstation. (What's in the bottle, one wonders? Is the organist a crooner? What's the electric meter for? Why are the stops all askew?)

 

http://www.organy.art.pl/instrumenty.php?instr_id=3

 

http://www.organy.art.pl/instrumenty.php?instr_id=387

 

The organ-case below is fairly awful, I think.

 

http://www.organy.art.pl/instrumenty.php?instr_id=199

 

http://www.organy.art.pl/instrumenty.php?instr_id=58

 

http://www.organy.art.pl/instrumenty.php?instr_id=274

 

 

 

MM

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=========================

 

Indeed, they are wonderful cases, and I played the one on the South side some years ago. Lovely organs and lovelys organ cases, cathedral and reredos, all glitsening in pristine gold-leaf.

 

All I could think about as I admired it all, were the dead Incas the Spanish slaughtered.

 

B)

MM

 

 

I have a poster of this organ on the wall in my room at school. I have to confess that I really do not like it as a case - there are too many circles and rounded ornamentation. I also find it far too florid and lacking in what I would call good taste - sorry!

 

I can think of numerous French and German organs with cases which I would call far superior. However, as another contributor has said, beauty is in the eye....

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Would agree with the general opinion that Exeter is visually stunning, and also that Norwich is very fine too. Surprised that no-one's suggested Bath Abbey, although its not in the main line of sight down the nave it is nonetheless a wonderfully imposing site.

 

In foreign parts organs I have found to be visually memorable include Albi Cathedral and Auerbach Abbey.

 

Absolutey, Neil!

 

Bath Abbey organ has a stunning case (by Jackson). It is arguably even better now that it was raised about eighteen inches at the time of the rebuild by Klais.

 

Pity about the organ. However, I will try not to open that can of worms....

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=======================

 

Oh yes, Sydney TH is absolutely magnificent.

 

The following also represent something of an unusual visual feast, from Poland, and organs of which we hear very little:-

 

http://www.organy.art.pl/instrumenty.php?instr_id=488

 

http://www.organy.art.pl/instrumenty.php?instr_id=164

 

An unusual modern design below

 

http://www.organy.art.pl/instrumenty.php?instr_id=118

 

Although a magnificent organ-case, I adore the "console" of the organ below, which more resembles the average teenage bedroom-cum-playstation. (What's in the bottle, one wonders?  Is the organist a crooner? What's the electric meter for? Why are the stops all askew?)

 

http://www.organy.art.pl/instrumenty.php?instr_id=3

 

http://www.organy.art.pl/instrumenty.php?instr_id=387

 

The organ-case below is fairly awful, I think.

 

http://www.organy.art.pl/instrumenty.php?instr_id=199

 

http://www.organy.art.pl/instrumenty.php?instr_id=58

 

http://www.organy.art.pl/instrumenty.php?instr_id=274

MM

 

Thank you, MM.

 

I would agree with all of your assessments!

 

Some of these Polish cases are superb.

 

The microphone - I wonder if their services are like those in Bonn Cathedral. The organist there also acts as Cantor (there is also a microphone on this console) and sings for various parts of the service, often whilst playing the organ.

 

I am glad that I do not have to do that....

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In terms of an instrument designed to for visual impact and to harmonize with the architecture of the building that houses it, how about Coventry Cathedral ?

 

For notable instruments let down by their visual impact, St. Mary Redcliffe springs to mind.

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In terms of an instrument designed to for visual impact and to harmonize with the architecture of the building that houses it, how about Coventry Cathedral ?

 

For notable instruments let down by their visual impact, St. Mary Redcliffe springs to mind.

 

 

======================

 

Well, there's the Grove Organ at Tewskbury, which looks like a pile of rubbish but sounds magnificent.

 

I am often aghast at the sheer ugliness of many Fr Willis organs, but from an age which admired smoke-stacks and water-conduits, I suppose it is understandable.

 

I think the ugliest creation ever, really came about by accident of bad re-design, when a very large Congregational church was cut down to size here in West Yorkshire. They put in a false ceiling at gallery-level, and boxed in the side-walls; thus making the church friendlier and easier to heat.

 

Unfortunately, no-one thought to hide the organ behind some sort of screen, and a 16ft front became an 6ft one, with enormously dumpy pipes; the pipe-feet of which accounted for about half of the height. (The organ case was elevated above ground-floor level).

 

In fact, it was worse than that, because the Choir organ ended up being louder than the Swell and Great combined; the latter speaking "upstairs." With full organ drawn, one became aware of rattling ceiling-panels and floor vibrations rather than a lot of actual noise.

 

Anyway, they took out the organ and the building became a huge Asian restaurant.

 

B)

 

MM

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What a disaster! Was the sound of the organ any good, MM?

 

I like Coventry, but I would agree that St. Mary, Redcliffe is visually under-whelming.

 

MM, do you have a photograph of your own instrument, please? I had thought that I possessed a copy of The Classical Organ in Britain, but if I do, I am unable to locate it.

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What a disaster!  Was the sound of the organ any good, MM?

 

I like Coventry, but I would agree that St. Mary, Redcliffe is visually under-whelming.

 

MM, do you have a photograph of your own instrument, please? I had thought that I possessed a copy of The Classical Organ in Britain, but if I do, I am unable to locate it.

 

===================

 

The organ in question was a fine 3-manual Binns with about 55 stops....sadly no more.

 

I need to get some photographs done of the organ I play. Now that the sun has emerged once more, I shall take my camera to church this very day, and see if I can't get a few in the can.

 

MM

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To throw in another modern case design: I do like the look of the Rieger at Clifton Cathedral, Bristol -- even though this organ must have shocked British organists quite a bit back when it was built, and probably still does.

 

http://www.cliftondiocese.com/images/clift...edral-organ.jpg

 

A better photograph and a drawing are in "The Classical organ in Britain", vol I, pp. 82 and 134.

 

Best,

Friedrich

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I have to say that the case of the Mander of St. Ignatious Loyolla which greets me every time I visit this site is rather special. Worst? From what I recall of a rather poor photo, the Walt Disney thing is rather odd, to say the least, and as for New College - least said, soonest mended. The Organ's a cracker though. Love most of the Polish ones!

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Sydney Town Hall has been mentioned above, and certainly rates as one of my favourites.

 

Another, much more recent Sydney organ is on my "most ordinary" list. It is the new Letourneau organ (1999) in the transept of St Mary's Cathedral. An image of the organ can be seen at St Mary's Cathedral organ.

 

It's interesting that the case was designed by a gentleman from the New South Wales Department of Public Works, and I wonder if such Department involvement may have been part of the price to pay for funding.

 

Rgds,

MJF

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