Lucasorg
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Posts posted by Lucasorg
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Are the stop jambs and keyframes really going to be left that colour?
The stop jambs are Maple with Blackwood inlays - very beautiful and, in a slightly dim corner of a dark cathedral, a touch of refreshing lightness.
A
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TRANSEPT ORGAN SPECIFICATION
TRANSEPT GREAT
Bourdon 16
Open Diapason 8
Stopped Diapason 8
Principal 4
Wald Flute 4
Fifteenth 2
Cornet III
Mixture III
Trumpet 8
Clarinet 8
Swell to Great
TRANSEPT SWELL
Open Diapason 8
Gedeckt 8
Salicional 8
Voix Celeste 8
Gemshorn 4
Nason Flute 4
Fifteenth 2
Mixture III
Contra Fagotto 16
Cornopean 8
Oboe 8
Tremulant
Octave
Sub Octave
Unison Off
TRANSEPT PEDAL
Double Open Diapason 32
Double Open Wood 32
Open Wood 16
Violone 16
Gedeckt 16
Bourdon 16 from Transept Great
Principal 8
Bass Flute 8
Fifteenth 4
Trombone 16
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Thanks yet again - any chance please of the spec. for the Transept organ as it is now in full public view!
Sure - I'll dig it out - give me a few days as I have a mountain of Three Choirs and Citychoir stuff to get through over the next 10 days or so.
Best wishes
Adrian
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The latest batch of photos is now up and available to see here. The console now looks like a console and work on the casework and winding now nears completion. Electrical work is moving ahead at speed and we are looking towards the first pipes being installed in somewhere around 2 weeks' time, providing there are no complications along the way. If you're scared of heights, some of these latest shots may well be your best way of seeing some of the "high" points of the cathedral!
Best wishes,
Adrian
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The first of our facade pipes arrived today, along with the console framework. Basic winding should be complete by the end of the week and the stop-knobs and manuals are scheduled to arrive next week.
A
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Are the façade pipes constructed from tin, or are they spotted metal - or even diapered?
The facade pipes are tin - though you may not see them in position for a few weeks as the rest of the organ has to go in "through the front door" before these are mostly in place. Some of the less prominent ones may well be in situ soon, though protected to avoid finger marks.
A
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Today's set of pictures are ready for you here.
Next week, we are expecting a big delivery early in the week with sections of the console, some facade pipes, further parts for the casework etc. I'll keep you posted!
A
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Amazing as ever - 'quick question - is the Great HP chest for the reeds alone?
Hi Alastair,
I had to go back to Ken for the details on this one....he says....
"Yes, and they are supplied with two different pressures. The Great reeds are towards the back, and have a slider chest with conventional pallet, fed with wind at 125mm. The Tuba, which is right at the front, is an electro-pneumatic purse action chest, fed with wind at 350mm. The wells of the two soundboards are obviously kept separate from each other, likewise any connecting trunks which people might see have an internal division to keep the pressures separate. Although they may look like one chest, they are in fact two separate constructions, which are bolted together."
That should be enough detail!!
A
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a. The design of the side case returns seems to have changed from the drawings on Tickell's web site to now include a pipe(s)
I don't think the design has changed, but my recollection is that the "artist's impression" picture left out that particular detail. When I have a minute, I will look back through the drawings which are not currently to hand. I must say, however, that the detail of this single pipe on the ends of each case is a lovely touch and typical of the attention to design that Ken pays in his work.
b. Whilst the stop spec on Tickell's web site makes mention of coupling the Transept Gt & Sw to various keyboards nothing is mentioned about the Pedal stops. Is there no drawstop to put the Transept Pedal organ On & Off?When the Transept organ is available (in due course, not immediately), all the stops will be playable via stops on the Quire console. The transept pedal will simply operate by drawing the relevant stops - because there is only one pedal board - yet the manual stops could be playable from different manuals on this console.
c. Will the Choir console have drawstops for the Transept organ or will stop control be only by pistons?Stop knobs!
Hope that helps.
Adrian
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Good luck with this Adrian! Looks very exciting! Enjoy it!
Best wishes
Colin
Thanks - much appreciated!
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The console is due to arrive during May - there is still work being done on it in Northampton!Are there any photographs of the new console, please - or is it not yet installed?A
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Good evening all!
Now, at last, we reach the final stage of work at Worcester, installation of the cases, great and pedal soundboards and all the pipework. Our expected schedule is to complete the physical installation around early June with voicing taking place between then and late July. The first official chance you will get to hear it in action will be at the Three Choirs Festival in August (2nd - 9th) so do come along if you can.
Meanwhile, I have posted some photos of installation work so far.
W/C 7th April - installation of the outer sections of the steel framework
W/C 14th April - the first stages of installing the cases
W/C 21st April - the cases should essentially be in place by the end of this week....
Make a note in your diaries:
Gillian Weir at Three Choirs - Friday 8th August at 11am
Thomas Trotter at the dedication festival on the evening of Saturday 4th October
Enjoy!
Adrian Lucas
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Adrian I could use those 13 pipes at Wordsley to extend the chipboard trombone down!!! Space would be an issue and also wind to blow them.
Ho ho! You might need the roof raising (in more ways than one)!
Meanwhile, here are some photos of the new organ loft going in.
Adrian
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Hi Adrian
At least with the midi you will be able to supplement the Bass from the Rodgers until the Transept is moved. Just out of interest are the Diaphones still in situ?
Barrie
There's only a remnant 13 pipes (I think that's the number....could be fewer) left of the bottom of the 32' Diaphone. We thought of auctioning them to Cunard....that should scare the icebergs away!
A
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Thanks for another batch of excellent pictures, Adrian! I have never supported the view by some consultants (and an unnamed provincial builder) that the workmanship of English organ builders is inferior to that of our continental counterparts. I believe these pictures prove the point.
Hi Barry,
If you should get the chance to look around Ken's works, it's an impressive testament to all the craftsmen there. The project management of a job like this one at Worcester is a really tough call to get everything through a relatively small factory in the right order without the whole place jamming up with components.
Best wishes,
Adrian
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Adrian, you have a better head for heights than I have!!!!
Will the new organ be minus the 32' flues until the big case takes its walk, or will this be done after Easter?
You have a busy time with the new Bishop arriving in March and Easter.
Hi Basdav,
The two 32 flues and the Open Wood 16 will not be available until the Transept work is done. Ken has had this in mind from the start and we are all aware that it is bound to lack a bit of gravitas until that section is complete. There's just no way of building stops of that size into the East end of the Cathedral...it will have to wait a little!
I'm actually on sabbatical at the moment so Chris is running the show...and doing a great job, or so I'm told!
Adrian
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Some MIDI couplers, I see...
Since we shall have the "Father" Rogers in the Nave for some time to come, it makes sense to build in the capability to play them simultaneously as we two with the two Rogers instruments at the moment. It should also mean that we can record performances straight onto a laptop.
Worth keeping up with the times!
Adrian
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Since November, work at Worcester has been continuing at the factory in Northampton. Here are the latest photos from there, including some casework, console details and pipework.
Next week, work starts in the Cathedral to build the new organ loft on the South side of the Quire. Shortly after that, the console will move on site. Work to install the rest of the organ will begin once the Easter celebrations are complete at the end of March.
Enjoy!
Adrian Lucas
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How about BIOS? If a team went down and reminded the present owners that what they have is virtually an untouched specimen of the best work of a premier firm, that in due course it may qualify for grant-aiding, that it is now rare, that this present dislike is a fashion and like all fashions will eventually change.... might this make those who have to sign on the dotted line for a replacement think again? It won't be the musicians who have to find the money!
The organ which comes to mind at this point is Malvern Priory. Maybe ten years ago an appeal leaflet was produced by the parish, acting on advice from their Cathedral organist. They were appealing for massive funding (from memory, £600k) to replace virtually the whole instrument with something which 'represents current thinking', regardless of the fact that what they had was a complete and celebrated example of the work of Rushworth and Dreaper - indeed the largest organ from R&D's only good period!
In this case, I think it was back-stage shaming that eventually turned the tide, indeed I think I know the man who caused the main fuss (later to become President of the RCO etc.) Anyway, many letters were written and the PCC became aware of outside criticism and the plan was changed. Nicholsons (who had previously said that practical restoration was impossible) got just as much work out of the re-thought scheme - this involved new chests virtually throughout. What The Priory now has is 1920s pipework sensibly spruced up with a new layout and modern mechanisms. I may be correct is saying that the clergy got a larger vestry out of it as well.
Unfortunately, if our guess is right as to where your target 'unloved' organ is, this method cannot be guaranteed to work, though letters to those in authority over the musicians might help. How many friends of (shall we say?) the same background as yourself can you muster? An opportunity for a petition perhaps? There is another way...become a donor for a new organ on condition that the present one is (at the very least) mothballed. Not knowing your circumstances, I cannot say whether your donation would be sufficiently large for it to be taken notice of.
Fight the good fight!
Dear Cynic,
It is always easy to criticise from outside. Whilst working for Malvern Priory in the context of the organ rebuild, my brief was to find a scheme which would steer a line carefully between preservation and development for the better maintenance of worship there. There are many paths through any minefield and both the original scheme and the final one had great merits in all areas.
If the argument comes down to whether Nicholsons or Rushworths were the better builder, I am sure we will all have differing opinions. Ultimately, the Priory has a fine instrument which will continue to give excellent service for many years to come and for that we should be grateful for the skills of both those builders as well as the present-day Nicholsons who carried out the recent work.
Adrian Lucas
"their Cathedral Organist"
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Good evening all!
Here's the latest batch of photos from Worcester.
Work is now nearing completion on the first stage of work on site. Blowing systems and soundboards are now all in place on the South side for the Swell and their counterparts on the North side are nearly finished for the Solo and Choir. Great and Pedal will be sited in the new cases, one on each side, and will plug onto the front end of trunking and steel cantilevers.
The present scaffolding will come down at the end of November in time for Advent and Christmas. Things will then go quiet again on site until after Easter when the second phase will start up.
Please make a note in your diaries - Gillian Weir will be giving an inaugural recital on Friday 8th August 2008 at 11 am as part of the Three Choirs Festival - you will be able to book online at www.3choirs.org in due course.
There will then be an official dedication weekend, preceded by a week of educational events all focused around the organ and leading up to the weekend of October 4th/5th 2008. On the Saturday there will be a dedication evensong followed by an official launch recital by Thomas Trotter. On the Sunday there will be a major focus on the new instrument for the 10.30 and 16.00 services, possibly including a new double organ mass.
The education event in the preceding week is designed to focus on the crossover between arts and sciences, looking at CAD for the design phases, the science involved in voicing organ pipes, the engineering involved in building such an instrument in an ancient building, as well as a range of other more musical events and demonstrations.
Something for all the family!
Best wishes,
Adrian
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Work is now well underway at Worcester. The new scaffolding is up and will remain in place until Advent.
Here are the latest pictures for your delectation.
Adrian
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Adrian, have you thought of setting up an online facility to allow people to donate to your organ fund? I would and am sure others would gladly donate to it.
What a splendid idea...can I get back to you on this...I'm not sure whether it would be best to steer people from here onto our existing routes, or set up a purpose-designed online system. Perhaps a simple Pay-pal account at the Appeal office would sort it out....
Anyone else have any experience or bright ideas on this topic??
Adrian
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Hi Steven,Perhaps when you add additional information about the progress of the Quire Organ you could also update us on the status of the fund for the Nave organ.We are still raising funds for the quire at present. I wish there was a facility on this message board for handing round a metaphorical hat!!
Best wishes,
Adrian
Worcester Cathedral
in General discussion
Posted
The two pistons either side of the swell pedals are the normal Sw to Gt on the left, and Gt to Ped on the right. There is also a small button on the stop jambs which, when pressed, converts these to Retard and Advance respectively. There is also a facility - All Pistons Next - which when that button is engaged makes every piston on the console into an advance piston.
As for the sequencer, the player has a choice of a simple stepper through the general pistons and levels, or to engage the independent sequencer which allows inserts of steps, etc...again this is selectable with a small push button on the jambs.
A (with thanks to Ken Tickell)