contrabordun

Yes, but so what? I mean, this is a statement of fact, and I don't think that anybody much would dispute it. But what are we to infer from it? What does this statement tell us to do? There are reasons to buy a pipe organ and reasons to buy a digital organ. Chiefly, the constraints of space and budget cost together with the purpose for which you are buying the instrument. Should I replace my 3 manual digital affair from my suburban living room on the grounds that if I do, the occupants of the house in 100 years time will have something nice to play? My so-called toaster has given me what most instrumental musicians would take for granted: unlimited and instant access to practice facilities. You'd have to be insane to set out to learn the organ if you depend for your practice on the local church. I don't think anybody here disputes that pipes sound better and that making music come out of good pipes, controlled from a good mechanical action is that slice of heaven on earth that is the just reward for surviving the purgatory of left-hand-and-pedal exercises. (And a big personal thank you to Musing Muso, who answered my cri de coeur of the other week and gave me 4 hours last week on just such an instrument; one that's gone right to the top of my all time favourites). But to return (after a bit of a ramble) to my actual point: stating the obvious about life expectancies doesn't by itself tell us anything about what to buy in any particular situation.

I have two particular words permanently available for this situation.

I've got a lunchtime gig to do in a local (Brum) church on 17 Oct, but have just been told I'm spending the whole of the previous week on a project in Pendle (sadly I have a need for a day job!), which is going to impact the practice a bit. If anybody knows of a church in the Pendle area where I might be able to get a couple of evening sessions to keep things ticking over that week, a PM would be much appreciated.

You're right - in an ideal world, a house organ should be all of these things, but I think you're assuming the existence of a non-house organ on which these skills could be used 'for real'. The pipe organs I get to play regularly are all desperately in need of rebuilding and/or chucking. Articulation is something of an abstract concept if you're praying that the note will sound at all. er, probably, guilty as charged. I think of it in terms of getting my fulfilment out of my 44/IIIP at home, cos I don't get to play such things in the normal course of events anywhere else. (And while it's true that a clinical little 3-stopper might improve my technique to the point where I might aspire to higher things, I sadly haven't the hours available).

Is that legal under competition law?

Very sad, if all as reported above. I used to sing there with school chapel choir for concerts and carol services in the 1980s, and as a Roman Catholic, this was my first experience of the 9 Lessons phenomenon. This was also the first time I'd ever seen an organ with THREE keyboards...can still remember wondering what could possibly be the need for the third...