Martin Kemp
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Posts posted by Martin Kemp
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but it was nice to hear Dr David speak and one of the Willis voicers who had been with the firm since 1966, straight from school.
It was Fred Preston, their Works Director.
mpk
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I am surprised at his assertion that the job is on 3". Hill worked on a standard pressure (higher than this) and this instrument is entirely typical of its period. The proof that the pressure is right is that the instrument does serve this (pretty sizeable) building very adequately even with a slightly incomplete specification.
The Hill I play (1915) has general pressure at 3 1/4" (as confirmed in Hill's shop book)
M
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It is good to see the exciting prospects of restoring this instrument.
IMHO, you should seek to restore the organ, as far as possible to a researched contemporary state. Regularly playing such an instrument myself, I feel that the charge-pneumatic action is an integral part of the instrument's character and musically, I would put this above the prospect of pistons and additions every time.
As far as completing prepared-for stops and additions go, I would complete the scheme and nothing further in order to maintain its integral character. If it is really felt necessary to add to the Sw Mixture, it should have a 17th. I'd restore the Oboe to its rightful place (an integral part of the Eng Romantic swell) and, if desired, install a Contra Fagotto to match the other chorus reeds (assuming there is space at the correct pressure (presumably 6"). My instrument has both solo Tuba and Great Tromba. They are not dissimilar with the Tromba having a bit more "clang". Great Open Diapason I is enormous (and wonderful) on 6" by the Tromba.
M
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Not wanting to open a new topic for a small announcement (hopefully no double-posting), but here is another indication for the growing interest in British Organ Heritage abroad:
GOArt, the Göteborg/Gothenburg Organ Academy (where that famous Schnitger clone organ was made) has put its 2011 Summer Academy under the headline "The British Organ in the 19th Century". The website is still quite empty, but a rough outline can be found here and there.
The Nya Örgryte Church, where the Schnitger clone is situated on the eastern wall, houses a Willis from 1871 (III/31), originating from St. Stephen's Hampstead, London.
Present location here.
Then there is a Walker from 1907 with 55 stops, (transferred from First Church of Christ Scientist (now Candogan Hall), Sloane Terrace, London) in Kristus Konunges Katolsk Kyrka (Christ the King Catholic Ch). NPOR says 44 stops, but the Swedish website names 45 and 10 borrowings/extensions. (More details about its present state here in Swedish, but with a spec link (Disposition)).
Peter Williams (named in the Welcome section), Andrew McCrea and Gordon Stewart are the first names to be found, more information will obviously follow.
This is most interesting - I have often wondered what happened to the organ in St Stephen's. It is also interesting to note that the Willis specification is almost identical to that of St. Michael & All Angels, Croydon before Noel Mander rebuilt and enlarged it.
M.
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Does anyone possess a copies of the following pieces by George Oldroyd:
Lune de Miel
Phantasy-Prelude & Chorale
Published by Augener, I cannot find a copy of any of these pieces.
Can anyone help??
Hector
Augener are now part of Stainer and Bell. You could try them.
M
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I don't see that a historically informed organ and "an organ designed for choral accompaniment" need be mutually exclusive at all. The organ at my church could claim to be historically informed (although it would never be presumptive enough to claim it is entirely historically informed), yet within the context of its 18 stops and the aspirations of our better-than-average country parish church choir, it has proved itself to be extremely good at choral accompaniment and certainly adequate for our church's needs.
I regularly play two instruments, one by our hosts and one, an unaltered1915 Hill. I feel that it is of more importance that an instrument speaks as an integral musical whole rather than having a stoplist perceived to be appropriate to accompaniment. Each instrument is fine but used very differently.
Mpk.
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... One couldn't imagine the King's sound being what it is without the Harrison.... ...
Does anyone have the wonderful Ord Evensong recording with Stanford in G, My Beloved Spake etc. with Hugh McLean at the organ? To my ears, at that point, it sounds more Arthur Hill than Harrison - wonderful!
mpk
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Ah yes, but it benefits all these businesses if, when you succumb to a new proprietary operating system, you then have to get upgraded versions of all the rest of your software. It's what keeps the microcomputer and software industry running!
Or you could, of course use Linux. No probs at all with Audacity and it also runs my Orgue Electrique (jOrgan)
mpk
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Ah yes, but it benefits all these businesses if, when you succumb to a new proprietary operating system, you then have to get upgraded versions of all the rest of your software. It's what keeps the microcomputer and software industry running!
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The instrument that I am fortunate enough to play (Hill 1915) has a Great mixture, laid out as you describe, whereas the tierce of the swell mixture extends throughout the compass. As in this period, the mixtures were not generally drawn without the reeds, I would guess that the 17th in the lower compass is designed to reinforce the reed basses.
mpk
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I see that Willis Organs have an open day coming up in November http://www.willis-organs.com. The Auckland job will be well worth seeing judging by the pics on their site.
mpk
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It is indeed a fine acoustic, as the Windsor choir's Tomkins and Parry recordings for Hyperion attest. Are you able to confirm its current condition though? It seemed somewhat precarious when I and others went to assess it for a recording some years and I went upstairs to play it.
A possible venue is Eton College Chapel...
Currently, its all working although with c100 year-old TP action, it has to be said that faults do easily develop. IMHO it is an extremely fine, vintage instrument and I'm keen to get it better known. Visits welcome!
mpk
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All Hallows' Gospel Oak NW3, regularly used for recordings (though not usually with org).. 4-manual 1915 Arthur Hill (last new Hill & Son instrument). Fine acoustic. Mass on Sunday at 10.00 but free after that. Organ flat (A-435).
Feel free to contact me if interested.
MPK
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some nice organ colours on last week's BBC Choral Evensong from Eton:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00szr5k
MPK
Easter Greetings
in General discussion
Posted
We finished at 11.00pm (late start to ensure darkness) so collapsed at about 11.40 after driving home. Mercifully, Easter am Mass was an hour later than usual.
M