Philip J Wells

'The Chamber Organ in Britain 1600-1830' 2001 edition (revising his earlier work) by Michael I Wilson credits the organ to 'Crang 1761 Londini' (p131-132). Case based on a design by William Kent. OD, SD, Dul, Fl, Flute Bass, 15th. possible shifting movement.

It appears that I must apologise for misleading the Board. I did check on the appeal website for organ information before passing on the information I had been asked to but did not find the information noted above. I obviously need to go back and have another look at their site before commenting further. I note the NPOR has pictures showing pipe fronts with iron 'posts and rails etc' Interestingly last week I obtained a copy of an architectural drawing by J Oldrid Scott showing two wooden gothic type cases on either side of the choir. It was sold as circa 1893 and I had assumed was published in 'The Building News' as it was similar to another I had seen for Croydon. However, perhaps it was only a proposal? Again apologies. Edit: I have found this link elsewhere which repeats the above information re two new organs. Why I can't find this directly on their main website or the appeals site I am at a loss to understand! http://stmaryabbotsappeal.com/.../06/Appeal-Site-PDF.pdf

I have received a request to post the paragraph below for the Board's attention. I note the church has launched a £7 million restoration campaign but the only way the pipe organ features is through its removal! To be fair, it apparently has not been used for 10 or so years, a toaster having been installed. But the pipe organ is still there. The historic 4-manual Hill organ of St Mary Abbots, Kensington will, under current proposals, be destroyed to make way for vestries. This would be a disaster - therefore, please add your names to this newly-created petition to retain it! https://l.facebook.com/l/3AQG-thPTAQEKSYo8KQraRX5Yt0J0FculMW43vpsAe1djdw/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.change.org%2Fp%2Fst-mary-abbots-kensington-retain-and-restore-the-historic-hill-organ

1. The Chamade at Saffron Walden was softened at the request of the current organist (info mid 2014) so might not have the effect Tony remembers! Pictures are with the NPOR for uploading. The 16 ft octave which is on the pedals is, I believe , half length on chamade. I only noticed because all the long resonators on the LHS of the chamade display are slightly larger diameter than those on the RHS! 2. The problem with Radwinter I think is one of access; very limited opening which did not coincide with when I could visit! 3. I think Positif Press have published a booklet on the Thaxted Lincoln organ which I have not seen generally advertised and have not read. I expect it details the non equal temperament which is why I have been led to believe it is unlikely to be used for most services. Indeed one IBO member felt moved to write to their Newsletter questioning the temperament decision. 4. The electronic is a fairly recent installation, I think, brought about by a failing west end organ and a non playing transept organ. Pictures of the England west end organ are with the NPOR for uploading. PJW

iy45 - I had a recollection that it was under Charles Wesley in the 'Oxford Dictionary of National Biography' which I accessed on-line with my County Library Card. I am mistaken, although it does remind me that Dorset History Centre has some Wesley diaries and correspondence which was useful to me when researching the organ once in Berkeley Castle played by Charles in the Gray workshops, not far away. The Chamber Organ in Britain, 1600-1830 by Michael I. Wilson, an update on his earlier 1968 book p70-71, does mention two chamber organs in the house in Marylebone and that in 1779 there was a series of subscription concerts. Also that John Marsh heard them, with (Journals) mentioned so I suppose there is a slight chance he may have written about the instruments rather than what was played? There is a bit more in Dr SS Wesley - Portrait of a Victorian Musician by Paul Chappell p4, mentions two chamber organs, a harpsichord, ten music desks and seats for 56 people but no direct details of the organ maker. I suspect that if a builder's name is mentioned at all it will require some digging through all the various books/paperwork/diaries. Has it been written up in 'The Organ', Musical Times or Musical Opinion? Academics with access to JSTOR may throw up a reference (a source denied to rate paying Gloucestershire Library users). It may be quicker to ask John Mander or Dominic Gwynn to examine the pipes with their extensive knowledge of English pipework and suggest a builder. Sorry I can not be of more help. PJW

You might try enquiring through the British Organ Archive in Birmingham. Their 2015 Handlist (online) [don't use the outdated 2011 link on the NPOR] does reference a folder they have on TS Jones but unfortunately does not mention what the contents are. I thought several years ago I came across a website about TS Jones but I can't seem to find it now!

Oh, will it speak to me in Latin!!!

I am surprised that we have not had a specific thread reserved for the NPOR. I'm sure we all have experiences of exasperation at times but knowing how it used to be staffed are reluctant to comment in public. On a more positive note they have recently introduced two electronic forms which can be completed online to speed things up. They are under the notes for contributors section. A problem I have found with this is that, unlike say eBay, I did not get an email copy of what I had submitted so given my memory they could well end up with the same info several times!

The following appeared on Facebook. No doubt more up to date accurate information will emerge in due course: Dear friends: Tonight, one of England's finest concert halls, Battersea Arts Centre, was gutted by a huge fire. Thankfully, the historic 1900 Hope-Jones organ (the largest and most significant survivor of that maverick genius's work) had mostly been removed for restoration and so has escaped the fire - but the Grand Hall has been completely destroyed, the roof and ceiling completely gone, and so one must presume the organ cases and building frames have been reduced to ashes. The reservoirs, relays and console remained on-site below the stage: their state remains unclear. They may have survived, but heat, smoke and water may have caused significant damage. The Arts Centre will rise again, but it needs your support: a fundraising page has been set up at https://www.nationalfundingscheme.org/BAC012#.VQN2GEZFCSE - please consider giving whatever you feel would be an appropriate donation to ensure that the phoenix does indeed rise from the ashes...

NB. Accuracy warning! Picked up from Facebook this week. Ian Bell has been engaged as Consultant here. The Downes/ Walker organ has gone in a skip. Fratelli Ruffatti are to build the new organ(s). No timescale given. I can not see an official announcement on any websites yet so we await details with interest.

This must have been quite a common feature at one stage. I am aware of two 2M+P american organs with slide in pedal boards, both now in the Netherlands. This church on the NPOR, Wiltshire Easton Grey, Easton Grey Church [N10400] [sorry I don't seem able to paste the reference from my browser] has a pipe organ by E H Suggate, London 1879 which I thought was originally a house organ. I was also convinced the pedal board, now fixed in position, had originally slid in.

Paul Hale may know what happened to the Nave organ. I have a memory (maybe faulty!) that it was bought and installed in a church in Kent that needed a Nave division but I can not remember where. Paul was advisor I think.

Well I know what is was not called! The R&D Ardeton was a 2 rank extension organ and an example with picture is given on the NPOR entry for Guildford Cathedral Lady Chapel.

Anyone know anything about proposals to replace the current Guildford Chancel Positive division with a brand new 2 manual and pedal organ?

Yes, but not as a reed stop. Sweetland included one on his organ for Somerset Bath, Central United Reformed Church, Argyle Street (Corner Grove Street), (Formerly Argyle Chapel) [T00337] There is a picture of it standing at the top of the organ with 'gold' pipes; a parallel flue pipe with an outward flaring bell on the top. Looking at the previous NPOR record it was on the Great. There may be more about this stop in the Sweetland book by Gordon Curtis but my copy is on loan at the moment!

I am not sure the above information re Herschel is entirely correct. One of them was an organist at the Octagon Chapel in Bath from1767 to 1776 having arrived from Halifax Parish Church. He was then a freelance organist in Bath. According to notes on an LP Of Bath's Musical Heritage, 'he wrote at least 3 concertos for organ, and a large body of solo music including 24 sonatas'. Maybe the Herschel Museum in Bath could help but Dr David Shuker has studied the Herschels music etc and might also be able to help. He is available 'At the sign of the Pipe' (search on the internet for his site).

Do you know if this is to be a mechanical or electric action and whether the case is to be retained? Edit: I now see that more information is available on the internet at http://www.univ.ox.ac.uk/univ-news/new-organs-university-college

Many years ago the UK Ministry of Defence was faced with problems of obsolescence when trying to maintain systems that might be in excess of 30 years old. They came up with a Defence Standard for Obsolescence Management (Def Stan 00-70?) now cancelled in favour of a European Standard (implemented by a British Standard) and there may now be an International Standard. At the time it was interesting to see how a topic which started out addressing electronic components soon moved to incorporating a wider text in order to encompass other areas like plastics materials, glues, chemicals etc all of which could have obsolescence problems. I recall thinking at the time that it was very applicable to pipe organ building but of course developing an obsolescence management plan is not a cost free exercise and the customer would have to pay in the end.

Dr Michael Smith who was Cathedral organist at Llandaff for 26 years has just (2014) published his memoirs of his time there. 'At Cross Purposes, A Cathedral Organist's Memoirs' is an interesting read which helped me put into perspective some of the more recent happenings at Llandaff.

It was, but a friend rescued it on learning it was all going on a bonfire. The Jordan 1714 console resided for some years in Reading University but when the Historiography course ceased I think it is now with the organbuilders Goetze & Gwynn.

Thanks for that Andrew but perhaps you might clarify further. What is the upper limit of wind pressures direct electric actions will work with these days? For the sort of thing detailed above I might have expected the reeds to be on say 6 inches or more, not something I thought 'lever arm magnets' worked on but I know technology has moved on in recent years. However, I gather the Tickell organ Tuba stop at Worcester is on a conventional electropneumatic chest so there is still clearly an upper limit. Congratulations by the way for landing the Aukland contract. Another feather in your cap.

There is a bit about the organ on the Wikipedia page for the cathedral. Unfortunately, the link at the bottom of the page did not link through for me and the Cathedral website also appears to have bits no longer there under the music section. This used to be on the Shepherd Bros Irish tuning round so I don't know if Eric has access to an up to date spec.

Is this not a case of 'block' reed transfer stops being cheaper organbuilding? The Gt 16, 8 and 4 ft reeds would normally all be on one chest perhaps with a higher pressure and with one action and 3 sliders. If you want them available separately in different places (eg Pedal, Choir, Great and perhaps Solo) at different times you need a lot more stop knobs as well as 3 actions for 3 diferent winchests. It all costs a lot more.

Ralph Downes included an open flute 2ft on practically all his pedal organs. Is this now unfashionable?