JohnR

Please forgive me if I've got it wrong but isn't the great pipework going to be in about the same position as it is now (behind the west case)? If so, I'd have thought the sound projection into the nave will be about the same as now. On a separate point, is the console going down to ground level or staying at organ level from where communicaiton is difficult and the organ can't be heard at anything like it's best? John R

At the risk of seeming pedantic I don't agree with the calculation in your second paragraph but still very much agree with your general point. A memory bit is needed for each stop/piston/memory permutation which can give a huge number of permutations. Systems these days normally have enough memory reserved per memory level so that each piston could theoretically be a general piston (thus needing 128 bits for 128 stops say). Allow for 128 pistons per memory level. Thats 128 x 128 bits = 16,384 = 16K per memory level. For 128 memory levels, 128 x 16K = 2Mb would be needed although much of this in reality is like to end up redundant due to maximum parameters not being generally used on most organs. I do admit however this is getting a bit academic because 2Mb of memory is still pretty cheap. As a 1Mb serial Eeprom costs about £2.00 this is peanuts compared to the cost of the coil driving outputs, PCBs, case, connectors, design. etc. John R

Thanks for poiniting that out. I only live up the road from there but haven't managed to get details! I see the Choir and Positive have become one division. There is a 1 1/7 on the Solo which I'm sorry to see is obviously going. It'll be good to have some proper casework on the organ, it's hard to believe that since the 70s the view of the West facing part of the organ has simply been the Trompetta Real plus stays plus some of the main Great and Positive pipework. 128 levels of memory doesn't seem many but they've only got 8 at present so I suppose it'll feel like a lot more. I'd have thought an independant sequencer would be better (than the proposed general piston stepper) because it's then possible to easily insert another setting between two existing ones. John R

Having made some enquiries I'm told the Binns organ is still in storage. Work on installing the organ is due to start in the Autumn with part of the organ being hopefully playable by next March. There are plans to augment the instrument (although I hope the existing pipework is not altered). There is an aim to raise £600,000 both for the organ and alterations to the church. John R

I can tell you that Geoffrey Hannant still lives in East Anglia in the Bury St. Edmunds area, I can't remember where exactly. I've had the pleasure of meeting him a few times. A few years ago he gave organ lessons to a friend of mine at St. John's church in Bury St. Edmunds, his last post. Sadly his MS makes it more or less impossible to play the organ at all now, even one with a ground level console. The only time I've ever heard him play was in the early 1980s at St Mary's Stafford (in my home county) when he gave a fine recital there on the four manual Harrison. He had the flowing locks of hair on that occasion and looked much as he does on the East Anglian organs LP photo. I can understand you not recognising him when you met him recently. I'm sure I can find and email you Geoffry's contact details if you'd like these. Regards, John R

Also, in Compton originals there are no slider mechanisms in the organ to make any noise either. Further, in the case of such instruments now fitted with electronic control there is no movement of anything when a stop is pressed, thus there's no noise anywhere even with a piston - very nice when playing quiet music. John R

Thanks for that and for your welcome. I take your point and now realise that threads do indeed keep going for a while. Yes, I am the John Ramsbottom of Sonic Services. Don't worry about getting my name wrong, I'm used to almost any variation. Even my address has variations! Am I right in saying you're Paul D? You can't be more 'Cynic' than me. Perhaps I should be 'Supercynic'. I could do with contacting you directly (re your pipes). Regards, John R

The early Binns organ you mention sound interesting. Are you able to say the original date and allowed to say where it is on this forum? I'm currently involved with an organ containing Binns voiced pipework which is proving interesting. We are looking for some pipework of preferably similar date and style to add to it. I may be a bit over eager of course! Regards, John R

I know a few people associated with Eye Parish Church so will ask and report back. The last I heard was that the project was some way off being finished. Regarding the Abbott & Smith thread you mentioned, this has now gone cold. The last post on it was kindly entered on my behalf (before being validated for this forum). I mentioned on it that James Binns worked for Abbott & Smith from 1873 to 1880 and was head voicer for the latter part of his time there and then started his own firm in 1880. I'd mentioned another Suffolk organ in Eriswell which has pipes from 1873 with Binns inscriptions on the pipes, one of them actually bearing his name with the date May 1873. It is thought it may have been a very early Binns organ pre dating his own firm. It has a few interesting features and doesn't seem like an Aboot & Smith instrument. John R

The Broadcasting House organ is currently being recommissioned following the other work that has being carried out in the Radio Theatre. While the building work was being carried out the console was put into storage by an outside firm. This is now back and a serial link system is being installed to replace the original multi-way cable. The console is to have a new rolling plinth to replace the original one that was removed in the 60s. Sadly, the console will not be resident in the studio but will be stored in another area in the floor below. This will make it difficult for the organ to be played at regular intervals which is sad as the pnuematics always benefitted from regular playing by members of the BBC organ society. The future of the Maida Vale organ is somewhat uncertain at present due to the likely move of the BBC form Maida Vale. It has always been used more than the BH instrument because of it's use in rehearsals with BBC orchestras. Like other the instrument it is however very rarely broadcast. Both these instruments suffer as they do not confirm to many broadcast musicians as ideal instruments. I feel they justify some 'air time' however. John R

I used to have lessons on the Wolverhampton organ (St. Peter's) in the 70s. I can reassure you that one can get into the organ via a spiral staircase in the central tower and a door at the back corner of the organ case. It's a bit unnerving to know there's nothing underneath you when in the organ though. It's hard to believe there's a three manual Willis organ up there (including Pedal) when looking up at the case from the nave. JR