gold37158

Do you know what pipework is not going to be used and if it is going to be available for purchase? Im after a few ranks at the moment.

How much of the existing organ is going to remain? Blowers, reservoirs, etc?

Awesome. Many thanks. I havent seen a specification for the new organ...... is there one available? If so, where?? Sounds like you are having fun.

It will be very interesting to understand the new specification. I am stuggling at the moment with the retoric that is going around about how terrible the 1970 rebuilt organ. Whilst I wouldnt consider myself a Master Organ builder, I can see a lot of merit in the existing instrument. I'd prefer to be recording using the current instrument over a lot of other more bombastic instruments I played. The 1970's instrument was the conclusion of six of the cities best organists and the team from Croft's design efforts. Every component was carefully chosen in alignment with the requirements of the day. Surely what has changed in 35years is our taste for sound vs the capability of the organ. Today, it seems to be about POWER, GRUNT and DOMINANCE. What do these mean? It seems they mean deafening volume, huge bass, psysmic pulsation and nothing subtle. The difference surely between before 1970 and after is the number of stops needing to be pulled. Granted on the post 1970's organ you have to pull a lot! Dont get me wrong, Im totally behind the project. Every organ needs to be rebuilt every 30-40years. The tonal body of the instrument always changes in some way and new technology removes a few flaws and adds a few new features....some good and some bad. I am truely excited about the new instrument. My point is that we must be realistic about what this wonderful asset is going to be. For those who truely remember the old organ of pre-1970, you will know that the organ came with a health warning about the reeds. Many a little old lady was blown out of her seat by an in-experienced organist who under-estimated the "power" of the reeds. Yes they would loosen the plaster in the roof. Yes they would shake the building. Yes you had to be very careful. We did loose something when it was changed. We also gained a great instrument and I still believe that Croft's did a great job. However, time has been very harsh on the requirements set in 1970. It will be interesting to see how the organ has aged in 35years. Will they find a perfectly good instrument that just became "not trendy" and was thrown away unnecessarily? Well such is the price of progress. I hope that in 35years we arent pulling out another perfectly good instrument. What would have been nice is that for $3.5m we transfered the 1970's organ into another suitable venue and rebuilt the Grand HAll into the monster that everyone desires. Dreams are Free....sadly reality costs money!

Im wondering what is going to happen to the under-scale pipework?