john carter Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 Ooooo, I like that idea. Does anyone know if it exists anywhere else, or is it a new idea. I've not come across it before. Finally, no need to search for the + button! The whole piston set up there sounds very flexible - giving each organist a choice for his/her preference, rather than arguing the pros and cons of sequencers, steppers, generals, divisionals, etc... (Ah, but can you turn them all off so that you can pretend there aren't any there at all for playing early music? ) This is a fine example of innovation, that I have been bleating on about in another thread. A simple idea that you can choose to use or ignore if you wish. May I add my thanks to Adrian for giving us this fascinating and exciting insight into the installation of the new organ. JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazuin Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 "This is a fine example of innovation, that I have been bleating on about in another thread." I hardly dare engage John Carter on this issue after his apparent disgust at my contributions during the week, but to suggest that such a device is indicative of the innovation that will save the organ culture reminded me of a spoof article by Stephen Bicknell mocking the writing of the former editor of 'The Organ' and the (perceived) inadequacy thereof. He writes a wonderful assessment of a (fictitious) organ by the (equally fictitious) Agnus Smethwick and comments that: "There are several facilities offered to the organist not normally found on even the most complete schemes, including......Smethwick's marvellous patent 'Piston Quiz' device, which, at only one touch, immediately returns all the combinations across the organ back to those left by the previous player. The addition of a reverser to this device would of course be a further advantage." I offer it here with tongue strictly in cheek (as did Stephen Bicknell) and imply no judgement whatever of the usefulness or otherwise of Worcester's new console furniture. Speaking of innovation, I know of an excellent organ builder (who shall remain nameless) who is developing a device which makes bellows behave as if they are being manually operated, while connected to an electric blower. I've actually seen the prototype! Now, that's my kind of innovation, although I suspect John Carter might not agree Greetings from the tropical Netherlands Bazuin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre Lauwers Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 "Speaking of innovation, I know of an excellent organ builder (who shall remain nameless) who is developing a device which makes bellows behave as if they are being manually operated, while connected to an electric blower." (Quote) This exists since some years. And it works.....But maybe the reason lies elsewhere than believed. Nearly all the electric blowers placed between say 1920-1950 are 1)- too weak (one sees the main reservoir dropping while the tutti is played...) 2)- Very badly placed (in the tower, etc, several metres away from the organ in order to avoid the noise...). So we should compare with a sufficient electric blower, and sensibly situated (within the organ, or just by, then with the air intake inside the organ, and in a sound-deadening box). As for innovation , I do not think we shall be able to innovate again without having recovered all the historical chapters, that is, having understand them, rehabilitate them, and listened to a sufficient number of credible examples of them -post-romantic things included-. From the Renaissance to nowadays. Pierre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazuin Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 "This exists since some years." Really? Can you tell us where? The system I mentioned assumes 2 or more wedge bellows opening and closing in sequence. Is the system you mentioned the same? Bazuin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre Lauwers Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 This is done by Barthelemy Formentelli of Verona, and his pupil Rudy Jacques, organ-builder in Hastière (10 Miles from here). Here is a partial view of the system in the Jacques organ of Gerpinnes (BE): http://www.orguesjacques.org/ge17.jpg There is a kind of crankshaft above,driven by the electric motor, which moves the bellows trough the shafts we see on the picture. Pierre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazuin Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 Pierre Thanks, fantastic! Bazuin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john carter Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 Speaking of innovation, I know of an excellent organ builder (who shall remain nameless) who is developing a device which makes bellows behave as if they are being manually operated, while connected to an electric blower. I've actually seen the prototype! Now, that's my kind of innovation, although I suspect John Carter might not agree But why an electric blower when there is so much expertise in windmill power in the Netherlands? Water could be pumped into a huge tank in the church tower to drive a hydraulic turbine on the blower. JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazman Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucasorg Posted May 13, 2008 Author Share Posted May 13, 2008 More photos with some details of carved pipe shades and decoration for the top of the cases, as well as upper boards and solenoids now in place. My camera is giving up the ghost - through overuse, I expect, so watch out for a change in quality when the new toy arrives any time now....!! A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucasorg Posted May 16, 2008 Author Share Posted May 16, 2008 Here's the latest batch of photos from the last few days, including some of the case pipes now in position. A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
father-willis Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 Here's the latest batch of photos from the last few days, including some of the case pipes now in position. A Thanks! It's truly wonderful to have such an installation on record. Do you know the scale of the wooden prd reeds and what pressure they will be on? F-W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucasorg Posted May 17, 2008 Author Share Posted May 17, 2008 Do you know the scale of the wooden prd reeds and what pressure they will be on? Not to hand - I'll see what info I can dig out. A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJJ Posted May 17, 2008 Share Posted May 17, 2008 Re planned wind pressures - John Norman says 5'' for Gt & Pd reeds, 7'' for Sw reeds and 13-3/4'' for the Tuba - p. 33 of the May 08 Organists' Review. AJJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucasorg Posted May 17, 2008 Author Share Posted May 17, 2008 ...I don't get the Organist's Review!!!... :angry: A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DQB123 Posted May 18, 2008 Share Posted May 18, 2008 ...I don't get the Organist's Review!!!... :angry: A No local Organists' Association huh? Perhaps with the new organ going in, now would be the time to get one going and then you could get the OR at a discount! :angry: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucasorg Posted May 21, 2008 Author Share Posted May 21, 2008 Latest photos are available here. The console should soon be functioning and we are looking forward to hearing sounds for the first time sometime next week (all being well!). A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basdav Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Latest photos are available here. The console should soon be functioning and we are looking forward to hearing sounds for the first time sometime next week (all being well!). A Thank you for those Adrian, I am so glad you don't suffer from vertigo!!! Have you managed to find the spec of the Transept yet, but I imagine you are too busy with 3 Choirs at the moment. Is there a timescale on the big case taking a little walk to the other side, it looks an esay operation.. ahem!!!! Barrie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vox Humana Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Have you managed to find the spec of the Transept yet See post 320 on page 16! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucasorg Posted May 22, 2008 Author Share Posted May 22, 2008 Thank you for those Adrian, I am so glad you don't suffer from vertigo!!! Have you managed to find the spec of the Transept yet, but I imagine you are too busy with 3 Choirs at the moment. Is there a timescale on the big case taking a little walk to the other side, it looks an esay operation.. ahem!!! The Transept spec went up on this thread some time back.....see here Hope that helps! A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basdav Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 The Transept spec went up on this thread some time back.....see here Hope that helps! A Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucasorg Posted May 22, 2008 Author Share Posted May 22, 2008 Today's photos show many more of the facade pipes going into position, some now stripped of their protective layers and looking resplendent alongside the wooden carvings. A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJJ Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Today's photos show many more of the facade pipes going into position, some now stripped of their protective layers and looking resplendent alongside the wooden carvings. A Wow!! AJJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucasorg Posted May 23, 2008 Author Share Posted May 23, 2008 Today all the facade flats have been populated and the gilded angels have been temporarily placed atop the case - there are small adjustments still to be made. Photos here. A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcnd5584 Posted May 24, 2008 Share Posted May 24, 2008 Today all the facade flats have been populated and the gilded angels have been temporarily placed atop the case - there are small adjustments still to be made. Photos here. A It certainly looks very beautiful. Thank you for these new photographs, Adrian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucasorg Posted May 24, 2008 Author Share Posted May 24, 2008 It certainly looks very beautiful. Thank you for these new photographs, Adrian. Thanks! Pleased you're all enjoying seeing them. A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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