Worcester Cathedral Nave Organ

[SinaL]

This could be in another thread, but does anybody know when the Worcester Cathedral Nave organ will start to be built, its builder, and any info. on it?

Are they still using the old nave toaster or the rodgers one?

[OmegaConsort]

This could be in another thread, but does anybody know when the Worcester Cathedral Nave organ will start to be built, its builder, and any info. on it?

Are they still using the old nave toaster or the rodgers one?

 

If I remember correctly the old nave "Bradford" organ was sold on Ebay a little while ago. Don't know about the Rodgers one

[bwv572]

I think I read on another thread that the cathedral is taking a break from the fund-raising and allowing a bit of a delay in work on the Nave organ. The Rodgers is still there.

[Philip J Wells]

This could be in another thread, but does anybody know when the Worcester Cathedral Nave organ will start to be built, its builder, and any info. on it?

Are they still using the old nave toaster or the rodgers one?

 

I should think that the Nave organ will be a long time coming. I did hear that the imaginative case shown in John Norman's recent book on cases has been refused a faculty on the grounds it was too large. They still have to raise the funds for the Transept organ which includes moving the case with its 32 ft pipes from South to North Transept as part of a new 2M+P by Nicholsons.

 

PJW

[Christopher Allsop]

That's right - the Rodgers has speakers at the east and west ends of the nave and the console is on a movable platform. The reinstatement of the Hill Transept case, its existing pedal pipes, and new Great, Swell and Pedal stops is on the agenda when a donor or two comes forward/is located (the stop-knobs of which are already present on the Quire console). The 3-manual Nave pipe-organ is rather more on the back-burner at the moment while the cathedral fund-raises for other things.

 

Christopher

[SinaL]

That's right - the Rodgers has speakers at the east and west ends of the nave and the console is on a movable platform. The reinstatement of the Hill Transept case, its existing pedal pipes, and new Great, Swell and Pedal stops is on the agenda when a donor or two comes forward/is located (the stop-knobs of which are already present on the Quire console). The 3-manual Nave pipe-organ is rather more on the back-burner at the moment while the cathedral fund-raises for other things.

 

Christopher

Is the rodgers controllable from the tickell console aswell because in a major eucharist they must be used together?

[Christopher Allsop]

Is the rodgers controllable from the tickell console aswell because in a major eucharist they must be used together?

 

In theory it could be to some degree, given that the Tickell has MIDI out. But without some sort of complex go-between system controlling stops or swell pedals its not terribly practical. You've also got to work out just how to route the very very long MIDI cable (over twice as long as they are supposed to be...). We haven't fully decided what to do at Christmas yet... In the past we've always used two players keeping as closely synchronized as possible!

[SinaL]

In theory it could be to some degree, given that the Tickell has MIDI out. But without some sort of complex go-between system controlling stops or swell pedals its not terribly practical. You've also got to work out just how to route the very very long MIDI cable (over twice as long as they are supposed to be...). We haven't fully decided what to do at Christmas yet... In the past we've always used two players keeping as closely synchronized as possible!

 

Could the Quire organ sufficiently accompany the congregation by itself? I realise there would be some time delay problems though.

[pcnd5584]

Out of interest, why is the South Transept section (and case) being re-sited to the North Transept? I do not think I have read anything which explains the rationale behind this move.

[John Sayer]

Out of interest, why is the South Transept section (and case) being re-sited to the North Transept? I do not think I have read anything which explains the rationale behind this move.

 

I believe the answer is that the Hill case was originally installed in the North Transept, a few feet away from the north wall. Moving it back there would leave the south window unobscured for the first time in decades, letting more light into a rather gloomy building. I seem to remember reading somewhere that the Solo box at the top even had a glass back wall in order to reveal the stained glass with the shutters open.

 

Tonally it might not make much difference, but architecturally it will be a great improvement.

 

JS

[Tony Newnham]

In theory it could be to some degree, given that the Tickell has MIDI out. But without some sort of complex go-between system controlling stops or swell pedals its not terribly practical. You've also got to work out just how to route the very very long MIDI cable (over twice as long as they are supposed to be...). We haven't fully decided what to do at Christmas yet... In the past we've always used two players keeping as closely synchronized as possible!

 

Hi

 

There are means of transmitting MIDI over long distances, so that isn't insurmountable. If the pipe organ swell pedals send MIDI messages (which would be logical) then controlling the Rogers Swell is no problem, and I would assume that pistons from the pipe console could be set up to change stops on the Rogers (assuming a reasonably complete MIDI installation, and not just notes only).

 

The question is, is the cost and complexity worth while for the number of times both organs will be needed together? 2 players and audio & CCTV foldback seems the simplest solution for occaisional use.

 

Every Blessing

Tony

[Christopher Allsop]

Yes - although the case was never actually installed in the North Transept. The legend is that some sort of family row between the donors of the organ and the donors of the South Transept window caused the organ to be built deliberately obscuring the window only a year or so after the window was put in. The organ also covers up some rather wonderful norman arcading across the back wall of the south transept.

 

I believe the answer is that the Hill case was originally installed in the North Transept, a few feet away from the north wall. Moving it back there would leave the south window unobscured for the first time in decades, letting more light into a rather gloomy building. I seem to remember reading somewhere that the Solo box at the top even had a glass back wall in order to reveal the stained glass with the shutters open.

 

Tonally it might not make much difference, but architecturally it will be a great improvement.

 

JS

[themythes]

Yes - although the case was never actually installed in the North Transept. The legend is that some sort of family row between the donors of the organ and the donors of the South Transept window caused the organ to be built deliberately obscuring the window only a year or so after the window was put in. The organ also covers up some rather wonderful norman arcading across the back wall of the south transept.

 

Christopher’s latest posting prompts me to send this one; I have been mulling for a day or two over its authenticity, but even if there are one or two details which may not be completely echt, I think it’s too good to remain in oblivion.

 

The story, as I understand it, of how the Scott case came to be in the South transept is intriguing. It came from an organist friend who happens to be a guide at the Cathedral. How true it is I know not, but my friend heard it from a local vicar, who was explaining to him how the Earl came to wear his hair unusually long. http://thepeerage.com/002803_001.jpg

 

The Earl of Dudley was an equerry to Queen Victoria; the Prince of Wales, later Edward the 7th, found himself at odds with a notable European nobleman, who, consequently, challenged him to a duel. It was the custom then to be allowed to field a substitute and the Earl was given his marching orders: to take part on the Prince of Wales’s behalf, and thus the Prince’s part in the duel. The Earl came off second best (shades of the World Cup here, perhaps) and lost an ear as a result, hence, presumably the long hair.

 

His resentment towards both the Prince of Wales and by association, Her Majesty, can well be imagined, and when he presented the cathedral with, among much else, the case for the organ he insisted that it go in the South Transept where it would hide a stained glass window given by Victoria in memory of Queen Adelaide.

 

I have, also, the impression that when moved and installed in the North Transept the case will stand well forward of the wall to allow better egress of sound, but perhaps Christopher will enlighten us here as well.

 

David Harrison