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A sketch of the key action
The picture shows Dominic’s contribution to the booklet, a diagrammatic measured sketch of the key action, which is most unusual, with keys which are weighted to rest under the key rails at the front, and the stickers resting not on the tail of the keys as usual in these chamber organs, but on a register with the stickers just above the keys. Setting the action up involved an exact estimate of the effect the humidity might have on the key action.
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Gerard Verloop has written a new booklet about the Pilcher chamber organ now at Zuid Scharwoude in the Netherlands.
Gerard Verloop has written a new booklet about the Pilcher chamber organ now at Zuid Scharwoude in the Netherlands. It will presumably become available from the church’s online shop at http://www.koogerkerk.nl/winkel/winkel.htm
Gerard Verloop’s thoroughly researched history is the main attraction of this attractive organ, one of the last to be built in a Georgian style. Not many domestic organs have such a complete story, the star being a watercolour of one Macdowall sister playing the organ to the other in the drawing room of their house in Baker Street. Tragically, the musical sister had died just before the delivery of the organ.
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A concert at 7.15pm at the Horniman Museum in London on Thursday 12th September
And a concert at 7.15pm, see https://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/solo-concert-stephen-farr
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Opening events of the recently-restored late Georgian chamber organ at the Horniman Museum
On the attrib. Joseph Beloudy chamber organ at the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill S.E. London, there will be a masterclass 2-5pm on Thursday (12.9.2019), see https://www.horniman.ac.uk/get_involved/blog/in-the-company-of-finchcocks-chamber-organ-masterclass-with-stephen-farr
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Installed Peter Conacher organ at St Patrick’s Bradford
The newly-installed Peter Conacher organ at St Patrick’s RC Bradford. The church is in the diocese of Leeds whose Bishop Marcus Stock is determined to expand the mission and teaching of the Church https://www.stpatricksmission.co.uk/about . As a result this church has stayed open and is administered by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal https://www.cfrfranciscans.co.uk/about
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Installed organ showing the new treble side panelling
The organ was installed in a niche originally intended for an altar-shrine, in the north aisle halfway down the nave, where it fits well. The new treble side panelling (facing east) is almost indistinguishable from the rest of the casework.
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Installation at St Patrick’s Bradford with Chris Davies tuning
The organ was installed in its new home in the week of August 5th: the church of St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Bradford. Chris Davies is tuning the basses of the Stopped Diapason
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Nick planing up new panels for the treble side
The organ’s new position meant that a new treble side panel was needed, made by Nick Hagen, with graining in the style of the original. The leather buttons were all corroded onto the threaded tracker end wires, so wires and buttons were replaced in the traditional manner. The pedalboard was falling to pieces, and was repaired with new cloth strips and washers. The key action was set again by Edward.
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Fifteenth C with a label and number
The lowest pipes of each rank bear a label for Peter Conacher, and the list number, in this case 958, which should help to date the organ more accurately. On the Fiffteenth C pipe body, there is also the number 1252, which may suggest a later change of stop, though there are no other signs.
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Name plate
The characteristic Peter Conacher name plate
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Starting to remove thethe Peter Conacher organ at St Michael’s Hudswell
Starting to remove the ca1890 Peter Conacher organ from St Michaels and All Angels Hudswell, near Richmond in North Yorkshire, where the church has been made redundant. The organ was made for Kirby Malzeard Methodist Church, and moved to Hudswell in 1934, according to newspaper used in re-adjusting the bearers of the wind chest. In August 2019 it was re-installed in St Patrick’s Roman Catholic church Bradford
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Ludlow study Day
On Saturday July 20th the church at Ludlow organised a study day to coincide with a regular lunchtime concert by Peter Dyke on their Nicholson/Gray & Davison/Snetzler organ. It included an introduction to the larger of the two Early English Organ Project organs, by Dominic, and playing and blowing by organists at the study day.
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Ellie assisting with assembly
Ellie (Nick’s daughter) doing some work experience post GCSEs assisting with gluing and assembling the top case
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FOR SALE English chamber organ, in the style of a 17th century consort organ
This organ was made last year, in 2018, on spec, in the hope that it would excite viol players, who rarely play with the organ which would have been played by the composers of the music they are playing (Byrd, Gibbons, Tomkins, etc.). The 4½ stops are all made of wood, narrow scaled, with speech and tone very similar to the viols themselves. Its details can be found on our website page https://www.goetzegwynn.co.uk/organ/consort-organ-in-17th-century-englis-style-made-for-hire/ One of the reasons behind its design was to provide the two pitches at which sets of viols were made in the 17th century in England. At the moment the organ is in Brussels. We are selling it for £48,000.00 (+ VAT)
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FOR SALE Italian positive organ in 17th century style
As Edward and Dominic come to the end of their careers, and start to hand over to the next generation of organ builders at Welbeck, we would like to sell two organs which still belong to G&G. The first is this chamber organ based closely on the ca1700 organ which we restored for Sheila Lawrence (which came to England from Lucca in the 1930s), made in 1996. Its details can be found on our website page https://www.goetzegwynn.co.uk/organ/italian-positive-organ-in-17th-century-style/. Its authenticity was praised by Luigi Tagliavini who played it at one of its first public concerts. It has been used for a number of recordings, particularly by His Majesty’s Sackbuts and Cornets. It is still in excellent condition. We would like £36,000.00 (+ VAT) for it.
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Moving the Croft Castle organ with Pietro Pasquini and Ilic Colzani
The Samuel Green chamber organ which used to be in the chapel at Dinmore Manor and has stood in the principal bedroom at Croft castle for the last eight years has been sold at auction at Sothebys, and has been bought by the Italian organist/keyboard player/teacher Pietro Pasquini for use in his music room. Here he is being assisted by the organ builder Ilic Colzani http://www.colzaniorgani.it/it/index.php and also by Dominic
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Visit by Ian Watts to the Trinity College Organ-
While Dominic was at the Public Theatre organ at Trinity College Dublin, we were visited by Ian Watts, who is now Director Of Music at All Saints Aston, succeeding Paul Hudson with whom Edward and Dominic have sung and been directed by for many years. Ian was celebrating a significant birthday organised by his wife Celine, who may not have bargained for a baroque organ. Ian Watts is also President of the Nottingham and District Organists Association.
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Daniel Moult accepting applause at Trinity College Dublin
As part of the Pipeworks Organ and Choral Festival our organ at Trinity College Dublin features for a day (June 22nd), organised by Andrew Johnstone. Andrew conducted a public interview with Dominic, Daniel Moult led masterclasses and then played a wonderful concert of music by Byrd, Anon., Purcell, Handel, Stanley and Wesley. In the picture you can just see Daniel accepting the enthusiastic applause…
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Summer!
Almost summer – in a dry, not-so-cold lunchtime Edward, Nick, Fiona (our neighbouring ceramic restorer), Chris, Rob and Joe celebrated the occasion by being photographed. Rob is restoring a Wurlitzer Diaphone…
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Trying out a piece!
Trying out a piece, with astonishing success. It is amazing how appealing this instrument is, even in an age where reproduced music is everywhere.
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Still working after 60 years!
The motor and rheostat fitted by Henry Bennett sixty years ago, working well!
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Restored pneumatic motors
Restored pneumatic motors for the key and the stop actions. In these automatic instruments everything has to work properly, or Tannhäuser will not be as it should be
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Joe working on the key action
Joe working through the restored pneumatic mechanism, and making adjustments.
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Paper rolls of music
In 1862 the organ would have had barrels and a clockwork mechanism, but it was changed to a pneumatic action with paper rolls in about 1900. The reward was the large amount of music available, whole movements of symphonies, operatic overtures, etc.
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Imhof & Mukle organ 1862
The flute organ is by Imhof & Mukle, but actually made by F. Heine in Vöhrenbach Baden 1862
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Collecting the Orchestrion
Dominic and Joe moving the mechanism of Henry Bennett’s Flute Organ (Orchestrion) into the van. It originally belonged to Henry and Edward’s great grandfather, and was brought back to playing condition by Henry about 60 years ago!
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Wingfield organ at Fotheringhay church: May 25th concert
There will be a concert of music that might have been sung and played in Fotheringhay church (near Oundle) during the 16th century, on May 25th, sung by the Alamire Consort directed by David Skinner, and the organ played by James Parsons. Tickets from the Oundle International Festival box office, more information on https://www.warmingtonbenefice.org.uk/latest-articles/fotheringhay–echoes-of-the-plantagenets.php
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In memory of Bernd Fischer
We heard that we have lost Bernd Fischer last week, one of the finest craftsmen and maker of harpsichords which came as close as they could get to perfection. He was our neighbour, sharing a workshop with Derek Adlam. We learnt so much from him. Perhaps the greatest benefit of moving our workshop to Welbeck was to have Bernd and Derek next door, for passing on knowledge, expertise, inspiration and encouragement.
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Santiago De Compostela 3
The 1865 Ramon Cardama inscription revealed by Chris Wells when he restored the paintwork of the case.
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Santiago de Compostela 2
This notice records the Franciscan friar who rebuilt the organ, not that his idea of organ building would have been accepted by the rest of the trade