Live at Southbank Centre 24.03.14- Thomas Trotter (organ)

[Lento]

In his interview a few nights back John Scott spoke of the difficulty in balancing this organ, particularly now the console is nearer to the guts of the machine. He mentioned the importance of having someone listen out in the auditorium during rehearsal, William McVicker in his case.

[OldTechie]

Can anyone explain why the picture on the Live in Concert Homepage is of an organ patently not at the RFH

I reckon it's the Ulster Hall. Seems to be their stock concert image.

And a complaint about it:

http://www.byersmusic.com/ulster-hall-organ-1862-belfast-musical-festival.php#1862Festival13

[DracoM]

In his interview a few nights back John Scott spoke of the difficulty in balancing this organ, particularly now the console is nearer to the guts of the machine. He mentioned the importance of having someone listen out in the auditorium during rehearsal, William McVicker in his case.

Which I think Thomas Trotter endorsed but not is so many words. Interesting.

[Vile Consort]

But this isn't at all an unusual situation for organists. Many organs have this issue, and organists are quite used to dealing with it. The problem in some cases is that the pipes furthest from the organist are the ones closest to the audience. Indeed, in many cases, those pipes can even be "round the corner" from the console.

At Halifax the high pressure reeds are in such a location. What sounds like a moderately loud 16ft reed is devastating rank in the nave; it will obliterate anything less than full great and full swell coupled. The swell box faces up the nave and away from the player. The imbalance is so great that, when playing a solo line on it and accompanying on the choir organ, the correct balance from an audience point of view is to make the solo line almost inaudible at the console.

[Mattbod]

I think the organists have to be polite as this is a gala festival series celebrating the opening of the rebuilt organ. The organ has always been unforgiving to players because of that acoustic (or lack of it) and I would imagine the moving forward of the console ( I would like to know why) does present problems of balance particularly as the departments are spread over such a wide area. As I have said elsewhere though Dr Scott should be well used to problems of balance having been a long term organist at St Paul's pre mobile console where balancing the dome divisions from the old console behind the choir stalls was a nightmare.

Incidentally this opening has had me revisiting Ralph Downes' book Baroque Tricks. It makes very interesting reading indeed. I don't agree with all his beliefs but he was a passionate man and firm in his beliefs and the book is very interesting and amusing. However my favorite instruments of his are the two Walker instruments in the Brompton Oratory and Buckfast Abbey in Devon. The acoustics of both those buildings are sublime.

P.S Just listening to the concert now and good god the ending of the Bach Adagio was Weeeeeiiiiiirrrd: what the hell was he doing with that registration????!!!!

[ardcarp]

However my favorite instruments of his are the two Walker instruments in the Brompton Oratory and Buckfast Abbey in Devon. The acoustics of both those buildings are sublime.

Indeed. Buckfast is a gem, but although there is no traditional case on show, the main departments are indeed in 'cabinets' (not a very adequate description) which modify and focus the sound. It's an organ with a French accent, and about as different from the RFH as one could imagine. It's in need of a bit of TLC and the original Walker console is a bit unwieldy to use. Pity they can't throw a million quid at that one.

[Mattbod]

Indeed ardcarp. I have connections with the area and i have heard the organ is in dire state and currently unplayable. They have a digital organ in situ at the moment I am told. I really do hope it gets attention as it is a far more interesting organ than the pleasant but fairly underwhelming organ at Exeter which is currently undergoing a "big money" rebuild by H and H.

[ardcarp]

the pleasant but fairly underwhelming organ at Exeter

It's quite good for accompanying services in the choir...arguably its chief function. So may be 'a bit underwhelming' is better than the reverse! Also, even though you're up on the screen, you don'y feel too detached from down below from the aural point of view.

I really do hope it [Buckfast organ] gets attention

So do I, but I guess it needs more than 'some attention'. I just hope the monks don't settle for a quick fix by some local firm. It's a great instrument and needs a major rebuild of quality. Sorry to hear an electronic gadget is being used. What a travesty.

[MrGongGong]

So do I, but I guess it needs more than 'some attention'. I just hope the monks don't settle for a quick fix by some local firm. .

I'm no organ builder but I hear that WILLIAM DRAKE Ltd of Buckfastleigh were ok (for Yokels )

http://www.williamdrake.co.uk/#List_of_Organs

[Mattbod]

Never heard of William Drake Ltd of Buckfastleigh but they do have a Royal Warrant.Devon does have a pretty decent organ builder in Micheal Farley of Sidmouth who restored the Aurthur Harrison Organ of Holy Cross Crediton to a very high standard (purely technical leaving the pipework untouched with the exception of adding a 32ft reed) so he might be able to do some good. He is already sorting out the organ at St Marychurch Torquay after it was ruined by some cowboy builder.

As to the Exeter organ, I am fond of it ( went to Exeter Uni and had lessons from Paul Morgan the ex organist) but as an exciting recital instrument it falls short, failing to speak out well into the nave. The extended minstrel's gallery organ has been a disaster with tuning too apparently.

Anyway, as far as the RFH organ is concerned, I can't help smirking, having just listened to Gillian Weir playing Reger on the pre rebuilt organ, of a Devon organist friend's description of the 32ft reed on it sounding like someone "farting in the bath" :P (sorry to be crude but an apt description). I have enjoyed the hullabaloo of this week's festival but it is not one of my favorite organs.

[MrGongGong]

Never heard of William Drake Ltd of Buckfastleigh

They built one for Mr Trotter I see

[Mattbod]

Just rang my mate in Devon: says William Drake a very small outfit who specialise in small chamber organs. He said he would not have staff to do the Abbey but did look after the Willis in Totnes parish church for a while but contract was taken away.

Buckfast Abbey currently has a Makin Digital organ as said :/

[ardcarp]

William Drake has sadly died very recently. I don't know if his firm will continue. His organs were very fine (and not just chamber organs) but he was definitely a purist...mechanical actions, proper slider chests and decent casework...so I don't think a big electro=pneumatic beast would have been up his street anyway.

Just found this on Wiki:

The firm of William Drake, Organ Builder manufactures pipe organs in Buckfastleigh, Devon, England, and has an appointment as organ builder to the Queen.
William Drake established the firm in 1974 after completing an apprenticeship, in which he built a small award winning organ. Initially, the company was part of John Loosemore Centre for Organ and Early Music - an entity that taught a number of subjects concerning the organ - such as playing of the organ, history, and building of such instruments. Eventually the program was discontinued, but Drake's firm has continued since that time. His firm has built organs, as well as restored instruments in a number of countries, including New Zealand and the United States.
For the design of instruments, the firm takes its inspiration from English organs of the 18th and 19th centuries. Organs built by Drake's company are mechanical action instruments.
William Drake died on 11 January 2014, aged 70. The business continues under the direction of Geert Noppers and Joost de Boer, who have been members of the staff for many years.

[MrGongGong]

William Drake has sadly died very recently. I don't know if his firm will continue. His organs were very fine (and not just chamber organs) but he was definitely a purist...mechanical actions, proper slider chests and decent casework...so I don't think a big electro=pneumatic beast would have been up his street anyway.

I think the firm are in the process of restoring the instrument in Chistchurch Spitalfields?
but sad news all the same

[Mattbod]

That is a shame indeed. I am surprised his firm has not crossed my radar.