Best organ in the country?

[peterdevile]

Many thanks for this. I'd like to hear it live, though. I also hear that the Melbourne Town Hall one is superior. It seems strange, looking at the Sydney one's specification and overall sheer size, that is has such a small choir and swell organ and even more so that its pedalboard has only 30 notes rather than the full 32.

I am fairly sure that 32 note pedal boards became more popular between the wars, but even now they are certainly not the norm. I am not sure that I would describe Sydney's choir as small, at 20 stops.... or the Swell at 24 stops.

[ahinton]

I am fairly sure that 32 note pedal boards became more popular between the wars, but even now they are certainly not the norm. I am not sure that I would describe Sydney's choir as small, at 20 stops.... or the Swell at 24 stops.

I would do so only in comparison with the remainder of the instrument. I'm not sure to what extent the pedalboard "norm" is 32 notes but it certainly ought to be no less than that, considering just how important a part of the instrument it is. Sample Kevin Bowyer's traversal (two CDs of three so far on the Toccata label) of Alkan's "organ" music (more preoperly largely pédalier music) played on the organ of Blackburn Cathedral (if you've not already done so) and you'll get some idea of the sheer extent of the expressive force that the organ pedals alone are or can be as part of the whole (even if some of the pedal studies are not the best of Alkan's music).

[peterdevile]

I would do so only in comparison with the remainder of the instrument. I'm not sure to what extent the pedalboard "norm" is 32 notes but it certainly ought to be no less than that, considering just how important a part of the instrument it is. Sample Kevin Bowyer's traversal (two CDs of three so far on the Toccata label) of Alkan's "organ" music (more preoperly largely pédalier music) played on the organ of Blackburn Cathedral (if you've not already done so) and you'll get some idea of the sheer extent of the expressive force that the organ pedals alone are or can be as part of the whole (even if some of the pedal studies are not the best of Alkan's music).

Aah, you have me there, I have not experienced the music of Alkan.

All I can say is that there hasn't been enough organ music composed to warrant the absolute change from 30 to 32 notes on a pedal board. I am an organ builder who looks after about 175 organs. Some of those I care for are relatively new (10 to 15 years old) but have 30 note pedal boards. One is 3 years old and has 32 notes, but is straight and flat so is impossible to play unless you dislocate your hip!

[ardcarp]

Welcome from me too scotiaalto. Durham Cathedral organ is obviously a flagship for H&H in their own city. I've only heard it a few times, and of course it's a very fine instrument. I heard a story (maybe apocryphal) that Conrad Eden, a some time organist there, would not allow the high-pressure reeds to be drawn during penitential seasons (Advent and Lent) on the grounds that they made a bigger impact at Christmas and Easter.

[Contre Bombarde]

Welcome from me too scotiaalto. Durham Cathedral organ is obviously a flagship for H&H in their own city. I've only heard it a few times, and of course it's a very fine instrument. I heard a story (maybe apocryphal) that Conrad Eden, a some time organist there, would not allow the high-pressure reeds to be drawn during penitential seasons (Advent and Lent) on the grounds that they made a bigger impact at Christmas and Easter.

I don't know about this particular case, but when I was a student, and that's not all that many years ago, it was considered bad form to use any reed, except for the swell 8p oboe and pedal 16p fagotto and 4p shawm in the UK during Lent. These exceptions allowed for various JSB Chorale Preludes to be played in the way Bach may have intended.

The re-setting of pistons for Easter Morning Mass was an occasion of much joy.

PS The organ in Melbourne Town Hall is quite magnificent and the high pressure party horn available on several divisions is a real hair-parter. With appropriate notice the City authorities are only too happy to arrange for visiting organists to have an hour of two on the instrument.

[bull-scheidt]

Well, of course, it must be taken into account that the sound of an organ is partly a function of the acoustic of the cathedral or chapel in which it resides.....

[Finzi4ever]

Welcome from me too scotiaalto. Durham Cathedral organ is obviously a flagship for H&H in their own city. I've only heard it a few times, and of course it's a very fine instrument. I heard a story (maybe apocryphal) that Conrad Eden, a some time organist there, would not allow the high-pressure reeds to be drawn during penitential seasons (Advent and Lent) on the grounds that they made a bigger impact at Christmas and Easter.

That does ring true. My favourite CE story is that he refused to allow women from visiting choirs (particularly from the university's various college choirs) to process in or out; rather, they had to sit demurely in the stalls while the gentlemen came in or out. His argument being twofold: a) women didn't know how to process properly ('hospital corners' and all that when turning) and b) they always wore 'clacky' shoes which detracted both from the solemnity of the occasion and also from his voluntaries!

[HairyMaclary]

Proper processing is a dying art, and irritatingly noisy footwear is increasingly common in both sexes.

[3rd Viennese School]

I like the organ in my lounge.
It's a Yamaha.

3VS