A CRYING SHAME (...needs some TLC) | UNLOVED PIPE ORGAN

Visiting the 3 manual Peter Conacher & Co pipe organ at Stockton Parish Church.
For full organ specification visit: www.npor.org.u...
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[@garyalvey6374]

Conacher organs always sound wonderful even out of tune. 🙏😉

[@OrganicVisitations]

They certainly do! 👍🎹

[@mattleach958]

Sad indeed that there are so many good pipe organs in the world that simply can't afford to be properly expertly maintained. Everything is electronic now, which is all fine and good, but there is nothing like a really good well-tuned and maintained pipe organ.

[@OrganicVisitations]

Indeed, and you’re unfortunately correct! This is one of many that has fallen victim to the electronic age. Thanks for watching 😊

[@russellwaite5874]

Why can't the lottery people do something to preserve these magnificent instruments? I think we all owe it to the craftsmen who built them . ( or possibly crowd funding ) I think that's what they call it.

[@OrganicVisitations]

@@russellwaite5874 Yes, I wondered whether they may be able to obtain a Lottery grant. Seems like a very worthy cause. But, would this start them using it? Of would praise bands still reign in this particular church!

[@HD7100]

That organ is such a beautiful sounding and also a beautiful looking instrument. It speaks with authority and has a very robust full sound. It is such a shame they do not maintain or use the instrument. It is truly a magnificent instrument.

[@heidicooper3870]

Thanks

[@OrganicVisitations]

Thank you so much! That will help with ever increasing fuel costs as I travel from organ to organ 🎹😊👍

[@cabbagepatch8947]

The case looks beautiful.

[@OrganicVisitations]

Thanks for watching and please subscribe if you haven’t already 😊

[@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21]

As an organ builder, I have found the Conacher organs to have heavy action. Working on a recent full restoration of a 2-manual 1877 one which is still currently on our workshop, it's so heavy that I keep it here as it's an excellent practice instrument for me as on organist. The logic being that if I can play it on the Conacher, I can play it on any of the other 7 tracker actions that I play. There is one that I sometimes play that is heavier though. During my apprecticeship we maintained around 200 organs up 7 & down the country. Sady (in my eyes) many of the tracker Conachers have been put on pneumatic action. I'm a big believer it trying to keep tracker organs with the tracker action where at all possible. I think we have to bear in mind that in the late 1800's it was all men playing. Conacher is a Huddersfield firm, so in Yorkshire; people who are tough. No organist would say "this action is too heavy for me", they would jolly well put in enough practice to be able to play it.....at a time when people didn't have the distractions we have today & could indeed spend hours practicing. My own experience as an organst, is I learnt on a Norman & Beard 1913 large 2-manualpneumatic action organ, making it easy to play. Why didn't me otherwise excellent tutor explain to me there was tracker action, electric action & pneumatic action. The deputy organist's father was organist at a church nearer to where I lived & the organ there was tracker. Why wasn't I being invited to practice there instead? Goodness knows. By 16, I got my first position as an organist 4.5 miles from where I lived near Sheffield. The church had an excellent 2-manual tracker action Brindley & Foster organ. I had to practice & practice & practice to be able to build up the strength to actually press the notes. The organ had recently been overhauled at the time (back in 1979) & was a joy to play. The saddest thing here is that people just can't be bothered to learn to play. Richard, UK

[@OrganicVisitations]

Thank you, Richard, for this detailed comment! Very helpful indeed. Thanks for watching and do please subscribe :-)

[@russellwaite5874]

I personally can be bothered to play but I never got the opportunity when I was young. I do enough playing by ear to entertain myself, and at about 16 years old I was trying to copy what I heard, ( the prince of Denmark's march ) on a small reed organ I got from Woolworths or somewhere. My grandfather was an organist but he passed away when I was young, and all I have is three recordings of him playing unknown tunes on a local chapel organ. (originally on reel to reel tape).

[@hammond1167]

Thanks for sharing this Organ with us, i hope perhaps the church will look at doing some fundraisers to help bring it back!

[@OrganicVisitations]

Unfortunately, due to the fact that the organ is no longer used, means that even fundraising isn’t on the ‘to do’ list. Thanks for watching 😊

[@russellwaite5874]

At 4.13 my favourite piece. It was one of my grandfather's too I believe. He was an organist.

[@OrganicVisitations]

Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring 😊 Only a short snippet but a beautiful piece. Thanks for watching

[@ConacherOrgan]

I used to live around the corner in Tarring Street, played it a couple of times when I lived up there - the church has fallen to the evangelicals. Perhaps when they manage to destroy the congregation over time, the church may see use as a community venue and the organ properly utilised. I seem to remember the pedal reed is humongous ! Interestingly, there was a Hope Jones instrument before this, i'd love to see if any photographs remain of this.

[@OrganicVisitations]

A local lad! Thanks for watching and please do subscribe :-) There are details of the previous Hope-Jones organ on the NPOR but unfortunately no photographs: www.npor.org.uk/survey/N04211

[@ethanlamoureux5306]

I’m an Evangelical Christian, and I despise the “contemporary Christian music” in so many churches! There is little I can say good about it, I don’t think it fits in the church setting at all nor does it honor God or show reverence towards Him in any way. I play the “organ” (electronic imitation) at my church, and I wish I could find an old unloved pipe organ for rehoming. I would put the care into it myself even if it took years! I would even do it in place if it would be played and enjoyed. Unfortunately when it comes to disused UK organs, I live on the other side of the big pond!

[@sydneyorgans3250]

Despite the very obvious tuning issues, this sounds like it could be a magnificent instrument: even now it sounds impressive - and looks impressive. I'm at least very pleased that you have recorded it. We've only recorded one Peter Conacher organ - a pleasant 2 manual 9 rank tracker action instrument from 1904, which also needs some maintenance. In view of your comments about the heaviness of the action, it is worth pointing out that the small Conacher has the heaviest action of any organ I have ever played. Absolutely unbelievably heavy! I wonder if this was a characteristic of Conacher instruments.

[@OrganicVisitations]

Thanks as ever for watching! I play a 2 manual tracker Peter Conacher every Sunday morning. It was built in 1872 and is well maintained/tuned. The action is very soft and light, even with couplers, so not sure it’s a PC characteristic. The organ in the video is just unloved, the keys are uneven and playing it is like a session at the gym! It was quite depressing to see such a fine instrument in such a poor state 😞

[@sydneyorgans3250]

@@OrganicVisitations It's at least good to hear that this wasn't a Conacher characteristic: at least not in the 1870s!

[@OrganicVisitations]

@@sydneyorgans3250 Only my humble opinion - not set in stone 🙂

[@derekdaniels8649]

How heartbreaking to see such a magnificent instrument in such a state of dereliction.

[@OrganicVisitations]

It sure is! Unfortunately there are a lot in the same situation 🙄

[@Jensleeps]

Good Video 👍

[@louisglen1653]

The guitar strummers for what ever reason are the people church leaders listen to and as a result many, many organs are no longer used. I was able to rescue an organ in the area where I live and brought it to another church.

[@OrganicVisitations]

Good for you! And thank you for watching 😊

[@davidcraggs3770]

This is criminal. As an organist I have been advised that we have to move with the times and be evangelical to attract younger people in to the churches. But it isn’t working! The worship in the church has become more of an entertainment than a sacred and reverent exercise in honour God Almighty. Moving with the times has in a lot of ways has badly impacted on the sense of reverence in the church, especially some the modern music and worship songs many of which older members of congregations do not know. Last time I went into an Anglican Church I thought I had entered a Pentecostal Temple.

[@louisglen1653]

@@OrganicVisitations I'm happy I came across your videos! Keep up the good work!

[@louisglen1653]

@@davidcraggs3770 You hit the nail on the head! Worship has become entertainment! I was part of a worship team and a few times a year we would just stop and discuss and pray that we keep the right mindset and lead worship rather than entertain the congregation. It was a great worship team with five members who taught music, one member studying for his PHD in music and a couple of other people. I was the only hacker, but but after praying for help the Lord touched my playing and I played in ways that I never played before. What people seem to forget is that organs work fine for contemporary worship music.

[@OrganicVisitations]

@@davidcraggs3770 I couldn't have worded it better myself!

[@peteacher52]

For an organ that hasn't been used for so long, it appears to not have suffered the ravages of vandalism that so many others have when left in abandoned churches. That is something that really hurts. I'd like to see those big pedal pipes protected, if the day ever comes for the organ to speak again, in order to stop people using them as receptacles for sweet wrappers.

[@OrganicVisitations]

Thankfully this organ is positioned in an organ gallery, safely away from kids with curious fingers! Thanks for watching and please subscribe etc :-)

[@w270rab]

Peter Conacher & Co also made a few cinema organs, I remember seeing one years ago but i can't remember where.

[@OrganicVisitations]

I didn't know that - you have inspired me to do some research! Thanks for watching and please subscribe etc

[@ConacherOrgan]

Yes, we own two of them - the ex Regal Rotherham (3 manual 9 rank) and Forum Coventry (3 manual 8 rank), two of the three that are left of 9 built.

[@w270rab]

@@ConacherOrgan Must have been the Regal Rotherham I heard in the early 70s; I believe that Conacher also made a few 4/20+ high spec cinema organs with grand piano attachments, I wonder what happened to those.

[@richardharrold9736]

Two mixtures and two 2fts on the Great alone, and a Larigot, Cymbel and Regal on the Choir, plus a Mixture and 4ft reed on the Pedal? Safe to say it wouldn't have left Conachers like that! A Regal is more like a Vox Humana than a Clarinet. Sadly, while it seems to be in decent nick, this organ will take quite a bit of effort to un-bugger, and its best hope for that would be for it to be sold to Germany! Why did you demonstrate the Voix Celeste on its own rather than with the Salicional?

[@OrganicVisitations]

Agreed, it needs a lot doing to. Hopefully somebody will invest one day. Sorry about the Voix Celeste/Salicional demo 😟

[@organisten]

I am now terrifyingly near 60 years old, and ironically (as will become apparent from my comment) you may dismiss my disdain as age. However, what has happened to this organ is simply a consequence of what started when I was.... wait for it.... YOUNG. When I was a schoolboy in the 70s they began tearing down tradition, uprooting choirs (you used to have such a proud church choir tradition in the UK), and basically there was no place for things like this anymore. It was done in the name of the YOUTH. We hated it! (There's the irony if you haven't noticed. I am speaking on behalf of the youth I then was. You can dismiss me as an old "fuddy duddy" now, but I wasn't in the 70s). Indeed I watched, with dismay, church after church get rid of its choir, and over to "contemporary worship group" and longed to see it stopped. I was particularly offended as a youth because the clergy, who were really following their own agenda, used me and my age group as the excuse. They said we could not "understand" the old words (which I found especially patronising). I am now, as said, approaching my sixties, and have lived to see the clergy and their liturgical "reforms" do to that great choral tradition and organs what Dutch Elm Disease did to the elm tree population. I cannot, of course, now claim to be young at all - but I can speak for the boy inside my old body, deprived of the fine BCP 1662 and annoyed and frustrated by being told I couldn't understand it. I hope that this cultural vandalism will one day be reversed.... but it realistically won't happen in my lifetime. The only place you will hear the fine choral tradition I grew up with now is in a reducing number of cathedrals, which is exactly NOT what I experienced as a young boy; nearly every parish church had its choir in those days, and the idea was not to be perfect, but to ASPIRE to perfection. What you describe here with this organ, is sadly only a symptom of what I have described. And furthermore, until the root cause is addressed - it is cultural "inverted snobbery" or vandalism - then things won't get any better. There isn't, quite simply, any use for such a fine instrument.

[@OrganicVisitations]

I couldn’t have worded it better! I am now terrifyingly near 50 years old and remember in the 1980’s almost all churches having a large and dedicated choir; BCP evensong every Sunday with a choir anthem thrown in and a string of organists ready to play the well maintained organ! Parish choirs are now made up of the few who are still alive and have been in the choir for ever, clinging on to the past (which you described) and praying for new members to keep the tradition going. Unfortunately, when these folks are no longer with us, there will be nobody to take their place. It will be the end of an era. Organs are no longer maintained and are being replaced with digital organs, pianos or praise bands. Organists are few and far between. Subscribe and watch my next video - it touches on this very subject.

[@organisten]

@@OrganicVisitations It was deliberate. Imagine the irony of this. When I was a teenager, I was confronted with a trainee priest who said that the BCP should be burnt and forgotten. Those were not his exact words, but that was his gist. "Young people" needed something for their time. He was actually talking to ME, who at the time was about 18 and did not share his opinion! This is a separate subject, yet related. I myself was part of a large wave of English organists who left the UK for other lands. This happened mostly in the 80s and 90s. Here in Norway people were as incredulous to the pittance "paid" to a church musician in England.... as people back home there were that here I was receiving a living wage for being a church organist! You may, therefore, find it enlightening to obtain back copies of Organists' Review, especially from the years 1981-1983. These were an epiphany for me. You will namely be able to read about how our *profession* has ceased to be regarded as such, and is now only a hobby in the UK. You're not supposed to judge people on their income, but in reality we as a society do. In these old Organists' Reviews, I was astounded to learn that the "honorarium" one was paid in the UK was the vestige of what used to be a living wage. That before the wars, being a church musician had indeed been a profession. Very much oversimplified this, but basically, whereas the clergy's enumeration increased in line with inflation over time, organists continued receiving the pay the always had done - which over time lost its buying power. Yet even between the wars, an organist could just get by on what the church paid. Several cathedral organists chipped in to the Organists' Review in these years to explain this history, that indeed ours was no mere hobby, and that as things stood the profession was being degraded and lost. And what was their thanks? Some of these cathedral organists who submitted this to the Organists' Review, were called in on to the carpet by their church leadership, and SACKED! It sounds so amazing that you rightly doubt me, so I encourage you to see if you can find back copies of the IAO's Organists' Review from this period of time. So given that our profession is no longer regarded as such, the tradition we both love was easy prey to a generation of clerics with an agenda. They were going to make the church more "relevant" and bring in the youth. That went well, didn't it! It was cultural vandalism, akin to the architectural vandalism we have seen before under the puritans and indeed, this also took place - these philistines ripped out choir stalls, not just to make the building more in line with what they thought it should be, but to make absolutely certain choirs could never again be restored.

[@OrganicVisitations]

@@organisten Yep, that went well!! And today, not only are parish choirs left with the faithful remnants but so are the congregations! I remember, for example, when at the Christmas Eve midnight service the church would be full to the rafters…now we are lucky if we reach double figures. And don’t get me started on Sunday mornings. What happened to the ‘youth’ that they ripped the choir stalls and pipe organs out to accommodate? I’m very grateful that at the church I attended, and where I am organist, we still have a choir of about 10; AND they have choir stalls to sit in and traditional robes to wear. And we have a decent pipe organ, a video of which I will be uploading in the next day or two.

[@natepultorakmusic928]

Beautiful looking instrument, and I imagine with even just a tune up it would sound glorious! The individual tones are lovely Btw, what pieces did you play in this video? I happen to play a tracker with a heavy action, and it would be great to add some more pieces to my repertoire that would fit the instrument well

[@OrganicVisitations]

Yes, I agree, a good tuning would make all the difference, although a full overhaul/rebuild would be be lovely to see. The pieces I played were both from J.S. Bach's 8 Preludes and Fugues - a wonderful selection of short pieces for organ. The first was BWV 555 and the second (the louder one) was BWV 554. I strongly suggest you purchase this sheet music - it is ideal for weddings, funerals and Sunday mornings :-) www.amazon.co.uk/J-S-Bach-Organ-Preludes-Fugues/dp/0853603278/ref=sr_1_4?crid=AZQ2LNESSZPI&keywords=8+preludes+and+fugues+bach&qid=1687024389&sprefix=8+preludes+and+fugues+bach%2Caps%2C211&sr=8-4 Thanks for watching and I hope you subscribed :-)

[@bertspeggly4428]

@@OrganicVisitations You make those pieces sound very good, even with the organ's problems. It is indeed a splendid instrument.

[@davef.2329]

All it takes is money and time... good luck.

[@BigA1]

What was the tune you played out on (and also played earlier) I rather liked it.

[@OrganicVisitations]

It’s from The Eight Short Preludes and Fugues (BWV 553-560) by J.S. Bach. Thanks for watching 😊

[@neilrobinson1761]

To think such an amazing Church like this does not use the Organ, wonder if there is anyone actually available there to play it.

[@OrganicVisitations]

Sad indeed. This church has a much more ‘contemporary’ style worship today and predominantly makes use of praise bands and the like, hence the organ stands there unused and is not maintained.

[@evaristoluismiguel8161]

É, de facto, uma pena ver este "mostro" de sonoridade estar a agonizar lentamente, sem que surja uma entidade que lhe possa deitar a mão. O preço dum míssil era capaz de ser suficiente para a sua reparação e actualização. Valeria a pena, pois ele apresenta sons muito clássicos, duma grande suavidade. Faço votos para que alguma entidade, pública ou privada, lhe queira deitar a mão.

[@OrganicVisitations]

I hope so! 👍🎹

[@TB76Returns]

Well it is because of the church being Evangelical, right?

[@OrganicVisitations]

There are many reasons, I’m sure, but it’s a lovely organ and like many churches the organ and it’s maintenance are not a priority. A shame but a sign of the times. Thanks for watching 😊

[@dylanwhitfield6561]

Seems to me this instrument needs a new home (and probably a new action).

[@OrganicVisitations]

A new action throughout, voicing, a good tuning and then this would be an A1 organ, fit for recitals and concerts. Thanks for watching 😊

[@Organintetnational]

I don't boast but I'm a good organist who has no access to pipe organs. I just play Hauptwerk. What a tragedy! Many organs want organists but doesn't have any and organists like me want organs but don't have access.

[@OrganicVisitations]

That is a tragedy! I’m sure a pipe organ will come your way soon! Thanks for watching and I hope you’ve subscribed 😊

[@heidicooper3870]

Such a pity that so many clergy go in for "praise bands" when they've got such a stunning pipe organ!

[@OrganicVisitations]

A sign of the times unfortunately…apparently it attracts a younger congregation 🤔👍🎹

[@rshafter4607]

It just takes money!

[@OrganicVisitations]

Not much money in the organ fund unfortunately…but lots in the electric guitar/drum kit/microphone fund! Thanks for watching and I hope you subscribed 😊

[@gerhardrohne2261]

this organ was obviously never meant to make people joyfull and dancing in the aisles. but for the victorian congregatations of lumbersome, laden and listless religious pomposity...

[@richardharrold9736]

Maybe, but that doesn't mean it couldn't be used for worthwhile music-making.

[@mfbfreak]

@@richardharrold9736 Exactly. But for it to be funded, i do think churches might have to look outside of their congregations. I think tons of people would jump on the opportunity to 'rent' organ time on moments that the church isn't used for its usual purpose. Just look at Muse, featuring a huge organ on one of their albums. Plenty of people covering Megalomania on their keyboards at home but i'm sure a large number of them would not hesitate to pay to play the organ for an hour or so.

[@TheProsaicCult]

the organ is too loud

[@OrganicVisitations]

Maybe it’s my amateur filming technique 🙄👍🎹

[@TheProsaicCult]

You made a fine video but it seemed the organ was louder than your voice. I kept having to turn my volume up and down. The organ in question deserves so much better care. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[@davidcraggs3770]

The problem is that some people want entertainment in their Worship but very little devotion and reverence. It puts younger people off apparently. They want to see a live band!!!!

[@OrganicVisitations]

Very true!

[@PMS1950]

Most of the evangelical' worship routine is exceptional banal and the happy clappy formula comes with the painful penalty of tedious sermons full of platitudes and trendy buzz words, which drag on and on........ and on..................!!

[@PMS1950]

Fortunately not all non believers are drawn to bands, particularly the evangelical church variety, the members of which use the exposure as much as an ego trip as an act of worship. The music is absolutely dreadful. Probably more relevant to the Teletubies if a little more immature.

[@stuartmclaren2402]

I respectfully offer another opinion. Look at the number of young organists on you tube and those taking up the organ. They are good. My organ teacher said there is nothing worse than hymns being dragged. It is often a mess with the organ and congregation well out of step. That really puts people off - it is nothing but a drone. Those without organ training think that is being reverend. If playing to an unaccompanied congregation (without a choir) the organ should be leading the congregation at a reasonable pace with a good solid rhythm and full organ sound. A trained organist playing with hands and feet can do this. ( I heard an organist trying to play “The Little Drummer Boy.” It is not hard to imagine how it all fell to pieces. It is a march so the rhythm is very important - need to imitate a drum beat and play in strict timing. ) Also there are opportunities to play some solo works in the service to increase appreciation of the organ. I don’t believe the organ will die out. It may be the oldest of musical instruments but it lends itself better than any other instrument to modern electronic and computer technology. That attracts the younger musicians who have grown up in this era. I always remember the words of the late flamboyant famous organist, Virgil Fox. He appeared with Liberace on a TV talk show with his large analogue touring organ. He stated “I love my pipe organ but these electronic instruments are getting better. “ That was over 40 years ago and haven’t they improved since then! I also caution smaller church communities going all out for a pipe organ when at a stretch all they can afford is a 3 rank pipe organ. In one case the organ could be described as a box of whistles and very disappointing for the church community. Another church got a one manual (no pedal board) pipe organ. Well it sounded not much better than a good keyboard. How can an aspiring organist learn on that.

[@richardrye7200]

What a terrible shame, and a sad commentary on the values of the congregation.

[@OrganicVisitations]

A sign of the times unfortunately 🙄