Demonstration of our 23 rank 1953 Rieger compact tracker pipe organ

My dad, Todd Alexander, joins me to give a brief history and demonstration of our 23 rank Rieger pipe organ.

[@ryano.5149]

I know the big organs get all the attention, but I have a real soft spot for well-designed small organs. The school where I got my Master's had this perfectly fine and complete (yet neglected) little unit organ in their choir room. Had a nice principal, it had mixtures, it had a flute, it had a string celeste, and it had a reed! The whole thing tucked up neatly into a corner and I don't think it took up much more floor space than a concert grand, thanks in part to an electric action. The tuning was marginal at best for the mixtures and the upper notes of the reed, but I loved that thing! I think the powers that be got rid of it not long after I graduated though.

[@jeffreyharkness8551]

What a gift to have this instrument in your home. The sound is lovely.

[@Alexander_Acoustics]

Thank you!

[@Sathrandur]

Rieger makes excellent organs, I would love to have one of these at home. I would love to hear a demonstration going through all 23 ranks once those mixtures are in order.

[@Alexander_Acoustics]

Yes, once we get them all tuned, I'll be sure to post another video.

[@i8bugs1]

I hadnt expected the back of it to be so stunningly beautiful!

[@Alexander_Acoustics]

It really is beautiful.

[@adriaanjacobs4424]

Thank you for sharing this wonderful instrument with us. Please add more organ and violin videos :)

[@Alexander_Acoustics]

Of course, thank you!

[@kenb3552]

I'm not that familiar with organs in general and I had no idea that they made organs that could be used in a personal residence. The WWII backstory of this particular type is very interesting. I'm glad it found a good home with people who will use and appreciate it.

[@Alexander_Acoustics]

Thank you so much!

[@JoseMariaCuadra]

Para los organistas que se lo pueden permitir es una herramienta indispensable para poder practicar a diario, pero obviamente suelen ser instrumentos aún más pequeños, y bueno, gracias a Dios hay organos digitales

[@RobertJohnsonmusic]

What a wonderful instrument! I get to play pipe organs in three different churches each weekend.

[@Alexander_Acoustics]

That's awesome!

[@DonaldRogers-sb4nn]

Beautiful organ!! Thanks!

[@Alexander_Acoustics]

Thank you!

[@edb5956]

To me this is really exciting. Thank you for sharing. because of this amazing organ and the wonderful, talented violin playing, I decided to subscribe to your channel.

[@Alexander_Acoustics]

Thank you so much!

[@robertzanca5254]

Thank you! More details. More details. More details. . . .

[@Alexander_Acoustics]

Yes, we're looking forward to sharing more about this organ in the future.

[@DanielZiesemerViolin]

Thank you for this. I was hoping that you would do a demonstration. Look forward to hearing it in future videos. By the way, Joel, I knew your mom when she worked in Oak Brook years ago. I think she played the piano for me on several occasions. Keep up the good work on the violin.

[@Alexander_Acoustics]

Thank you so much for sharing this! That's so cool.

[@socialite1283]

Lovely variety of stops. Thanks for demo'ing the organ.

[@Alexander_Acoustics]

Thank you!

[@SteinBee]

Nice pipe organ :)

[@Alexander_Acoustics]

Thank you!

[@HobbyOrganist]

Thanks for this excellent video!

[@Alexander_Acoustics]

Thank you!

[@jrzzrj]

👍....Wow....fits neatly in a cozy corner of an average room. Fantastic sound. How much would one of these cost shipped and ready for assembly here in the USA?

[@HobbyOrganist]

Pretty much more than the cost of a Steinway concert grand piano

[@Alexander_Acoustics]

This type of organ was only made in the 1950's, but you might be able to find a used one for sale.

[@jrzzrj]

@@Alexander_Acoustics ---Too bad this didn't catch on and be offered as a custom kit to those who might be interested. Just saying.

[@scronx]

Really marvelous! Why aren't these standard in practice rooms today?

[@Alexander_Acoustics]

Thank you!

[@scronx]

@@Alexander_Acoustics I've always loved Riegers and clever miniaturization -- way before digits came along ;)

[@jimmorgan5612]

When I was a student at NEC in the late 60's we had one. I was never impressed.

[@Bajussz1]

It might be a great request, but could you make a video on the individual stops and stop combinations of this organ? I'm currently building my own pipe organ an I would like to gather some inspiration regarding the dispozition.

[@Alexander_Acoustics]

That's an awesome project! Yes, I hope to post a video demonstrating each stop once they are all tuned.

[@marcelobrunorodrigues7630]

Can you provide its stop list written, please?

[@Alexander_Acoustics]

Here's the stop list for this organ: Positive Stops: Tremulant, 8' Krummhorn, Cymbal II, 1' Sifflote, 2' Principal, 1-1/3' Quint, 4' Hohlflute, 8' Gadeckt. Great Principal: Mixture III, 2' Spitz Principal, 4' Principal 8' Principal (Tenor C up) Great Flutes: 1-3/5' Tierce (Middle C up) 2-2/3' Nazat (Middle C up) 4' Koppel Flute 8' Rohrflute Pedal Stops: 16' Rankett 4' Schalmei Rauschbass II 4' Bourdon 8' Bourdon 16' Bourdon

[@stephenhogger3111]

I'd love to know how they got 23 ranks of pipes in something that compact.

[@Alexander_Acoustics]

It was quite the feat. They used every last inch of space in this organ.

[@myless789]

As an organist this so soooo cool! What wss the piece he played at the end?

[@smike9884]

It's a hymn, forget the name.

[@lowellsmith7556]

The tune is called Duke Street.

[@smike9884]

@@lowellsmith7556 Thank you. Was driving me mad.

[@myless789]

@@lowellsmith7556 thanks!

[@Alexander_Acoustics]

The name of the hymn is "Jesus Shall Reign"

[@owenesquivelph]

What is the full stop list of this organ?

[@Alexander_Acoustics]

Here's the stop list for this organ: Positive Stops: Tremulant, 8' Krummhorn, Cymbal II, 1' Sifflote, 2' Principal, 1-1/3' Quint, 4' Hohlflute, 8' Gadeckt. Great Principal: Mixture III, 2' Spitz Principal, 4' Principal 8' Principal (Tenor C up) Great Flutes: 1-3/5' Tierce (Middle C up) 2-2/3' Nazat (Middle C up) 4' Koppel Flute 8' Rohrflute Pedal Stops: 16' Rankett 4' Schalmei Rauschbass II 4' Bourdon 8' Bourdon 16' Bourdon

[@gabrielebracci7635]

Which is the complete stop list?

[@ADumbMidget]

This is the spec of a Rieger DRP-1 1951 2/21 which is similar : HAUPTWERK 16' Quintade 49 (from tenor C, 12 stopped copper, 37 stopped metal) 8' Rohrföte 61 (14 stopped wood, 11 lochföte metal, 36 Rohrföte metal) 4' Principal 61 (25 flamed copper, 36 metal) 4' Koppelföte 61 13 stopped wood, 48 metal, with conic tuning caps) 2 2/3' Nassat 36 (from middle C#, conic metal) 2' Gemshorn 61 (conic, metal) 1 1/3' Terz 37 (wide, open, metal) III Mixtur 183 POSITIV 8' Holzgedackt 61 (stopped wood) 4' Holzföte 61 (open wood) 2' Principal 61 (10 copper, 51 metal) 1 1/3' Quint 61 (metal) 1' Octav 61 (metal) II Cimbel 122 8' Regal 61 Tremulant PEDAL 16' Subbass 32 (stopped wood) 8' Gedackt 12 (ext. subbass) 4' Gedackt 12 (ext. subbass) 2' Lochgedact 32 (metal with hole in the stopper) II Rauschpfife 64 8' Rankett 32 Positiv to Hauptwerk coupler Hauptwerk to Pedal coupler

[@Alexander_Acoustics]

@@ADumbMidget This is similar. Here's the stop list for this organ: Positive Stops: Tremulant, 8' Krummhorn, Cymbal II, 1' Sifflote, 2' Principal, 1-1/3' Quint, 4' Hohlflute, 8' Gadeckt. Great Principal: Mixture III, 2' Spitz Principal, 4' Principal 8' Principal (Tenor C up) Great Flutes: 1-3/5' Tierce (Middle C up) 2-2/3' Nazat (Middle C up) 4' Koppel Flute 8' Rohrflute Pedal Stops: 16' Rankett 4' Schalmei Rauschbass II 4' Bourdon 8' Bourdon 16' Bourdon

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

The pronunciation of 'Positiv' as 'Positeef' sounds rather comical to me. In the UK, we would call it 'precious'(!) 23 ranks in something so small is certainly remakable.

[@Alexander_Acoustics]

Wow, that's very interesting. Yes, the instrument is full of pipes. It's truly fascinating.