FORGOTTEN GEM (...not even on NPOR)

[@babanarr3311]

This is a lovely little survivor, we restored this instrument in 2014 and was conducted in a sympathetic manner. The pipework is of high quality with a high tin content. So typical of this builder around that time. We tuned it last week so we we're pleased your comments on the organ. Glad you enjoyed playing it. And yes it should be on the NPOR. Thanks.

[@OrganicVisitations]

Thanks for watching the video! I noticed it had been tuned just last week (from the tuning book) and so glad you did. I was amazed at how great this organ is - small and compact but a stunning tone and it looks fantastic! The spotted metal front pipes are stunning, although my camera didn't do them justice... Thanks again for your comment and for ensuring the survival of this great organ 🙂

[@mattnbin]

What a lovely organ. We take care of a couple of Conachers from the 1800s imported to Sydney in the 1980s. One is a small organ with a little trumpet in the swell with a mechanical octave coupler. A real little gem!!

[@OrganicVisitations]

There are some lovely Conacher’s. Thanks for watching and please subscribe 🎹👍

[@louisglen1653]

Another very nice organ! Very nice tone!

[@OrganicVisitations]

I was amazed how lovely it is! I can’t put into words how nice the action is…WOW!

[@sydneyorgans3250]

A lovely organ. Imagine not being listed on the NPOR! Thanks for demonstrating it.

[@OrganicVisitations]

I’m sure they will go eventually - there’s a lot to get round 😊

[@gilesgilbertscott]

NPOR relies on people reporting details of instruments. So why don’t you do it?

[@OrganicVisitations]

@@gilesgilbertscott That is my plan over the weekend 🙂

[@mg3261]

that is a gem of an organ its a shame that there isn't an organist to play it it has a beautiful sound to it

[@OrganicVisitations]

Yep! Organist job going if you’re local 😊

[@mg3261]

@@OrganicVisitations whitby is way out of my area i'm in worcester area

[@coraelizabethbrna439]

What a fabulous organ and a great tour!!! Thank you!!

[@OrganicVisitations]

Thanks 😊

[@peterw29]

Thank you for sharing this. I could fall in love with that Gamba!

[@OrganicVisitations]

It’s stunning! If I lived a little closer I’d happily play that organ every Sunday 👍

[@TB76Returns]

Quite a nice organ, I have come across a few organs that are not on the NPOR, but I have given a survey, maybe do the same for this one

[@OrganicVisitations]

It’s a lovely organ! Yes, I plan to do that 👍

[@thomaswalters4365]

No Swell flute?.... I agree about adding a 2-foot, which I think this organ is begging for, but an 8-foot stopped flute should be added to the Swell as well.

[@Organdude]

When playing smaller organs like this, you should demonstrate the 4 ft stops played an octave lower. Sometimes, a 4ft stop played down an octave can be lovely and give more variety of sound than just depending on the 8ft stops. An organ I used to play had a gemshorn 4ft on the swell. When played down an octave it was the most beautiful Diapason sound. As the swell organ didn't have an 8ft Diapason it was a free extra 8ft, and I used that trick at nearly every service!!! Keep up the good work and it's lovely to see the organs you feature! Ps. I'd turn one of the swell strings into a celeste if I was the organist there! 😂😂😂

[@OrganicVisitations]

Thanks! Agree with the Celeste - would really add something 👍

[@aBachwardsfellow]

A very good suggestion. I always check out the 4' stops for their potential in the 8' range; sometimes the 4' and 2' work as a nice supplement for a 8' and 4' ; gemshorns are my favorite stop.

[@benjamindaniel8467]

Did you try the two swell strings together? Sometimes, in a situation like this, one of them has been tuned to work as a celeste. On an organ this size I'd favour an oboe on the swell before a 2 ft. I believe that NPOR relies on information provided, so you'd be well placed to submit details and perhaps some photographs if you took some 😃

[@OrganicVisitations]

I did but there wasn’t the celeste effect that you often find. A shame! I’ll contact NPOR 👍

[@benjamindaniel8467]

@@OrganicVisitations it's always worth trying these things as sometimes the name on the stop head can be deceiving! As far as I know, it can also depend on the placement of the ranks as to whether this is possible. If the pipes are too close together one will "pull" the other into tune - hence the string and celeste ranks will usually be separated by another.

[@natepultorakmusic928]

Does the Npor allow people to add information, or is it official people only? In the US, I like to update the Pipe Organ Database (by the OHS) whenever I visit an organ and see the information is lacking

[@OrganicVisitations]

I’m sure I could provide them with the information or suggest that they go and visit and they would probably add this instrument to their database. I’ll look into it 👍

[@johnwilson-mr6pw]

I suppose most organs in the smaller parish churches must be a hundred years old or more, like the churches themselves, and of tracker action. As organ improvement or replacement is very expensive, being labour intensive, they are likely eventually fall into serious disrepair. This is especially so as the congregation numbers fall away. I live in a very small village with but a few houses, yet we have quite a large church with a bell tower. The church goes back to the 14th century, so as properties in the village itself must have been all but a handful back then, one wonders where the congregation actually came from. The church has an organ although I don't know much about it. I've heard it playing and it sounds reasonable although out of tune. Curiously, the church is popular with weddings although there is no permanent vicar. There is a visiting vicar who apparently is the vicar to no less than 7 churches, so you can see that church going in my area isn't what it used to 400 years ago. This doesn't bode well for the organs as the collection plate is all but none existent.

[@OrganicVisitations]

It’s the same story in every village and town. Congratulations are shrinking, choirs are rare and most vicars nowadays have several churches under their control. Each of these churches at one time had their own vicar with full pews. No wonder organs are not maintained or used - there’s no money to fund them and not many people left who can play them…

[@davidcraggs3770]

Okay as a hymn machine unless you have a full congregation and any rousing hymns to accompany. Too many strings and not enough chorus work.

[@johnwilson-mr6pw]

I agree with your post except that you say there are few organists to play these organs. In fact with the advent of very sophisticated and relatively reasonably priced electronic home organs, I suggest there are more organists around now than there have ever been. @@OrganicVisitations

[@davidcraggs3770]

Unfortunately, as a keen professional organist and occasional recitalist I could not take up a post where the other organ was a tonally limited. However I would help out with hymn accompaniment at a funeral where the tonal resources of this style of organ would suffice adequately.

[@OrganicVisitations]

@@davidcraggs3770 I’d like a bit more variety, but nice nonetheless 👍

[@nightowldickson]

o this is a James Conacher - we visited one in Sydney that hasn't been used for many years and in a bad state, so it's interesting to see how the one you've visited sounded kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIG3k3qnptyhpqM

[@OrganicVisitations]

That was interesting to see - thank you for sharing! I hope my video shows what a nice restoration can achieve on a James Conacher. We have a few 'James' Conachers here but mainly 'Peter'. Much enjoy your channel and it's regular uploads :-)