"ORANGE" DRAW STOPS? (...and loads of them)

Visiting the organ at St John the Baptist, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, UK.
3 manual "Electro-Pneumatic Action" pipe organ dating back to 1788 and rebuilt by Harris Organ Builders of Birmingham, 1955.
Full History & Specification: npor.org.uk/su...
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, LIKE AND COMMENT - MANY MORE "ORGANIC VISITATIONS" TO COME!

[@billraty14]

Thank you for your work and braving the cold! It seems this organ has many unified ranks besides the "Tromba". That is instead of having 61 pipes for an 8' stop, and another 61 for 4', they have 73 pipes that present both the 8' and 4' stops. The way to test this is to first draw the 8', play middle C, then close the 8', draw the 4', then play the C an octave below middle C. If the timbre and volume are the same, the stops are most likely from a shared unified rank. The builder can also do the same trick and add a 12 pipes to the the other 73, and have a 16' stop. One of the clues this is happening when the builder re-uses the same name for rank in all pitches, eg. "16' Tromba, 8' Tromba, 4' Tromba": all really one extended rank of 85 pipes with the console wiring making it appear like they're 3 separate ranks (which would be 183 pipes). This makes the console appear like it operates a bigger organ than is really in the chamber, but can be underwhelming when you're trying to play full organ, and also limits the range of timbre in the tonal palette. It does help an inexperienced organist that is unfamiliar with what an organist that plays a tracker instrument or one without couplers that knows to move their hand up an octave to use a 16' as a quiet solo, or down an octave to use the 4' for a solo. I'm going to give the latest builder some points for being somewhat ethical for leaving the "same name" clue in the spec. Some builders will label the 8' rank (eg. Gedackt) something different than the 4' rank (eg. Bourdon), even though its all from the same extended rank of a stoppered flute. A "Resultant" in the pedal is really a two rank mixture of a unison rank, and a somewhat quieter rank that plays the fifth above the struck note. There is a "beat frequency" produced which is effectively one half the frequency of the struck note as a result (hence the name). This allows the builder to put a 32' stop in the pedal when the church isn't tall enough to have an un-mitered 32 foot pipe, or even a stoppered 16 foot pipe. Since you noted that the lowest octave isn't working I would guess the console wiring or control system is having an issue, or it could be as simple as the pipes missing or the the extension tubes from the chest to the toe of the pipes are disconnected. I wonder if the stop knobs are orange is because the material has discolored over time. There are some plastics that turn yellow when exposed to the sun and oxygen, as can be seen on KZbin channels of "retro" computers from the 80s that had plastic cases (like an Apple II). Those stop knobs might be made out of a similar material, though real natural ivory (whale bone or elephant tusk) can yellow as well, sometimes severely if in an industrial area with polutants in the air. An experienced organ maintenance firm could probably either replace the stop heads, or treat them so they're more legible.

[@OrganicVisitations]

Thanks for this. I wondered if they had been discoloured but I’m pretty sure they were made this way. Thanks for all the other helpful information - many of these organs I have never visited before, and given the time I have in the building to record some footage, most are ‘ad hoc’. Thank you again for this 👍🎹

[@louisglen1653]

A nice organ! Thanks!

[@OrganicVisitations]

Thanks for watching 👍🎹

[@peterw29]

Thanks for another interesting visitation. You used the NPOR listing for the stops, but it seems that one or two things have changed since the survey was done in 1961/2. Most noticeably you found a Larigot on the Choir instead of the 1-foot Salicetina. I expect the same pipes have been used but reassigned. Quite sensible really. There's not much need for a 1-foot stop when you've already got an octave coupler.

[@OrganicVisitations]

Yes, I noticed a couple of slight changes from the list I showed. I realised the viewers would probably figure it out, but to use images of the stops (as I normally do) was not possible as they were so hard to read. A lovely organ though 😊👍🎹

[@davidholmes9756]

The Console has the appearance of a Harrisn and Harrison console with yellow stop knobs. It certainly hasn't the Binns look.

[@OrganicVisitations]

I suppose it does have a slight look of H&H but the orange stop knobs are certainly not characteristic of H&H

[@davidholmes9756]

@@OrganicVisitations From what we see is that the yellow stop knobs were intentional as they did not seem to have aged differently. The aging of ivory stop heads has always been haphazard, i.e. usage, sun, etc., and these do not seem to be affected.

[@OrganicVisitations]

@@davidholmes9756 100% agree!

[@mattmilford]

Been a cold week this week. Cold going down to practice!

[@OrganicVisitations]

Time for fingerless gloves!

[@mattmilford]

So cold I made this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYG5k2qojJmbkJosi=CHPLyHoJZu3NP9Nh

[@OrganicVisitations]

It’s not just me feeling the cold then! Lovely organ and playing 😊🎹👍

[@johnwilson-mr6pw]

Another great video. Curious how the stops are coloured orange. I wonder who decide that and why. I use high quality head phones and the tone of this organ is really very impressive. Have you ever heard of such a thing as a fan heater?!! lol

[@OrganicVisitations]

Perhaps one of the previous organists was a heavy smoker! I may have to invest in a heater until the weather warms up…Not a good time of year to be going around churches 😆🎹

[@stuartmclaren2402]

I wonder if it is to blend and match the colour of the woodwork. But I agree the black lettering will be hard to read

[@OrganicVisitations]

@@stuartmclaren2402 Possibly...But yes, it is hard to read and not very practical if you need a stop quickly 🙂🎹

[@TB76Returns]

You have surprised me through and through! I was fortunate to have a quick go on this organ, but you got permission to visit? Whoa! I did used to live in Knaresborough before moving to Skipton, and this church is where I first learned to bell handling, I am a bell ringer too. Did you go by car on on the train from Darlington to York then Knaresborough? Also, have you had any luck with Stokesley as of far?

[@OrganicVisitations]

It was your suggestion 😊 I have played it before many years ago but had forgotten about the orange stops and how nice it sounds. I few emails and I got permission, although it was very cold. I drove down as it’s not too far. I’m working on Stokesley…watch this space! 👍🎹

[@TB76Returns]

@@OrganicVisitations Okie Dokie! Glad you liked it!

[@oludotunjohnshowemimo434]

The tromba is basically the Italian trumpet?

[@OrganicVisitations]

Yes, but can also describe I tuba 👍🎹

[@oludotunjohnshowemimo434]

@@OrganicVisitations OK or an extra powerful and louder trumpet

[@OrganicVisitations]

I guess so! 😊