UNMOTIVATED (…can you help?)

Visiting the organ at St Mary's Church, Whorlton, Barnard Castle, UK
2 Manual 'Tracker Action' Pipe Organ built in 1865 by Postill Organ Builders of York.
History & Specification: npor.org.uk/su...
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[@OrganicVisitations]

Thank you to Revd Canon Alec Harding and all at St Mary's Church for giving me permission to visit this organ.

[@TheProsaicCult]

You are a very good content creator. Try not to let things get you down, you're better than that. I look forward to each and every one of your videos'. Since I live in Rochester, NY, USA any organ I recommend would require a trip across the pond. (You might consider doing that.) Hang in there, buddy!

[@OrganicVisitations]

Thank you! If I ever head your way again I’ll be in touch 👍🎹😊

[@ConacherOrgan]

Pop down to Melton Mowbray when you get time - very happy to let you have a play around the Harmonium room at the museum, we hope to have one of the cinema pipe organs playing by the end of the year, however the Harmoniums themselves are worth a visit.

[@OrganicVisitations]

Now that sounds good! Drop me an email (address in channel description) and we’ll discuss further. Thank you! 👍🎹🎶🎵

[@organisten]

You feel unmotivated when you see organs in disrepair? Our whole profession is in disrepair! When I was growing up in the UK, almost every single church had its very own choir. By the time I as an adult was visiting my late father there in the 90s, the fewest churches still had them - although some said they had "choirs", but they were certainly not choirs by any definition that I should have recognised. The point being that the pipe organ is for a culture that is primarily for choirs and congregational singing. Today, other things take precedence (putting it mildly). Otherwise you may find it illustrative to obtain and read back copies of the Organists' Review from between 1981 and 1983/1984. It was then that, thanks to the contributions of some cathedral organists of the time, learnt how the organist's job went from a living wage - something that you could "just" get by on before the wars - to a "hobby". It was in these informative letters and articles that I learnt, as a young teenager, how the pittance organists were given in the UK as a so-called "honorarium" was in fact the "fossilised" vestige of their living wage, that numerically had stayed the same since the 1800s - but unlike the clergy's pay, not adjusted for inflation. That honorarium was once a living wage. Greatly oversimplified this, but as that was unadjusted, over time the "profession" became more and more seen to be a "hobby" over time.... (incidentally I should add that some of these contributors to the Organists' Review were summarily SACKED by the church for having the audacity of suggesting that organists should receive a fair wage) Then of course we have the cultural vandalism from the 70s onwards, where choirs and anything traditional were simply dis-guarded. The Church wanted to be more "relevant" to the younger generation. We can see now how that went. Many churches no longer had use for the organ or an organist. I was one of a whole wave of English organists who departed your shores for (in my case) Norway, but others went to Denmark, Sweden or Germany. There were a whole lot of us who left in the 80s and 90s. Today, not so many. I agree it is sad seeing an organ in disrepair, but I can assure you that is only a symptom of other things that likewise are in disrepair. The context the organ is there for, is often no longer a part of the worship. It is very sad.

[@OrganicVisitations]

A sign of the times I suppose 😞 One of the reasons I started this channel was to “keep the organ alive” 👍🎹

[@johnwilson-mr6pw]

Compared with what is going on in this country in the form of ludicrous "wokeism" and woman is not a woman but a "birthing person" and all the rest of the garbage, I think the world of the 'organists' hasn't done too badly. I can see a time coming when organs are ripped out of churches and "Jukeboxes" are installed instead.

[@clydesight]

Please continue finding and showing these beautiful instruments! I enjoy your videos very much.

[@OrganicVisitations]

Very nice of you to say so - that’s the plan 👍🎹

[@louisglen1653]

Thanks for another nice organ. The church is also very beautiful! I understand how you feel! I have had similar struggles most of my life! I appreciate your videos! I look forward to watching a new video every week!

[@OrganicVisitations]

Wouldn’t call it a nice organ in its current state but it has the makings of one. Thanks for watching and for the encouraging comments 👍🎹😊

[@davidholmes9756]

Have you been to St Oswald's Lythe Bank near Whitby? A 2 manual, 6 stops, pipework on the screen, all 8' stops, 16' on ped, a delight to play. The voicing is so good.

[@OrganicVisitations]

Sounds nice and not too far away. Drop me an email (address in channel description) and we’ll plan something 👍🎹🎶

[@websterforrest]

I have absolutely no idea how your video turned up in my feed, but I'm so glad it did! What a great idea - going round making videos about UK church organs! What could be nicer than that? I don't even play the organ, though I've been in enough choirs, but this seems like a channel that could really take off. Please do keep making videos. Will you get into restoration videos? That would be really interesting for the uninitiated like myself. :D

[@OrganicVisitations]

Wow - that was an enthusiastic comment 😀 Loads more organs to come so please share with your musical choir friends and let's get the subs up! Glad you found the channel - welcome!

[@nightowldickson]

I hope you keep visiting :-) we have a fair share of organs from the UK here in Sydney and it's always interesting to see what's in the UK. It can be hard doing this week to week as John and I have found out over at @Sydney Organs but maybe if you can get someone to go with you, it'd be a bit more interesting. It would be nice if you can also play a longer piece or hymn at the end to close out the video as well

[@OrganicVisitations]

Thanks, Dickson, for the encouragement and suggestions! If ever I make it to Oz I’ll certainly be visiting the organs that you play. What holds me back from playing full hymns or pieces (as opposed to the odd snippet here and there) is the risk of getting a copyright strike. I’m not legally minded enough to know how I stand there…🙄

[@TheProsaicCult]

And, I do share all your videos!

[@OrganicVisitations]

Thank you for that too! 👍🎹

[@drphipshiolidge]

Try visiting the henry Willis organ at st bees priory church Cumbria

[@OrganicVisitations]

Now that’s a good suggestion! I’ve been to that one before and it’s a beast! I’ll try and arrange that for my next visit to Cumbria 👍🎹

[@cabbagepatch8947]

It's very loud. St Bees, famous for Rowan Atkinson and the start of the Coast to Coast walk.

[@drphipshiolidge]

@@cabbagepatch8947 yes

[@davidcraggs3770]

I agree, quite a bit of adjustment and restoration is required on this organ. It could be potentially a nice instrument.

[@kacperz3348]

St Thomas the martyr's church in Bristol is an exceptionally beautiful 2 manual organ. originally built in 1729 it was played by G.F Handel, but it unfortunately burned down and was internally replaced with a W.G Vowels organ with the old case still there preserved. Interestingly, it has a nearly German baroque sound to it which isn't very typical of W.G Vowels. it is not an active church anymore, but in the care of the churches conservation trust

[@OrganicVisitations]

Thank you! Quite a distance from me but I’ll add it to my list 👍🎹

[@paulh5293]

Email sent :) There's the heart of a nice little organ there. Sounds to me like it's very short of wind... no organ that's been tuned fairly recently should be that far out of tune. Sad sign of the times. As always thank you for posting.

[@OrganicVisitations]

Thank you! Definitely needs some work, as do many these days! Thanks for watching 👍🎹

[@robwilde855]

You're doing good work bringing these experiences to a wider audience - especially valuable nowadays when this side of our culture is sliding into an abyss - so thank you for that. But, I just wondered, why didn't you thank the vicar or organist or whoever gave permission, or at least the village?

[@OrganicVisitations]

Thank you for the encouraging comments! You're quite right, I was in such a fluster that I forgot to give thanks! I will add a thank you to the description...and THANK YOU for reminding me. I am always very grateful for those who grant permission and I certainly don't take it for granted.

[@gngeannakakes]

What about St. Saviour's Church in Eastbourne, East Sussex? It has a large Walker organ.

[@OrganicVisitations]

That looks like a nice 4 manual - I’ll add it to my list. Thank you 👍🎹😊

[@LarcR]

It's in dire need of another going over now, including tuning.

[@OrganicVisitations]

Too right!

[@danielpape8132]

There seems, to me, to be far too many people who think that the organ is "dying". I disagree - it's shrinking. The decline in church attendance and the rise of an individual-oriented worship style has led to innumerable instruments being abandoned, yes, but there is still a place for the organ in many churches. A comparison might be warranted: before the 1850's most English churches used village bands to accompany hymns. Then, as fashions changed, organs and choirs were introduced. Even during this time there were organs in churches around the country. It may be that disused instruments will languish yet for a while until a change in worship style warrants their reintroduction. In the secular world, the organ is not going to die. Very few people I know (all young, I'm in my twenties) hate the organ. Many even like it's "power", even if a good organ can be quiet and mysterious too. There is a whole new generation of young organists who are introducing the organ to new audiences. All this said, your channel is doing all organ enthusiasts a service by preserving the sound and characteristics of old instruments that may well be wholly silent soon. For that, you have my thanks.

[@OrganicVisitations]

Agree with you 100% and thank you for the positive feedback - much appreciated 👍🎹

[@thomasredman3777]

St. Peter's, Aylesford, Kent

[@OrganicVisitations]

I feel a UK tour coming on! Thank you for the suggestion 😊👍🎹

[@kevinturner7903]

Morning I’ve just tried to send you an E Mail but it has been returned undeliverable?

[@kevinturner7903]

Your E Mail showing as not recognised?

[@OrganicVisitations]

Not sure why… [e-mail]

[@theconnotationofmemedealer3795]

What is the name of the song you play at the beginning of the video?

[@OrganicVisitations]

The hymn is Hills of the North Rejoice. Tune: Little Cornard 👍

[@theconnotationofmemedealer3795]

@@OrganicVisitations Thanks so much!

[@MrSweelinck]

You are a respite in this world. However, if you ever come to California, I could probably take you around to several hundred churches with heavy duty drums and electric guitars. Actually, I'm quite close to Schoenstein & Co. and wonder how they manage to eke out a living in these surroundings. There seem to be precious few pipe organs around here, and those that still exist are all in some state of need. Others are nothing more than a "pretty" part of the church.

[@OrganicVisitations]

I was in L.A. not too long ago and often wish I had been doing this channel then as I felt sure there would have been some mighty organs to visit. Having researched (with the hope of returning) it seems that there aren’t many at all. However, the ones that do exist are LARGE and look impressive. Thank you for watching and for planting that seed 👍😊🎹

[@johnwilson-mr6pw]

As the facade on most organs have decorative but non speaking pipes, I thought you must be mistaken when you said the diapason are on the front pipes which are very attractive. When I went back to look again I do see "ears and beards" on the pipes which is unusual. I'm not too sure about your car comments and don't really know what you were trying to tell us. I thought at first you might have gone to the church and been thrown out or something lol. Anyway, thanks for the video. I fear however, I don't share you enthusiasm for this organ, and it didn't sound very nice to me.

[@OrganicVisitations]

I certainly wasn’t enthusiastic about this organ either - it needs so much doing to it both mechanically and tonally. It left me feeling quite down to be honest and so I was reaching out for organ suggestions…👍🎹

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

The display pipes on most organs - certainly the smaller ones - are mainly, or entirely, speaking pipes, not dummies. The usual practice is to put the basses of the Open Diapason in the case, so as to get these large pipes out of the interior where they would take up too much space. Then again, there is the cost. Why would you spend large amounts of your clients' money on something which did not work?

[@andrewgrahame6000]

Judging by the poor tuning this organ isn’t getting regular maintenance. It sounds weak and under-winded. A labial oboe is common in remote locations where a tuner might not be able to come at every change of season. I wonder if the pedal Bourdon is on tubular pneumatic action - this plus poor maintenance could explain the dodgy notes. This to me sound like a nice organ waiting to be released from its prison of poor maintenance. It certainly needs a good going over to at least establish what’s needed, and a course of action needs to be drawn up. Some things might need to be planned for and funds may have to be raised first. However it would be worth seeing if a competent tuner would be prepared to tune it. There might be issues in the chests, blower, bellows, wind system or something else of a mechanical nature which may need fixing first. Hopefully this organ will soon get the care and attention it needs.

[@OrganicVisitations]

Agree fully. The organ was certainly NOT restored 20 years ago and it is in need of much work. According to the tuning book it was last tuned in September 2023, but again, needs attention. I couldn’t see inside the organ but I’m pretty sure the pedals are tracker. Definitely wind issues going on though! Thanks for watching and for your comment 👍🎹

[@johnwilson-mr6pw]

Hope comes cheap, andrew6000, but organ tuners cost money and that's if you can find one.

[@TB76Returns]

If you are unmotivated, you can always go to Stokelsey, but why are you?

[@OrganicVisitations]

I’m going to try and arrange Stokesley! Just disheartened by visiting a potentially good organ in such a poor state of disrepair 👍🎹

[@user-hk5hi4yb9l]

Right. St. Mary's Cockfield. My childhood home. Will organise contacts when back from hols.😂

[@Charles-Reardon]

Too bad I live in America...

[@OrganicVisitations]

I wish I’d started this channel before my last visit. Keep your eyes peeled in case I come again 👍🎹