WHITBY PIPE ORGAN (…with an OPHICLEIDE!!)

Visiting the organ at St Hilda's Church, West Cliff, Whitby, UK
3 manual "Tubular Pneumatic Action" pipe organ built in 1926 (and restored in 1982) by Harrison & Harrison of Durham, UK
Full History & Specification: npor.org.uk/survey/N02960
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[@TB76Returns]

Certainly a good one, there is a similar organ much nearer to me at St Wilfrid's Harrogate, which happens to be my favourite church in Harrogate, although atm it is in need of repear. There is a similar organ nearer to you at St Mary's Richmond (not Surrey, the one in Yorkshire). Maybe they'll let you there.

[@archiedavies7538]

Yes annoyingly the Harrison and Harrison is out of action but they have a very large electric pheonix organ at the moment which isn’t too bad actually. It gets quite mushy and it’s very bass heavy but it would still make a good video.

[@OrganicVisitations]

I’ve been to that one…might have to investigate 👍🎹

[@OrganicVisitations]

That’s a shame - I have been to the H&H before 👍🎹

[@louisglen1653]

Certainly a powerful organ for its size! Thanks for another nice organ!

[@OrganicVisitations]

It’s a beast! 👍😊🎹

[@Charles-Reardon]

Lovely organ!

[@OrganicVisitations]

It sure is! 👍🎹

[@paulh5293]

Good to hear an organ of that vintage in such good condition. Harrison loved his "Harmonics" Gt mixture, way ahead of its time. The action seems to be working beautifully, but those tremulants... not for me!! Beautifully voiced and a credit to the people keeping it running. Thank you for posting.

[@OrganicVisitations]

A lovely organ and so nice to play. The volume is something else! I’m not a fan of tremulants at the best of times but these are certainly a bit quick!

[@pierrelauwers8719]

Undisputably a gem, and yes, properly maintained tubular pneumatic actions can be quite good.

[@OrganicVisitations]

Agree 100% 👍🎹

[@richardharrold9736]

Hi Pierre, haven't seen you on the Mander forum for quite a while...

[@pierrelauwers8719]

@@richardharrold9736 Hi Richard, I left it since I had nothing more to tell there, and I don't want to be boring.

[@richardharrold9736]

@@pierrelauwers8719 you are never, ever boring, and there are always new developments to comment upon.

[@williamuhren5639]

Nice to see a church that is trying to keep the organ in good condition. I bet you would like to spend a few days testing out this instrument. Nice video.

[@OrganicVisitations]

I could have spent all weekend playing that! The problem with doing these videos is that you get a very limited time to test drive the organ and learn what they can do; it’s a case of going in, recording a video and leaving as your time is based on how long the church key holder has available. So yes, it would be nice to be able to spend more time exploring 👍🎹

[@heidicooper3870]

Fabulous! 😂

[@bryanmoseley7028]

Wonderful instrument - I was allowed to practice on it when I lived in Whitby for a few months over 40 years ago. If you want a "Solo Trumpet" on the Choir, use "Reeds on Choir" to transfer the Great Trombas to the Choir - a usual feature for H&H. Today with electro-pneumatic action the drawstops would be duplicated. The one in St Editha's, Tamworth is more-or-less a duplicate.

[@OrganicVisitations]

Thanks for the info! A lovely organ indeed 👍🎹

[@davidcraggs3770]

Been to Whitby loads of times but never gained access to this Church. Superb organ. Just a small pity that the Swell doesn’t have a 2 Foot stop.

[@OrganicVisitations]

Well worth a visit next time you’re there! Agree with the Swell 2’ but a small price to pay 👍🎹

[@davidcraggs3770]

You must really visit the Parish church of St.Mary The Virgin in Cottingham, Hull, East Yorkshire, In there is a Three Manual untouched Forster and Andrews of Hull (1914) which despite hardly any playing aids, is a really cracking Organ with a superb Stop list which is well maintained and used for Recitals in addition to its function to accompany Hymn singing and parts of the liturgy by the congregation and Choir. If you need any further information or contact details please Direct Message myself.

[@oludotunjohnshowemimo434]

Thought Opecliede 16 was basically a contrabass saxophone, but it is like a 16 foot tuba, trombone and double trumpet

[@OrganicVisitations]

Under lots of wind pressure I believe, so super loud!! 👍🎹

[@harrymcandrew1447]

that makes me wonder what attitude the village church (Elvington holy trinity btw) has its only a small one but looks like it could give an attitude off makes me want to go to leeds minster on a friday to attend an organ consort if there doing them just to see what theres sounds like

[@OrganicVisitations]

Just looked at the Elvington organ on NPOR…looks like an interesting on the visit 👍🎹

[@harrymcandrew1447]

​@@OrganicVisitations ive seen saild very organ on few visits as it seems to be open daily would be intresting to see a video of it even speaking about it makes me more curious to know what Sutton upon Derwent's st Michael and all angles organ looks like church wasn't open when i visited and doesnt seem to have open hours so i can only presume it opens Sundays and spends the rest of the week closed ! as for Elvington holy trinity you'd probs like the church building and its organ has a piano but not sure if they use it more then the organ

[@johnwilson-mr6pw]

As the organ has been restored in recent years, and is tubular pneumatic throughout, I wonder what metal (or plastic maybe) the tubes are made of? I believe in years gone by, the tubes were made of lead !! Anyway, nice video great organ

[@OrganicVisitations]

Well it’s over 40 years since is it was last rebuilt, and although I didn’t look inside (I was left alone in the church and didn’t have permission) I suspect the tubing will be traditional lead/metal piping. Sorry I can’t give a definitive answer 👍🎹

[@w270rab]

Certainly a big sound, I had to switch to my Sony headphones to do it justice.

[@OrganicVisitations]

It’s a beast! 👍🎹

[@shanehall98]

Harrison and Harrison organs are great. At St Edith’s in Tamworth it has a 16ft Ophicleide it is extremely loud.

[@OrganicVisitations]

May be one to add to my list 👍🎹

[@richardharrold9736]

@@OrganicVisitations there's also a big 4-manual Arthur Harrison at St Mary's Stafford, but it's never been restored so is pretty knackered. They've got a second 3-manual pipe organ at the west end and no money, so...

[@OrganicVisitations]

@@richardharrold9736 Quite a ride out for me, but two organs for the price of one may make the journey worthwhile! Thank you

[@richardharrold9736]

@@OrganicVisitations Tamworth, Stafford, maybe the big Conacher/Willis III at Victoria Hall Hanley, the Binns rebuild at Stoke Minster... quite a few worthwhile organs around Staffordshire.

[@OrganicVisitations]

@@richardharrold9736 Send me an email with some contact info?

[@mattmilford]

I think you need T shirts that say "tuning stop". I wait for you to say it in every video!

[@OrganicVisitations]

That’s a good idea! I’ll give you a shout out next time 😅👍🎹

[@natepultorakmusic928]

Fantastic organ! Oh to have a day to play around with all the possible stop combinations Btw, how do you capture audio for these organs? Am I correct in assuming your audio comes from at the console?

[@OrganicVisitations]

Yes I just record from the console - I’m not advanced or technically minded enough to do it any other way…yet!

[@richardharrold9736]

When demonstrating a Harmonic Flute, especially one at 8ft pitch, do remember that it will generally only be harmonic in the treble - a harmonic pipe is double length, with a hole at the nominal speaking length, and so it is quite common for it to only be harmonic from C25 up (can't speak for the H&H examples), so do make sure to get up the top! With an undulating pair of strings, it's normal that the Celeste is tuned sharp to the rest of the division. Oh, and Quintaton is of German origin and is more properly spelled Quintatön (note the umlaut over the O) and pronounced Quinta-tone (with the O pronounced quite far back in the mouth, half swallowed, rather than the more forward English O).

[@OrganicVisitations]

Thank you for the wise comments and advice. Much appreciated 👍🎹

[@Knappa22]

I’m not sure I like this one. It’s quite alarming 🙉. When you had to shout to be heard over the Small Diapason 😲 Even the string stops were a bit in-yer-face. I’d prefer a bit more dynamic variety.

[@danielpape8132]

To be fair, the organ is in a large church, and by the images I found online, the instrument is located on the left side of the chancel: it'll need some power to be heard in the nave.

[@natepultorakmusic928]

I do believe out in the room, those sounds will be smoothed out nicely! Sometimes pipes need to be voiced loud and bright to have a subtle sparkle after a lovely acoustic gets a hold of it

[@paulgodman7939]

I remember turning pages for an organ recital here in the early 1970s. Beautiful organ and a serious amount of power.

[@paulgodman7939]

I suspect the lack of dynamic contrast is due to automatic recording levels and compression added automatically by the recording device.

[@Knappa22]

@danielpape8132 @natepultorakmusic928 Ah I see. Makes sense if the sound has to make it out into a considerable space. Perhaps would be better to have two recording devices - one for the narration at the console and the other out in the nave so the sound of the organ can be heard as the congregation hears it.