I'm an organ student and I have to say this organ has many similarities to the organ I am learning on at my church, a Hook organ that is a little bit older from 1867. It has a huge swell division with the majority of the stops in the swell like this, the only stops not in the swell are the principal chorus, a couple flutes, and a Dulciana besides the pedals. The swell on the other hand has all kinds of colors. Also like this our organ's 8' great principal is very bold, so much so that we don't actually use it that much in services because we have a smaller choir which can easily be drowned out by it. In many ways they are similar instruments, it seems that there were some shared ideas that were common at this time period
The combination of the Stopped Diapason and Harmonic Flute together sounds startlingly like a bright Principal 8’. The harmonic flute slots so perfectly into the partials of the Stopped Diapason, it’s wild.
The foundation stops are like a warm bath of tone. Marvelous. And some beautiful colors. I wonder what the selection committee saw as the instrument’s purpose given that the congregation already owned a large Austin. Why not, for example, buy an instrument that is more useful for Baroque repertoire? (This could just reflect my contemporary perspective.) Regardless, it’s wonderful that this instrument found such a loving home. It’s a pleasure to hear such a knowledgeable and skillful musician as Dr. Schaffer speak about the instrument and it’s history as well as to demonstrate so sensitively.
This organ fit the space well..sounds like it was built for this church ...brovo. ty for this video...Brent could you visit comm presbyterian in clarendon hills ,il it has a martin ott opus 93 built in 2002 I belive..I was there when martin put it together..each day..his son's we're doing.the build up.in the church...it's a nice organ..it replaced an old em.skinner from the old stone church in Cleveland,oh.that was put in in the 1980s. It's was in sad shape..but martins opus 93 organ has a couple stops from the Skinner..reused..from the pedal.and one other as I recall ..
Is the practice of organist holding the last chord of a piece for an extended time tied to the last collapse of the bellows and maybe the need of the organist to expel all the air in the organ (or some of the way)? (I'm are taking about hand pumped organs here, but it has just been carried over)
The automatic sound level adjustment on your recording is very annoying. Whenever the organ is not playing the background noise roars and the vocal mics sound overloaded. I love and appreciate your series, Thank you!
The water motor came about because churches didn’t pay local utilities until well into the 20th century. Water came in and ran over an enclosed water wheel which turned a crank arm alternately operating two or more feeder bellows. Then the water went into the sewer. Totally wasteful. The first electric blowers came in the early 20th century and were monster contraptions usually needing a staged start up procedure. They often had an additional belt driving a generator to replace battery banks in early electric action organs even up into the 1950s. A video on historic wind and electric supply in pipe organs would be most interesting. There are plenty of great examples left of every stage of development.
I’ve never seen one with a water wheel. I’ve only seen ones that operated similarly to a hydraulic piston that used the water pressure in a similar way that a steam engine works. ua-cam.com/video/3pyMqE5hg5c/v-deo.html
@@jrorganbuilding Yes, the hydraulic piston type is what I have seen and know where there is one in it's original location, but the original organ is no longer there.
Mr Schafer's assertion of celestes in the US being 20th century post Cavaille-Coll is false... The 1st example in the US is in the 1850's. It may not have been ubiquitous as with post war unit organs, but was not the rarity he suggests. The talking of a museum quality restoration while also being apologetic with speech issues is also incongruous.
I have seen many 19th century American instruments on OHS. Mostly small instruments, but a few large ones. I cannot remember ever seeing a celeste. Were there certain makers who tended to use them?
@@thebog11 yes it was adopted more readily by more progressive builders (Roosevelt, Jardine, Hutchings, Woodberry) than it was by established names, Hook/Hastings, Erben, Steere. True it was less likely to be found on modest instruments without complete choruses and reeds. I would consider this Steere to be modest in the older Hook style.
Celestes were integral to the French Romantic tradition, but American organbuilders seem to have been more influenced by English and German tonal design through immigrant builders and the Boston Music Hall Walcker. It's also interesting to note that American Victorian builders seemed to avoid 8' harmonic flutes, but they built countless 4' harmonic flutes. As for the string speech, well, 19th century string stops can be fussy. The organ was restored in 1997, and some of the Violina pipes may have gone out of regulation over 20something years. And this was recorded in August. Even the best restored instrument can sound "off" during a temperature swing.
@@praestant8 When I get some time, I intend to browse the OHS listings for Roosevelt, Jardine, Hutchings, and Woodberry. Not for some attempt at one-upmanship, just curious. I'll post the findings.
I play a Steere very VERY much like this in Albany NY - and have trouble finding a use for the Open Diapason. A nice solid organ.
These older instruments are an absolute pleasure to play and hear.
It is great to see an organ in a church that was chosen for the purpose of being used in church services and for worship.
A really lovely instrument. Thanks to everyone. 👍❤️
Magnifique, un orgue tout à fait charmant. merci pour cette belle découverte.
I'm an organ student and I have to say this organ has many similarities to the organ I am learning on at my church, a Hook organ that is a little bit older from 1867. It has a huge swell division with the majority of the stops in the swell like this, the only stops not in the swell are the principal chorus, a couple flutes, and a Dulciana besides the pedals. The swell on the other hand has all kinds of colors. Also like this our organ's 8' great principal is very bold, so much so that we don't actually use it that much in services because we have a smaller choir which can easily be drowned out by it. In many ways they are similar instruments, it seems that there were some shared ideas that were common at this time period
This organ is a monster of refinment and nuancies. And it seems to be in good hands. Refreshing news !
Beautiful instrument, and Dr. Schaeffer coaxes the most wonderful sounds from it!
The combination of the Stopped Diapason and Harmonic Flute together sounds startlingly like a bright Principal 8’. The harmonic flute slots so perfectly into the partials of the Stopped Diapason, it’s wild.
Lovely instrument!
Gotta have a Melodia! Those 19th century Melodia are the best! Can’t beat 19th century tonality
The foundation stops are like a warm bath of tone. Marvelous. And some beautiful colors. I wonder what the selection committee saw as the instrument’s purpose given that the congregation already owned a large Austin. Why not, for example, buy an instrument that is more useful for Baroque repertoire? (This could just reflect my contemporary perspective.) Regardless, it’s wonderful that this instrument found such a loving home. It’s a pleasure to hear such a knowledgeable and skillful musician as Dr. Schaffer speak about the instrument and it’s history as well as to demonstrate so sensitively.
Love this video! Similar size to the Hutchings I play, so I learned some tips for how to make better use of it
Thank you so much for your video's. Pure bliss!
This organ fit the space well..sounds like it was built for this church ...brovo. ty for this video...Brent could you visit comm presbyterian in clarendon hills ,il it has a martin ott opus 93 built in 2002 I belive..I was there when martin put it together..each day..his son's we're doing.the build up.in the church...it's a nice organ..it replaced an old em.skinner from the old stone church in Cleveland,oh.that was put in in the 1980s. It's was in sad shape..but martins opus 93 organ has a couple stops from the Skinner..reused..from the pedal.and one other as I recall ..
WOW !! Lovely organ and church !!
Beautiful!! Love it!
I recognised EG #449 "Die güldne Sonne voll Freud und Wonne" from the EG book I bought from a Hungarian book store, love it
Excellent! Really!
Thanks for coming to my state!!!
Is the practice of organist holding the last chord of a piece for an extended time tied to the last collapse of the bellows and maybe the need of the organist to expel all the air in the organ (or some of the way)? (I'm are taking about hand pumped organs here, but it has just been carried over)
That has nice notes and sounds.
I grew up with a John Wesley Steere & Sons 2-manual tracker organ.
The automatic sound level adjustment on your recording is very annoying. Whenever the organ is not playing the background noise roars and the vocal mics sound overloaded. I love and appreciate your series, Thank you!
Very familiar internal layout! You exhibited the right instrument; Austins are so plentiful by comparison.
are there other organs in this church?
That flautina might be a Suavial and just a bit towards principal.
What is the main organ?
You missed a very beautiful organ in your opening, just across the street.
Bethel Lutheran
The water motor came about because churches didn’t pay local utilities until well into the 20th century.
Water came in and ran over an enclosed water wheel which turned a crank arm alternately operating two or more feeder bellows. Then the water went into the sewer. Totally wasteful. The first electric blowers came in the early 20th century and were monster contraptions usually needing a staged start up procedure. They often had an additional belt driving a generator to replace battery banks in early electric action organs even up into the 1950s.
A video on historic wind and electric supply in pipe organs would be most interesting. There are plenty of great examples left of every stage of development.
I’ve never seen one with a water wheel. I’ve only seen ones that operated similarly to a hydraulic piston that used the water pressure in a similar way that a steam engine works.
ua-cam.com/video/3pyMqE5hg5c/v-deo.html
@@jrorganbuilding Yes, the hydraulic piston type is what I have seen and know where there is one in it's original location, but the original organ is no longer there.
Does this organ use tracker action or electric?
Tracker
😁👍👍👍
Demo starts 9:32
Mr Schafer's assertion of celestes in the US being 20th century post Cavaille-Coll is false... The 1st example in the US is in the 1850's. It may not have been ubiquitous as with post war unit organs, but was not the rarity he suggests. The talking of a museum quality restoration while also being apologetic with speech issues is also incongruous.
I have seen many 19th century American instruments on OHS. Mostly small instruments, but a few large ones. I cannot remember ever seeing a celeste. Were there certain makers who tended to use them?
@@thebog11 yes it was adopted more readily by more progressive builders (Roosevelt, Jardine, Hutchings, Woodberry) than it was by established names, Hook/Hastings, Erben, Steere. True it was less likely to be found on modest instruments without complete choruses and reeds. I would consider this Steere to be modest in the older Hook style.
Celestes were integral to the French Romantic tradition, but American organbuilders seem to have been more influenced by English and German tonal design through immigrant builders and the Boston Music Hall Walcker. It's also interesting to note that American Victorian builders seemed to avoid 8' harmonic flutes, but they built countless 4' harmonic flutes.
As for the string speech, well, 19th century string stops can be fussy. The organ was restored in 1997, and some of the Violina pipes may have gone out of regulation over 20something years. And this was recorded in August. Even the best restored instrument can sound "off" during a temperature swing.
@@praestant8 When I get some time, I intend to browse the OHS listings for Roosevelt, Jardine, Hutchings, and Woodberry. Not for some attempt at one-upmanship, just curious. I'll post the findings.