Is the King dead?

[Contratrombone64]

http://www.juilliard.edu/journal/200...709_organ.html

[Krummhorn]

Far from it, imho.

Maybe we need more people like the late Virgil Fox, actually taking the time to tour with a grand instrument. When I worked in institutional sales for a leading digital church organ builder, we held duo organ concerts frequently, pitting our instrument against large pipe organs and playing duets - we always had a full house whenever we did this sort of thing, and it was fun to be part of the program, too.

If people won't come to the halls, then we need to take the halls to the people ... Virgil was very successful in doing this and was able to educate thousands of non-musicians and gave them a better insight of our King of Instruments.

[Soubasse]

Not forgetting Cochereau and his real touring instrument.

As much as I object to the installation of toasters in cathedrals (one in particular right now ), if there's one thing they have done is enable players of certain persuasions to bring the King to places where folk might not otherwise hear it.

Some years ago I sat on a panel (well, I actually sat on a chair behind a table) at a conference in which I was contributing to the topic of organ composition. A colleague presented an interesting notion when this subject of "What future for the King" came up from an audience member. His main hope was that interest could be garnered for more concert halls particularly when given the history of the organ. what needed to be borne in mind for the folk who have problems walking into churches is that the organ began it's long life as a secular instrument well before it became seen as a "sacred" instrument. Was the organ perhaps now due for another millenium of secularism? One can only hope!

I'm always quick to remind students of that very point. And then there are little things as well. My ears have taken to perking up a lot lately at an expression that still seems to be in common parlance: "pulling out all the stops." On a number of occasions, I've heard it in the background when my wife has a TV soapie on AND, I've often heard it on the News as well, either from a reporter or from an interviewee. It's good being able to refer to it when demonstrating the organ to a group of kids, because upon asking "Have you heard the expression ..." They'll invariably answer Yes, then I can explain the origin of it.

Frankly, (and this is only my opinion) the repertoire could do with a bit of an overhaul - but then, so could those for many instruments. That's not to decry or devalue the existing repertoire in any way, shape or form as we need those works from which to learn. There are also those lesser known works which are no less deserving than the well-known ones that can be brought out and shown off, something I intend to enjoy doing, particularly with the sorts of scores readily available on Petrucci/IMSLP.

For my part, now being at a school that has such a jolly nice instrument, I'm always quick to bring all and any new classes into the chapel, talk about the organs chequered past, play them all sorts of things, and for those who are encouraged further, generate an interest in writing for it. Hopefully something may one day come of it.

[Contratrombone64]

Matt - wonderful insight there (pulling out all stops of course, the penny handn't dropped! thanks).

[dll927]

For someone to refuse to go to an organ concert for political reasons strikes me as letting the tail wag the dog. Or was that just an excuse?

That expression "pulling out all the stops" sort of amuses me, since on any organ of any count, doing so would create a cacaphony of noise that would be pretty unpleasant. To say nothing of splitting eardrums. Does that include all the couplers? Maybe they should stick to doing it on just one division. Or choose a small organ.

[QFE]

'Pull out all the stops' The phrase, I think, must purely be an English one and have no French/German/Spanish/Italian equivalent, and come from the victorian era. The idea then was to add stops of the same pitch for power rather than octaves or mutations. I'm thinking in particular of instruments such as the Hope Jones at Worcester cathedral
(see http://www.pykett.org.uk/elgar's_organ_sonata.htm specification is at the bottom of the page)

My own Willis is an interesting case that backs up that idea. when you hit the ff composition pedal, every stop on the Great is drawn, including a Dulciana and a stopped diapason. Strangely if you push them back in, there is a noticable, but slight loss to the thickness of tone.

[Ghekorg7]

King is not dead and never will. Period. His kingdom will last for thousand years to come.

I agree with Lars, bring the halls to the people. In Athens most people think and some say that I'm a crazy guy who wants to be Dracula or something, or someother say when they hear a Grand Jeux "...ah ! the phantom of the opera....."

I believe it's about education and spreading the right word around, starting from elementary schools and takin' the kids to a church or hall and see/listen to a King and then answer all the questions right.

[Soubasse]

starting from elementary schools and takin' the kids to a church or hall and see/listen to a King and then answer all the questions right.

That was one of my favourite pastimes and I can tell you why it's a pastime and who is ruining it - the Occupational Health and Safety army. These draconian restrictions on Safety issues are basically robbing people like me of the chance to take student groups on excursions to certain church galleries/organs without orders signed in triplicate, sent in , sent, back, subjected to public enquiry, (etc, etc ... Douglas Adams fans, you know the rest!).

I had to get permission simply to bring my young son up with me to the cathedral gallery on a Sunday morning. Given my 20+ year tenure there, I like to think I know reasonably well just where the gallery may be safe or unsafe!!

Last time I tried to take a class onto the stage at the Adelaide Town Hall to demonstrate the Walker organ to them, I got into trouble because of Occ, Health & Safety regulations - yeesh!!! Where does one draw the line?? (Way too far back as far as OHS regulations go).

To a small extent I can appreciate wanting to ensure people's safety, but as always, a lot of it does come down to commonbloodysense! (something which these days seems to be as politically incorrect as that archaic value known as respect).

Sorry - </rant>

I do agree with starting them younger which is why I do what I do at school and bring classes into the chapel. It's a substantial bonus for me having a small but good instrument to demonstrate to them.

@QFE: You're no doubt correct in the phrase "pulling out all the stops" being peculiarly English. I've always come to think of it as a generalisation rather than a literal direction. One thing I'm always quick to say to classes is that despite the wording, one never pulls out every stop at the organ to make it louder. I suspect it's a visual thing - many people in the past have seen "a lot of" stops out when the organ is loud and therefore, as with a lot of phrases, stories, etc, it gets blown a little out of proportion.

My biggest fear is that the organ building trade itself may wither. An organ builder may not pass on the trade to his/her children because they may find more lucrative means of living. I feel that this is not a large danger in Europe as there are still many quality builders around, but down here, I do sometimes wonder.

There does still exist (here anyway) a general interest in the instrument but it's sorting out whether it's a genuine musical interest as opposed to some sort of novelty value (playing with the feet, making different sounds, etc). Either way, it's most likely up to to our sort to make it appealing to whomever shows an interest regardless of their motivation!

[Ghekorg7]

Soubasse my friend I agree all way with you and wish you be strong and patient to keep your efforts with the school for long.

Yes, organ builders will have big problems continuing their jobs into the 21st century, though in my search for Walther Organs information I came across some beauties like the continuo or choir organ in St.Guillaume in Strasbourg (2001 built) with just three stops (bourdon 8', Flute 4' & Doublette 2') one manual in a drawer and just 75 kilos weight. : VERY TRANSPORTABLE ! Just love it ! But how much do I have to pay for a small instrument like that and get it in my home in Athens ?
So, I think, economics are doing their part in the pipe organ story....not to mention politics and stupid safety restrictions !