Tracking a Vowles Organ

[DaveStMaelog]

Hello. I found this site by entering "Vowles Tracker" into Google. I had hoped that this would lead me somewhere that would enable me to track the history of an organ located in St Maelog's church, Llandefaelog Fach, nr Brecon in Powys, Wales. However, once I had entered my details, the site seemed to offer everything but that I sought. So, my purpose in life is to identify the Vowles organ, a 2 manual instrument made by Vowles of Bristol, to attempt to find where it came from, who bought it and at what cost. Generally, any information about this instrument would be gratefully received.

It was said that the instrument came from St Mary's church in Brecon in 1890 and that the service of re-dedication was well reported in the local newspaper. I have searched all the back copies for 1890 with no such report being found. Also, the National Register of Pipe Organs shows a transfer of an organ from St Mary's, but this was a Holland, not a Vowles and it went to St John's Priory, now Brecon cathedral.

Am I in the right place?

DaveStMaelog

[marval]

Hello Dave

Welcome to the forum, I cannot help you , but we have some more experienced people who might be able to point you in the right direction.

Please stay around, you might get some more answers.


Margaret

[Soubasse]

Hi Dave,

You are from one of my favourite parts of the world, I still haven't forgotten the magical effect that Brecon had on me when I first visited. Welcome aboard.

The reason your search turned up this forum is that there is a registered member here who went by the very handle of "Vowles Tracker." I haven't heard from him for a long time though, and he's only made 12 posts in the last 4 years. He is actually from my very neck of the woods (and he used to be from yours!) and I never got around to finding out who he was because chances are I know him (I'm aware he knows me!). If you do a search here and drop him a PM, it's vaguely possible you could get his attention. I gather that he plays a Vowles in his church. That's as much help as I can be sorry. His Magle profile is here:

http://www.magle.dk/music-forums/mem...s-tracker.html

Kind regards,
MPA

[Dorsetmike]

There's quite a long list of Vowles organs on NPOR (search on builder). Have you tried contacting NPOR they may be able to direct you to other sources of information, or maybe interested in research of their own. Is the organ still playable?

[teddy]

Hello Dave and welcome to the forum. I grew up in Aberdyfi and still have a strong affinity with Wales parly because I do have some Welsh blood. Which makes me doubly sorry that I can't help you with this problem.

teddy.

[DaveStMaelog]

There's quite a long list of Vowles organs on NPOR (search on builder). Have you tried contacting NPOR they may be able to direct you to other sources of information, or maybe interested in research of their own. Is the organ still playable?

Thank you yes, I have investigated the National Pipe Organ Register. It was there I found that the organ transferred from St Mary's in Brecon was a Holland and not our Vowles, and it was transferred to St John Priory, now the cathedral. Our Vowles was at one time, hand pumped, but has had an electric pump added at a later date.

[DaveStMaelog]

Hi Dave,

You are from one of my favourite parts of the world, I still haven't forgotten the magical effect that Brecon had on me when I first visited. Welcome aboard.

The reason your search turned up this forum is that there is a registered member here who went by the very handle of "Vowles Tracker." I haven't heard from him for a long time though, and he's only made 12 posts in the last 4 years. He is actually from my very neck of the woods (and he used to be from yours!) and I never got around to finding out who he was because chances are I know him (I'm aware he knows me!). If you do a search here and drop him a PM, it's vaguely possible you could get his attention. I gather that he plays a Vowles in his church. That's as much help as I can be sorry. His Magle profile is here:

http://www.magle.dk/music-forums/mem...s-tracker.html

Kind regards,
MPA

Thank you for your kind welcome. Even if I do not succeed in finding out about our Vowles Organ, this site has given me the beautiful rendition of Toccata and Fugue in D on Riga cathedral organ. I have been there and listened to that instrument and you have my envy at being allowed to play on it. You may be interested to know that, with a Latvian friend, I helped to write the English version of the guide about the facade of that magnificent instrument.

[DaveStMaelog]

Hello Dave and welcome to the forum. I grew up in Aberdyfi and still have a strong affinity with Wales parly because I do have some Welsh blood. Which makes me doubly sorry that I can't help you with this problem.

teddy.

Well teddy, you are always welcome to visit us here. The church is always open and we keep a welcome in our hillsides. I don't play the organ in the church, but I do ring the bells. We have a ring of six, with two of them dating pre-reformation (1480-1500)

[teddy]

Thanks Dave, I would like to visit next time I am down that way

teddy

[Soubasse]

Hello again Dave,

I've just google-mapped your location and re-read your description of St Maelogs ... and I'm pretty well convinced that I've been there. If it's the place I'm thinking of then I'm extremely envious (but then I am of most folk in the northern hemisphere anyway!)

[DaveStMaelog]

Hello again Dave,

I've just google-mapped your location and re-read your description of St Maelogs ... and I'm pretty well convinced that I've been there. If it's the place I'm thinking of then I'm extremely envious (but then I am of most folk in the northern hemisphere anyway!)

Thank you. If you have google mapped us, then you will know what long walk I have to church! We are immediately opposite the church and the house used to be the vicarage to the church that was on the site before the Victorian builders replaced it.