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    Frederik Magle
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    Krummhorn
    Co-Administrator

Refurbished Mudgee organ up and running

Contratrombone64

Admiral of Fugues
I had the pleasure of taking the newly restored organ at St. John the Baptist Anglican Church, Mudgee (4 hour drive due west of Sydney) on Saturday last as I was in Mudgee visiting a friend. I must say, it's got new lungs and doesn't seem to have a chronic lung complaint any more. The trumpet (which was never really over the top noisy) would now blow the bras of parisioners if it were near them, that's for sure.

It's a stable (though not brilliantly voiced) 3 manual organ. Strangely, there's not reeds on the Great Division so one has to couple from the Swell (which is where the trumpet resides).

Pondering this, I did use the trumpet (which is noisy) with the swell fully closed and it sounded muffled and appealing. So, really, having your only noisy reed in the swell's probably a good design. The Choir devision is extremely quiet (no suprises) but has some nice stops.

Here's a link to its specification:

http://www.ohta.org.au/organs/organs/MudgeeAng.html

Which comes under the category of "chocolate teapot" or "ash tray on a motor bike" ... as it's not working seemingly.
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Nice article on this restoration and the instrument itself. Seems I've read the name Peter Jewkes in other postings of yours ... I seem to recollect him being an organist and/or organ builder in your region.

So the 8' Trumpet in the specification showing in the Great division is non-existent? I agree about the Swell Cornopean reed - the ones I've heard in the US are always a very fat sound ... or as you put it so vididly - "noisy".

How are the building acoustics?
 

Contratrombone64

Admiral of Fugues
Krummiest - I realised my error this morning and the trumpet IS in the great on this organ. I played a house organ (digital) where the trumpet's on the swell. I'm a senior, you'll need to be forgiving an gentle please.

Peter Jewkes is a Sydneysider (like myself), organist at bells and smells resplendant Christ Church St. Laurence, Railway Square, Sydney AND a very accomplished organ builder. I think of him as a mini-Bach sometimes as they both have similar skills (organ playing, organ tinkering, improvisation, composing, et cetera).
 

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Aloha CT64,

You're a senior? I'm 46 and definitely not a senior. Master Krummhorn has got us both beat.

Cheerio,

CD :):):)
 

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
CT64,

You're not a senior - knock it off will ya?! Whats the matter with people these days, huh??? At 45 they sound like they're ready to throw in the towel.

CD :grin:
 

marval

New member
If you are a senior CT, I don't want to know what I am.
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Margaret
 

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Aloha Dame Margaret,

You're almost 19 so what do you have to complain about, eh? :grin::grin::grin:

Cheerio,

CD :):):)
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Krummiest - I realised my error this morning and the trumpet IS in the great on this organ. I played a house organ (digital) where the trumpet's on the swell. I'm a senior, you'll need to be forgiving an gentle please.

Nah - not a senior yet ... not until you are "OAD" like I am ... :grin:


Peter Jewkes is a Sydneysider (like myself), organist at bells and smells resplendant Christ Church St. Laurence, Railway Square, Sydney AND a very accomplished organ builder. I think of him as a mini-Bach sometimes as they both have similar skills (organ playing, organ tinkering, improvisation, composing, et cetera).

Thanks for the explanation on Peter Jewkes - I remember now you mentioning him being the organist at Christ Church. Perusing the web, I can see lots of his build and rebuild works.
 

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Aloha CT64,

I was the same way when I was 19 - a regular *Hormone Hurricane* - If I were 19 again then I would have married my High-School sweetheart Elise.

Cheers,

CD :):):)
 

Contratrombone64

Admiral of Fugues
If I were 19 again (with the insight of my current journey) I'd possibly do some things quite differently, for sure. But hey, spilt milk is spilt milk ...
 

methodistgirl

New member
I'm older than both of you two I'm 48. Not to far from being Krummhorn's
age. Does that make me a senior?:ut::nut: Gees!
judy tooley
 

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Aloha CT64,

You're right about spilt milk - ya can't unspill it - just move on and modify the behaviour sets.

Cheerio,

CD :):):)
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
I'm older than both of you two I'm 48. Not to far from being Krummhorn's age. Does that make me a senior?:ut::nut: Gees!
judy tooley

Hi there ,,,

Judy, you, CD and CT64 are still just "kids" compared to being OAD as yours truly :crazy::rolleyes:

CT64,
Are there any recordings of the builds that Peter Jewkes has done?
 

Contratrombone64

Admiral of Fugues
Not sure if there are but I'll pose the question at Christ Church next sunday after the special ecuminical service (shudder).

I know CCSL has recordings for sale of Peter playing the magnificent organ at CCSL with the wonderful choir. However his only role on that instrument as far as I know is to keep it in tip top shape (which he does) as the organist AND maintenance guy all rolled into one.
 

dll927

New member
About that no reeds on the Great - until the 1988 (or so) additions, the Mormon Tabernacle organ didn't have any.

I have a little brochure that Alexander Schreiner personally sent me when I once wrote to ask about the organ's specifications. There are some strangely-named stops, and a picture on the front of Schreiner himself at the console - but no reeds on the Great.

I can remember Schreiner looking pretty shaky by the time he retired, which was 10 years or so before he died. Does anyone know if he had Parkinson's or some such thing?
 

Albert

New member
Ah, all you old folks make me ill. I'm just 39 - the same age as Jack Benny - and am not getting any older, ever. This year I celebrated the 29th anniversary of my 39th birthday.
 
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