Inside a pipe organ adventures

[Contratrombone64]

I love this, anyone know where it's filmed?

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=QOucS4...eature=related

[greatcyber]

Hi CT,

The clip was filmed in Tacoma, Washington. For further info, visit the guy's website here: http://www.rwgiangiulio.com/index.htm

[Contratrombone64]

thanks Stephen

[Krummhorn]

Great informative video on tracker action for the less informed.
Always pleasurable to see the inner workings of the organ ... people hear the sound but now always aware of all the mechanical happenings to create that sound.

Off topic: CT64 online on the weekend ... this is a first - or second ... great to see you online whenever you are here .

[Contratrombone64]

Off topic: CT64 online on the weekend ... this is a first - or second ... great to see you online whenever you are here .

Yeah - I had a big dose of the "tom tits" with my service provided and unceremoniously dumped them. Now I'm with a new one who is far nicer to deal with, so here I am.

[Corno Dolce]

Aloha CT64,

Great to see you here on a weekend.

Cheerio,

CD

[Contratrombone64]

Thanks Corno Dolce

[greatcyber]

The "innerds" of a pipe organ assembly are incredibly interesting. I don't remember if I have mentioned this in the past or not but when I was in the 7th grade, my mother helped our church in New Jersey acquire a pipe organ from a church in a nearby city that had closed. Our church wound up getting the organ for a "song" (pun intended) and as the pastor was very pleased with my mother's help he agreed to let me observe the installation. I sat at the keyboard and held down notes while the technicians tuned the pipes. Once the installation was complete I became one of the organists for Sunday's as well as for funerals and weddings and my mother would be the soloist. I used to love to make the windows rattle when I played...what power for such a little kid!

The funniest thing, though, was when they brought me back inside where the ranks were. It was a very tight space but fascinating to see all of the wooden and metal pipes of all shapes and sizes. But for some unkown reason, somebody had taken a can of orange spray paint and written on the back wall of the organ, "Gorillas have nipples." I never quite understood that one but it amuses me still to this day.

[Contratrombone64]

At least obscure graffiti is better than stupid graffiti ...

[dll927]

And it would have to be in a church! Since few people see the pipe chambers, it's open season up there.

Who knows how many of our own homes have some gems on the concrete slabs under the carpets?

[smilingvox]

I recently had a very brief, yet somewhat challenging, adventure in the Midmer-Losh at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City.

During a tour of the organ, I was in the Left Main chamber, about 4 levels up, when the lights went out. Fortunately, I was already becoming familiar with this organ (my 6th or 7th tour) and knew where the ladders, steps and doorways were. I had to move fast, but was also extra careful about the pipes and windlines. God, I must be part cat or something.

Another one was in Detroit. The Skinner at Jefferson Av. Presb. I had been in that organ taking pictures with Ken Holden accompanying me. After coming out, I had to change the film. When I removed the one roll, I opened the camera before it was finished rewinding, so I didn't know which pictures might have gotten ruined. After putting the second roll in, I went back inside the Skinner (everybody had gone into the fellowship hall by then).

I didn't turn the lights on, because I didn't want to get pinched, so I moved around inside very carefully, re-taking pictures I had just taken. Fortunately, the interior of this organ is fairly straight-forward, so I could move silently without touching anything but ladders. Nobody knew!

At the 2000 OHS Convention in Boston, a couple of us were inside the Gallery Organ, at Trinity Copley Sq., while it was playing. I was standing right in front of the Swell, louvres open, changing a roll of film. All of the sudden, Trompettes, voiced on 6", started blasting in my face, yet it had no effect on me, since I was concentrating on changing the roll and getting out of that chamber, since I was done anyway. I had a good laugh over this.

[greatcyber]

That's quite an adventuresome story. From now on when we travel, instead of just attending organ concerts I will look into tours of the organs. Maybe I'll have my own adventure.