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    Frederik Magle
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Catholic organist compensation

Nikam

New member
The Scottish Federation of Organists has the following on its website:


Recommended Salary Scales

Having considered the current financial climate and the decisions made by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in May 2010 regarding the remuneration of ministers and also the Church's office staff, the Salaries Committee resolved (with the agreement of the SFO Committee) that the increase in salary scales due on 1st January 2011 would not take place. A further review was undertaken early in 2011 and in view of the continuing freeze on salaries, stipends and pensions it was decided that no increase in organists' salaries could be recommended for 1st January 2012. Therefore the current scales will remain effective until at least 1st January 2013.



a) Churches without choirs
Salary £1,450 - £2,240 Deputy Fee £50


b) Churches with choirs making an occasional individual contribution to worship
Salary £2,240 - £3,570 Deputy Fee £50 - £65


c) Churches with choirs making a substantial individual contribution to worship
Salary £3,570 - £4,780 Deputy Fee £65 - £90


d) Churches with complete and competent choirs singing full choral services
Salary £4,780 - £7,140 Deputy Fee £90 - £100


e) Churches employing a full or part time professional director of music with extensive responsibilities are recommended to consider salary scales higher than scale d)
Salary £7,140+ Deputy Fee £100+


Notes:


1. There is a uniform approach to Deputy Fees, these now covering all church services, weddings and funerals. Different services contain different emphases, but all are important and should receive equal treatment.


2. Recording fees remain unchanged:
The fee + 50% for sound recording
The fee + 100% for video recording


3. These scales are not mandatory. They provide guidelines for churches throughout Scotland. Whilst these scales are endorsed by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland it is hoped that they will also be endorsed on an inter-denominational basis.


4. If exceptional situations arise, which are not covered by these scales - for example, the number and nature of services within the Anglican and Roman Liturgies, or within Church of Scotland linked charges - then dialogue and negotiation are recommended as ways towards mutual agreement. Organists should be prepared to be pro-active in such matters and not diffident concerning reference to these scales.


5. These scales exist to provide a working framework and to maintain reasonable standards of remuneration. If there are musicians who are prepared to accept alternative remuneration, or to offer their services on a voluntary basis, then that is a matter for individual decisions and outwith the scope of these recommendations.


6. Churches that are experiencing financial difficulties or who do not wish to subscribe to these scales should not seek to engage deputies who do expect these scales to be observed.


7. It should not be necessary to emphasise that the labourer be worthy of hire. Those who benefit from SFO scales should be competent to do so.


8. The current Church of Scotland Contract for Organists is now an extensive document containing sections applying to Duties, Salaries, Hours of Work, Holidays, Sickness Benefits, Expenses, Disciplinary Matters, Redress of Grievances, Protection of Children and Young People, Dress and Worship. This is now a comprehensive document but there are areas that are perhaps ambiguous - Dress and Expenses, for example, and further negotiations may be necessary.


Not every church will adopt this contract and local variations exist. These matters should be checked carefully before entering into employment. Copies of the contract can be obtained from the Church of Scotland Legal Department at 121 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4YH (0131 225 5722).


9. These scales now remain relevant until 1st January 2013, by when a further review will have taken place.


Relevant and informed commentary is always welcome and should be addressed to Iain Galbraith, Convenor, via the SFO e-mail address: [email protected]


Please note, however, that queries regarding individual contracts and/or tax matters should be addressed to your own Solicitor or other professional adviser
 

kas

New member
Hi all,

This has been an interesting thread. To update everyone who seems to take an interest in this thread, my current rate of pay has increased to $50 per service (before deductions). I really am very hesitant to ask for more for several personal reasons. First of all, I am playing for my own parish as I mentioned earlier. Also, I think that asking for another $5 increase every so often begins to make me look a bit foolish. There just seems to be a certain self-degradation involved. I have no doubt that my church administration is well aware of what other Catholic organists are being paid in nearby parishes (on par with mine and perhaps a bit less in some cases) and so unless I forthrightly declare a set amount below which I will not continue to play, I'd probably just be forcing myself into a position of 'take it or leave it' at some point. I am under no contractual obligation of any kind currently, and that in and of itself lends considerable flexibility which is a plus. And so I guess there are pros and cons to the low pay. The current rate of pay has been the same now for the past 8 months, and so it will be interesting to see what happens come July - which is when the last increase was given. I vacillate between feeling very grateful for the truly wonderful Parish I am a member of - great people, beautiful church, very nice instrument, the type of position I enjoy (play but no directing) - and feeling a bit taken advantage of - especially when I know that the weekly collection is well over twice what I make in an entire year. These dichotomous feelings can be very disturbing at times and are certainly ones to continue to pray over. Obviously, today, is one of the moments when I am feeling a bit undervalued and taken for granted. Fueling the side of me that sometimes feels the bite of the unfairness of low pay is that I have two college degrees in music and over 40 years of experience. Currently there are no other organists (we have had a few part time individuals on occasion) that can play any Sunday Masses, and so if I tell them I cannot play a given Sunday, there is no organist to cover. I have not missed a service since I began playing on a steady, weekly basis since July. Perhaps if I take a week off every so often, that might, more than anything I could say, get the point across that I'm perhaps more important to the Mass than some folks might realize.

KAS
 
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Suzanne001

New member
Hi from Suzanne Jordan Birmingham England.
A very interesting thread indeed.
I have served both as a cathedral and parish organist at various times in my career, and I recently had to
give up playing on medical grounds this january after 49 years as a church organist.

Mainly most parish organists depending on whether you are church of england RC or baptist Methodist etc,
use the RCM or RSCM Organists remuneration scales for purposes of paying Organists, and depending on their
standard of qualification, such as member Fellow Licentiate or Mus.Doc level for example.

In most cases cathedral organists both Principal and Deputy principal organists are a salaried position with thsoe salaries
being agreed with the relevant church authorities and Chapters

In the case of Parish organists this is usally negotiated on the RSCM or RCM remuneration scales, and or as agreed with the
relevant boards of each church. Most churches when advertising vacant organist positions will give an idea of hours and salary
to be paid and at what intervals.

I have known cases where organists have not been paid for services usually in very small churches like pentecostal and other independant churches, who also seem to regard the organists time and service as a gift to god, a lot of these churches not even offering travel expenses either.

Now it may be fair to say that they should pay, I have had times when I have ahd to travel quite a long way to do a service and not even an offer of anything towards my travel costs for example, and as for a service fee-no chance.

A lot of churches have this opinion that the organist is there to play the service, and not to seek any reward. In my view the workman is worthy of his hire, and even if the church paid travelling costs it would be something.

Now a lot of hospital chaplaincy organists can claim for their travel and time, and rightly so, even though theyare classed as voluntary and they can claim their travel costs which is something.
But as I have now retired from church music it often makes me smile when I hear young organists say quite bluntly, well if they dont pay-i dont play. maybe then the churches may then put some value on the contribution made by the organsit to the worship of a service, and for the time and commitment they have spent preparing and also training to be able to play to a professional standard.

So keep plugging away my dear fellow organists , and maybe we shall break down this wall of no or little pay, and become the valued and effective profesionals at the instrument playing not only for Gods glory and the blessing of the congregations you serve, but also to feel that you have been justly rewarded down here for your labour.

Suzanne Jordan
Birmingham UK
 

wljmrbill

Member
Nicely put Suzanne and welcome also.. I think sometimes they forget how many hours,years and money we spend just to be able to play at an acceptable level.. Lessons in the USA are not cheap even when I was growing up years ago. College was expensive too. For me PLaying for services is how I earned my money to continue to study. Funny can remember doing the organ teachers yard and weed pulling work, washing outside of the house, cleaning just to get my lessons and maybe some practice time as we had little money.Maybe we appreciated it more having to work for our educations.
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
. . . Maybe we appreciated it more having to work for our educations.

Agreed ... Although my parents paid for lots of years of lessons for me, when I began playing in church and began receiving income from that, I was then paying for my own lessons. It was a great motivator ... and I've never regretted it.
 

kas

New member
Hi,

Just a quick update to this topic. My church's fiscal year begins with July, and so I was awaiting to see if any raise was forthcoming - possibly above and beyond my per-service pay of $50. As of this past Sunday I saw in my recent paycheck that there has been an increase of two dollars per service - from the previous $50 to a current rate of $52, leading me to believe that the $50 range is probably close to the upper limit of what I will ever receive. In all fairness to my parish - and a point I did not mention previously - is that there are two other organists - both play on alternate Saturday vigil Masses. The one has been receiving $40 and the other is newer and probably receives less. So, I do need to consider that, while my pay seems on the low side, a 'weekly' pay is being given of approximately $80-90 - certainly more than many Catholic parishes in my area I believe.

kas
 

kas

New member
Just an update since I haven't added anything to this thread for quite some time. My church's fiscal year ends June 30, and so I just got my recent "increase", which went up one dollar from $54 per service to $55. I'm quite disappointed, especially since over the past year we have added additional choir responsibilities (I'm not the director, but it involves an additional after-Mass 1.5 to 2 hour rehearsal once a month except for during summers). I thought that this might be worth something in terms of my priest wishing to continue to offer at least a $2 raise per year as has been the case the past 3 years. I never expected, at any point, an increase of $1. This almost feels insulting in a way, and yet I am trying hard to not feel this way about it since it is my own church. A part of me keeps trying to convince another part of me that this is just 'the way it is' in the Catholic church. It appears that the priest really does not want to give me any more but yet feels he has to give something, hence the buck raise. I've been contemplating simply cutting back on the number of services I play per month and that maybe that will give him the idea. There is another part-time (infrequent) musician who plays when I'm away but she is more of a pianist than organist. I don't know if my indicating that I am scaling back would work to my benefit or not. The subject of money is never broached either by my priest or even between me and my music director. I was once told by my director that "most (organists) do it as a music ministry for which they receive a small stipend". And yet I know for a fact that he receives MUCH more per year than I do, and does relatively little for it. It's frustrating. I'm trying to rely on God and praying to Him for guidance on this issue. Any thoughts?

Thanks,
KAS
 
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wljmrbill

Member
ah Kas..sorry to hear what value was put on you..but when playing I was familiar with the problem. Maybe their rewadr is here and yours will come later...a thought..
 

Padster

New member
I must admit, as a Catholic organist I have had times when I have wondered why on earth I've invested so much time, effort and money for such little reward. But I have come to an understanding that it doesn't matter. Church attendance is on the slide, and much of what we have come to expect will be gone in 10 years time. As a 44-year old, I have perhaps another 20-30 years left as a church organist, assuming my health holds up. That is 20-30 years observing an institution in terminal decline, a depressing thought. My parish is dropping the one Mass that is my 'raison d'etre' as an organist, where the atmosphere is quiet and reflective and I get to play much of the organ's repertoire. I will soon be left with the 11am Mass, where the culture is very different and regards the organist as an hymn accompanist and nothing more. It will be very easy for me to slip into the slapdash Catholic mindset of 'anything will do', because I effectively will have nothing to do.

Best wishes,
Padster
 

wljmrbill

Member
Sorry to hear that Padster.. Hopefully they use high liturgical music and form at times to make it more then entertaining the troops so to speak.I was always lucky as my main service was always a "High Litrugical Service" with choir. Hang in there..Hopefully you have a good organ to work with too. That always makes it a plus.
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
The RC church has traditionally been at the bottom of the scale for paid organists. In one parish, I was paid by the "unit" ... one unit being a choir rehearsal, one unit being a Mass. Weddings and Funerals were always extra, and were paid by the family.

I work in a protestant church (Lutheran ELCA) and although our membership is steadily declining, I still get between 3% and 4% raises every year. I am salaried, so my pay is not based upon the number of "units" played. We have two services year round, and choir rehearsals from early September to the end of May.

There was a church that recently opened for a very very large RC parish here a couple months ago. I mean, they flock in over 2 thousand people each weekend for Mass (Saturday anticipated and Sunday morning). I was tempted to jump at it, as the choral director is well known locally and across the nation. Then I looked at the pay rate ... I would have had to take a $7,500 CUT in pay from what I presently earn, and that was just not acceptable. I elected to stay where I am.

I fail to understand why the RC takes this stance. Okay, the huge parishes back East or the major Basilicas and Cathedrals probably pay better, but those jobs are few and far between because the incumbent organist will most likely remain in that lucrative position for many many years.

Being a church organist takes lots of work behind the scenes - selection of appropriate music, practicing at odd hours of the night (due to parish use during the daytime hours), etc. There was just as much, of not more, preparation time needed on my part getting ready for Mass. The RC parish that I played in for three years did major works like the Mozart Coronation Mass, Schubert Mass, and the like. The Mozart was quite the workout for the organist as anyone here will surely attest to that.

I am elated to have a pastor who appreciates the finer organ literature. He also appreciates my abilities to play "schmultzy" pieces (roller rink music).

I have had several close friends who had great positions, superb organs and a growing music program, only to be dashed when the new pastor arrived to take charge. The new pastor in all cases immediately fired all the music people, put a for sale sign on the pipe organ, installed video screens and fancy theatrical lighting, discarded all the pews and installed theater seats, and change to the 'happy-clappy' worship format complete with obnoxiously [too] loud amplified guitars, soloists screaming through their microphones, people jumping and dancing on the stage (yes, the altar was even removed). Of course, membership dropped drastically and within a few years the church went bust and folded. So much for happy-clappy. :lol:

The one thing though that I really loved about playing RC Masses, was the the entire congregation was ghostly silent during my preludes ... you could hear a pin drop it was so quiet ... but there was no opportunity to publish titles in their bulletins. It's completely the opposite in my protestant parish - I could (and have) play Yankee Doodle Dandy and most would not notice. But there are a few who really do listen - so I always publish my titles in the Sunday Bulletins, prelude, communion and postlude (offertories during the summer when the choir is off).

I do feel very sad for those of us why play in the RC parishes. It could be, and should be, better than it presently is, but I don't see any drastic changes coming about at any time in the future. I quite agree that the $1 raise was, imho, a slap in the face ... being a member of the parish should not make any difference either. I am a member and tither of the Lutheran church where I play, and that has never been entered into the equation about 'donating' some of my time because of my membership.

Kh ♫
 

Padster

New member
Sorry to hear that Padster.. Hopefully they use high liturgical music and form at times to make it more then entertaining the troops so to speak.I was always lucky as my main service was always a "High Litrugical Service" with choir. Hang in there..Hopefully you have a good organ to work with too. That always makes it a plus.

They don't use 'High Liturgical Music' at all. It is basically all hymns, so I have tried to compensate by playing core repertoire such as Franck's Prelude, Fugue et Variation and I write a lot of my own stuff. This works well in the quiet atmosphere of the evening mass, but is utterly futile at the 11am. The organ loft resembles that of a social club most Sundays as people in the choir like to gossip. They are all older than me so I can't go laying the law down asking them to be quiet. I only started playing at the morning mass last year and I accept that the situation has always been like that. But am I somewhat depressed that my main outlet for expressing myself and my music is about to be extinguished by the Catholic Church's obsession with statistics and numbers. I'll just be a 'human karaoke machine' come September. I do play postludes at 11am, but really, even these are surplus to requirements as we have a recessional hymn.

The organ I play is of the 'English Romantic' type and was built in 1890. It doesn't have a Swell pedal but rather a hitch-down ratchet. It has combination pedals, flat stop jambs and mechanical action. These days I enjoy playing it more than ever before. Though I still do not have a key to the church after 20 years as an organist there.....

Best wishes,
Padster
 

wljmrbill

Member
They don't use 'High Liturgical Music' at all. It is basically all hymns, so I have tried to compensate by playing core repertoire such as Franck's Prelude, Fugue et Variation and I write a lot of my own stuff. This works well in the quiet atmosphere of the evening mass, but is utterly futile at the 11am. The organ loft resembles that of a social club most Sundays as people in the choir like to gossip. They are all older than me so I can't go laying the law down asking them to be quiet. I only started playing at the morning mass last year and I accept that the situation has always been like that. But am I somewhat depressed that my main outlet for expressing myself and my music is about to be extinguished by the Catholic Church's obsession with statistics and numbers. I'll just be a 'human karaoke machine' come September. I do play postludes at 11am, but really, even these are surplus to requirements as we have a recessional hymn.

The organ I play is of the 'English Romantic' type and was built in 1890. It doesn't have a Swell pedal but rather a hitch-down ratchet. It has combination pedals, flat stop jambs and mechanical action. These days I enjoy playing it more than ever before. Though I still do not have a key to the church after 20 years as an organist there.....

Best wishes,
Padster

Maybe suggest they sang the recessional hymn in place and recess to the postlude..which the National Cathedral is now doing at many services. A thought.
 
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pcnd5584

New member
... The organ loft resembles that of a social club most Sundays as people in the choir like to gossip. They are all older than me so I can't go laying the law down asking them to be quiet. I only started playing at the morning mass last year and I accept that the situation has always been like that.

Yes, you can. It should be possible firmly but sensitively to make it clear to the choir members that silence and reverence is expected in the organ loft at all times during services - which would include the whole of the final voluntary. If you are the organist (and with twenty years' service), you should have some recognisable authority over the choir; you may need to request the support of your parish priest in this matter. It may not be easy, and at first you might meet with some resistance. However, the exercise of a combination of diplomacy and firmness should achieve a satisfactory outcome. If it does not, perhaps it is time to seek pastures new.

The organ I play is of the 'English Romantic' type and was built in 1890. It doesn't have a Swell pedal but rather a hitch-down ratchet. It has combination pedals, flat stop jambs and mechanical action. These days I enjoy playing it more than ever before. Though I still do not have a key to the church after 20 years as an organist there.....

Why not simply ask the priest (or whatever the Catholic equivalent of churchwardens are) for a key? Presumably after twenty years' service, you are regarded as both responsible and reliable.

It is pleasing that at least you enjoy playing the organ in your church. Was it, by chance, built by the firm of Hill & Son?

A thought - if you are that unhappy and you value decent music, notwithstanding the good instrument, why on earth are you playing in the Catholic church? Their music was never the same after Vatican II. There are currently several posts advertised in the Church Times for organists within the Anglican community; most of these have at least half-decent instruments - and most offer rather better musical programmes. Presumably it is the tie of your day job (or full-time career), which keeps you in a certain part of the country?
 
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Padster

New member
Yes, you can. It should be possible firmly but sensitively to make it clear to the choir members that silence and reverence is expected in the organ loft at all times during services - which would include the whole of the final voluntary. If you are the organist (and with twenty years' service), you should have some recognisable authority over the choir; you may need to request the support of your parish priest in this matter. It may not be easy, and at first you might meet with some resistance. However, the exercise of a combination of diplomacy and firmness should achieve a satisfactory outcome. If it does not, perhaps it is time to seek pastures new.


I don't mind people talking over the final voluntary, but I think the atmosphere before Mass should be quiet and respectful. I feel I should take a stand on this instead of going with the flow, though I also feel that the choir (such as remains) would only accept firm leadership from an outsider, rather than a fellow parishioner like myself.

Why not simply ask the priest (or whatever the Catholic equivalent of churchwardens are) for a key? Presumably after twenty years' service, you are regarded as both responsible and reliable.

I did ask for a key once, but it failed to materialise.

It is pleasing that at least you enjoy playing the organ in your church. Was it, by chance, built by the firm of Hill & Son?

The organ was built by the Preston organ builder Henry Ainscough. With the support of our parish priest it was overhauled in 2000, perhaps for the first time in its history. It reaches its 124th birthday next month. Perhaps we'll do something special next year. I think it is possible it is due a Historic Organ Certificate from BIOS because it is unaltered.

A thought - if you are that unhappy and you value decent music, notwithstanding the good instrument, why on earth are you playing in the Catholic church? Their music was never the same after Vatican II. There are currently several posts advertised in the Church Times for organists within the Anglican community; most of these have at least half-decent instruments - and most offer rather better musical programmes. Presumably it is the tie of your day job (or full-time career), which keeps you in a certain part of the country?

I agree that the RC Church has trashed its musical heritage, but the 1960's did a lot of irreversible damage in many areas of life, not just in church. One only has to look at the vandalism inflicted upon Euston railway station, whose 1960's incarnation was described as "being designed on the back of a cigarette packet by someone with a vampiric loathing of daylight". However, as a former paid Organist and Choirmaster in an Anglican church for ten years, I can honestly say that the situation there was on the slide too. When I started we had canticles and anthems, but a new vicar came in and things began to change. My current problem is not a day job. My problem is that I am ill. So rather than jeopardise my PIP which I desperately need to survive, I play for free in my parish church. And believe me, with all the hoops you have to jump through to get PIP, you wouldn't want to risk losing it in any way. That is not to say that as a Catholic I am happy with the musical situation in RC churches. I am not. In fact I am appalled at times.

Best wishes,
Padster
 

pcnd5584

New member


I don't mind people talking over the final voluntary, but I think the atmosphere before Mass should be quiet and respectful. I feel I should take a stand on this instead of going with the flow, though I also feel that the choir (such as remains) would only accept firm leadership from an outsider, rather than a fellow parishioner like myself.



I did ask for a key once, but it failed to materialise.



The organ was built by the Preston organ builder Henry Ainscough. With the support of our parish priest it was overhauled in 2000, perhaps for the first time in its history. It reaches its 124th birthday next month. Perhaps we'll do something special next year. I think it is possible it is due a Historic Organ Certificate from BIOS because it is unaltered.



I agree that the RC Church has trashed its musical heritage, but the 1960's did a lot of irreversible damage in many areas of life, not just in church. One only has to look at the vandalism inflicted upon Euston railway station, whose 1960's incarnation was described as "being designed on the back of a cigarette packet by someone with a vampiric loathing of daylight". However, as a former paid Organist and Choirmaster in an Anglican church for ten years, I can honestly say that the situation there was on the slide too. When I started we had canticles and anthems, but a new vicar came in and things began to change. My current problem is not a day job. My problem is that I am ill. So rather than jeopardise my PIP which I desperately need to survive, I play for free in my parish church. And believe me, with all the hoops you have to jump through to get PIP, you wouldn't want to risk losing it in any way. That is not to say that as a Catholic I am happy with the musical situation in RC churches. I am not. In fact I am appalled at times.

Best wishes,
Padster

Dear Padster,

Thank you for your reply - and for the information contained therein.

Do not give up on the choir - surely the fact that you are the organist (and not simply a fellow parishioner) should carry some weight? However, I agree entirely regarding quietness before the service.

The key - ask again - politely but firmly.

Ainscough - sounds interesting. Could you point me in the direction of a stop-list, please?

I agree with you regarding the damage inflicted in the 1960s. Specifically the destruction of the former entrance arch to the old Euston Station. It is true that in the Anglican Church the arrival of a new and musically unsympathetic priest can do great damage. However, there are a good number of places where there is cause for encouragement and hope for the future - and I do not write this glibly.

I am sorry to hear that you are unwell and understand entirely regarding the value of your PIP. Is there perhaps a local (or reasonably local) choir which sings choral services on an itinerant basis and which occasionally requires an organist? Failing that, what about contacting the RSCM and asking if they could use your services - perhaps for regional courses or something similar. I doubt that they would worry about which denomination you serve presently.
 
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Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
. . . organ loft resembles that of a social club most Sundays as people in the choir like to gossip. They are all older than me so I can't go laying the law down asking them to be quiet.

Yes you can, and should. That is "your time" to offer music for the Mass - and it needs to be respected.

I had this very problem in several parishes ... I solved it by starting a piece out softly, then gradually build the registration - as I got louder, so did the din from the choir - I kept adding more stops until I was at full plenum, then I instantly and suddenly took my hands of the keyboards - by that time the choir people were yelling to each other to be heard ... and they were indeed heard, all the way to the front of the chancel. All the parishioners turned around and looked at them ... that's all it took, and the problem was solved.

Though I still do not have a key to the church after 20 years as an organist there.....

I agree with Sean ... ask again, nicely, but firmly. It should come with the key to the organ - just common sense imho.

Kh ♫
 

Padster

New member
Thanks for all your input. Here are the details of our organ:

Builder: Henry Ainscough, Preston.
Completed: August 1890

Stoplist: Great: Open Diapason 8', Lieblich Gedackt 8', Dulciana 8', Principal 4', Fifteenth 2'. Swell: Open Diapason 8', Gamba 8', Voix Celestes 8', Oboe 8', Flauto Traverso 4' Pedal: Bourdon 16'
Couplers: Sw to Gt, Sw to Ped, Gt to Ped

Combination Pedals (iron 'paddles' or levers): 1: Sw to Gt, 2: Great Open Diapason (reversible), 3: Gt Lieblich & Sw Diapason, 4. Full Organ.

Hitch down ratchet swell

The organ has speaking pipes throughout, including the façade which carries the Great Open Diapason. The latter has an ample mouth and is used mostly as a solo stop or for crowning full organ occasionally. It should really have been labelled 'Large Open Diapason' on the drawstop in my opinion. The drawstops themselves are mechanical and are of the Cavaille Coll type. The action is tracker.

I suppose I should be pleased that I have helped give this instrument a new lease of life. Before I became organist in the 90's, it hadn't had an overhaul since it was built. Certainly, there was no record of one, just occasional maintenance. I just wish I had started before re-ordering took place, as I would have ensured that the organ was better protected during it. Fortunately, the vandalism that took place was largely cosmetic: the organ's façade pipes (remember, they aren't dummies) were painted white in a rather slapdash manner. So too was the organ case and console. (You can perhaps see now why I get so despondent!) The façade pipes were once a rather unusual teal/aquamarine colour before the 'painter' got to work with his whitewash. They were carefully painted a Hammerite-type gold colour by the organ builder Sid Reeves of Liverpool during the overhaul in 2000 and look much better. The case remains in its whitened state though Mr Reeves was happy to take it back to down to the wood. But I am afraid an over-keen organist was too eager to get his instrument back! I have to say, in all fairness, if I hadn't complained about the state of the instrument to our parish priest it would simply have not been overhauled. This is why I like to feature the instrument in its own right with solo repertoire. The only thing I would perhaps like to add to the organ are sub and super-octave couplers for the big French toccatas, but I know it is impractical with mechanical action. I wouldn't change any of the speaking stops. They were perfectly designed for their location.

Best wishes,
Padster
 

pcnd5584

New member
Thank you for this. It looks to be an interesting instrument.

Wit regard to the extra couplers: since many French toccatas tend to lie high in the clavier tessitura, you only really need a Sub Octave coupler. This may not be as impossible as you think.
 
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