I always wondered about the "phantom" booster blower and if it ever existed...the jury's still out. That and a couple other little quirky things are in this video.
Of course the stop tabs are there, they've always been there, I can only imagine they were in such a hurry to get the organ done they just left it to do something else and forgot all about it. And the senator obviously did not check every stop, or if he did and found this he let it slide.
Thanks for watching. This is the last video about the organ I have planned for this visit, but I hope to record myself playing one of the organs here tomorrow.
Thanks for these amazing videos! I’ve been fascinated with this instrument since I was 11 years old, and it is amazing to see all these nooks and crannies!
At 4'16" - surely that's a stamping error? Spitzflote pipes are always tapered, even more so than a Gemshorn (top of the pipe typically 1/4 or less of the diameter at the mouth) to produce their characteristic tone, and are tuned by ears (because slotting would ruin the tone and slides don't work on a cone). Even the name = "Spitz" in German means "pointed". Those pipes don't look to have any taper at all, and the mouth is cut up more like a bourdon-style flute. Always thought provoking videos Chris! Thanks for posting.
NIck told me that the pipes are actually tapered, but just barely so, like one pipe diameter difference from top to bottom. You have to remember that pipe names don't mean much in this organ, like the Unda Maris in the Choir which is an open flute like a Melodia. Anyway in the last part of the video you can see what actually ended up in the Echo is a conventional Spitz Flute. Too bad they didn't connect it.
The Echo was on the the first divisions to go in and the Solo-Great one of the last. They could have easily shipped that rank back up to Merrick to be repurposed pretty early on. As it is completely straight sided, maybe it was an early F-up by the Merrick pipe shop, but the entire rank was made, so thats questionable in its own right. Being voiced on the same pressure (15") made it easier to swap in any case. My guess for the quietest rank currently operational, is the 16' Quintaton on the unenclosed Choir.
That little quiet stop should be connected. Not that it will add much, but to just leave the chest and pipes there mute makes no sense, especially if the wires are there. Thanks for the video. As always, they are great to watch.. Would love to see an educational lecture on the words switches, relays, primary, secondary, etc. Those words have always mystified me.
Interesting, so my next question would be, what is the current operational stop on the organ that is the quietist, and can you do a quick demo of it sometime. I'd imagine you'd have to do it when the hall is empty and there isn't a whole lot of construction going on, or we might not be able to even hear it. Of course it would still be pretty loud in the chamber itself, but I (and probably) we need to see what it sounds like out in the hall to get an idea of what a patron would hear.
Good idea and you're absolutely right that the hall would have to be dead quiet to hear it. Some people say that the 16' Quintaton on the Unenclosed Choir is the softest thing playing currently but I don't actually know.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe there is a rank of pipes or mixture that was "experimental" that was played but never" perfected and was NOT well like by organist on the M L so they never played it or it was disabled, so was not available to be Played I'm sure that ranks that were abandon or not being used can be .recruited for use for other pipe ranks to expand the ML much later if someone so chooses
It sounds like you're talking about the 100" reeds in Gallery I, which, even though they aren't restored are playing again and can be used. And they sound pretty good! Just not as overwhelming as Senator Richards thought they should be.
Is it possible that the double stamped Septieme has always been there but was mis stamped by the pipe maker who, realising the mistake, just stamped the rank again.
@@cnagorka A good example of this stunt was in Aeolian Skinner op. 1203 (1952 Boston, MA, Mother Church Extension 4/237) It was left substantially unfinished by voicers during original install. This and a number of technical deficiencies were uncovered during a restoration in the early 1980's. During the restoration, many pipe toe holes on the mixture ranks were found taped over and pipe construction/voicing was of very basic standards compared to other A-S instruments of the 1950's. The organ was large enough to hide the imperfections. Why? G. Donald Harrison and his team just wanted to be done with the project as the client relationship had deteriorated. He even refused to make it a GDH signature instrument. It was very well played "Eff you, dear client!"
A bit off topic, but those roof divisions are likely to be almost impossible to maintain. Any wisdom in moving them to an 'antiphonal' section in the back?
Nope. They won't be any more difficult to maintain than any other division, you just go up there and tune or whatever. Keeping them in tune may be more of a challenge, but even that isn't such a big deal since the hall's HVAC is so radically improved since the time the organ was first installed.
The "booster blower" could be the 100" compressor, since it helps the high pressure blower in the right stage chamber and isn't a blower in itself, but an industrial compressor put there instead of a real blower like the others 😀
Hello Chris, a few videos ago I saw you referencing a book, does said book have any information on the proposals by Wurlitzer and Austin which were not selected? Were they any different to what midmer did? I have seen a photo of a full scale mock up console austin made but nothing more. Im normally not one to make requests in the comment, but if you have some time, I would love to hear you talk about the reed mixture in the brass chorus and/or the german free reeds in the choir and echo. Thanks!
It doesn't matter much at the console, since when you put on a Tierce stop tab you're getting a Tierce, etc, regardless of where the swapped pipes started out.
I hope someone is making copious notes and videos during this entire restoration. Someone, hopefully, is going to write a major book on the entire history of the various restorations of this organ. I may not live long enough to read it, but someone will find it very interesting. Along with a video!
I hope they're going even further, and weighing everything while it's out. It would finally put the debate to rest as to whether this or the Wanamaker is heavier.
The stop tab for this stop does exist, on both consoles, I checked. So, it should 100% be restored, wired, and winded.
Of course the stop tabs are there, they've always been there, I can only imagine they were in such a hurry to get the organ done they just left it to do something else and forgot all about it. And the senator obviously did not check every stop, or if he did and found this he let it slide.
I may be 3461 miles away … but I’m loving your videos.
Thank you!
Thanks for watching. This is the last video about the organ I have planned for this visit, but I hope to record myself playing one of the organs here tomorrow.
Thanks for these amazing videos! I’ve been fascinated with this instrument since I was 11 years old, and it is amazing to see all these nooks and crannies!
At 4'16" - surely that's a stamping error? Spitzflote pipes are always tapered, even more so than a Gemshorn (top of the pipe typically 1/4 or less of the diameter at the mouth) to produce their characteristic tone, and are tuned by ears (because slotting would ruin the tone and slides don't work on a cone). Even the name = "Spitz" in German means "pointed". Those pipes don't look to have any taper at all, and the mouth is cut up more like a bourdon-style flute.
Always thought provoking videos Chris! Thanks for posting.
NIck told me that the pipes are actually tapered, but just barely so, like one pipe diameter difference from top to bottom. You have to remember that pipe names don't mean much in this organ, like the Unda Maris in the Choir which is an open flute like a Melodia. Anyway in the last part of the video you can see what actually ended up in the Echo is a conventional Spitz Flute. Too bad they didn't connect it.
I hope they hook up the Spitz flue someday! Would be nice to hear it!
The Echo was on the the first divisions to go in and the Solo-Great one of the last. They could have easily shipped that rank back up to Merrick to be repurposed pretty early on. As it is completely straight sided, maybe it was an early F-up by the Merrick pipe shop, but the entire rank was made, so thats questionable in its own right. Being voiced on the same pressure (15") made it easier to swap in any case.
My guess for the quietest rank currently operational, is the 16' Quintaton on the unenclosed Choir.
That little quiet stop should be connected. Not that it will add much, but to just leave the chest and pipes there mute makes no sense, especially if the wires are there. Thanks for the video. As always, they are great to watch.. Would love to see an educational lecture on the words switches, relays, primary, secondary, etc. Those words have always mystified me.
Okay, I'll add that to the list of subjects for next time.
Connect the Spitz!
My vote is: As funds become available, get the spitz flute operational.
Hopefully, once they start restoring the echo division this should be the first set of ranks to speak on behalf of the entire division
@@mcraft8861 ...and special thanks to Mr. Cnagorka for showing us the restoration work being done to this spectacular musical instrument as a whole.
Interesting, so my next question would be, what is the current operational stop on the organ that is the quietist, and can you do a quick demo of it sometime. I'd imagine you'd have to do it when the hall is empty and there isn't a whole lot of construction going on, or we might not be able to even hear it. Of course it would still be pretty loud in the chamber itself, but I (and probably) we need to see what it sounds like out in the hall to get an idea of what a patron would hear.
Good idea and you're absolutely right that the hall would have to be dead quiet to hear it. Some people say that the 16' Quintaton on the Unenclosed Choir is the softest thing playing currently but I don't actually know.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe there is a rank of pipes or mixture that was "experimental" that was played but never" perfected and was NOT well like by organist on the M L so they never played it or it was disabled, so was not available to be Played I'm sure that ranks that were abandon or not being used can be .recruited for use for other pipe ranks to expand the ML much later if someone so chooses
It sounds like you're talking about the 100" reeds in Gallery I, which, even though they aren't restored are playing again and can be used. And they sound pretty good! Just not as overwhelming as Senator Richards thought they should be.
@@cnagorka Isthat what Richards meant by them being unsuccessful-- they weren't loud enough?
Hey Chris! Quick question, how do visiting players know what works and what doesn’t when selecting registrations? Great set of videos again 👏👍
There are small punched out red dots on the stop tabs that aren't working.
Is it possible that the double stamped Septieme has always been there but was mis stamped by the pipe maker who, realising the mistake, just stamped the rank again.
Doubtful as the Tierce rank has the exact same double-stamping.
Sounds like stop #218's condition may have been a way to say "'Eff you Senator!" from an installer.
I think you're on to something there.
@@cnagorka A good example of this stunt was in Aeolian Skinner op. 1203 (1952 Boston, MA, Mother Church Extension 4/237) It was left substantially unfinished by voicers during original install. This and a number of technical deficiencies were uncovered during a restoration in the early 1980's.
During the restoration, many pipe toe holes on the mixture ranks were found taped over and pipe construction/voicing was of very basic standards compared to other A-S instruments of the 1950's. The organ was large enough to hide the imperfections.
Why? G. Donald Harrison and his team just wanted to be done with the project as the client relationship had deteriorated. He even refused to make it a GDH signature instrument. It was very well played "Eff you, dear client!"
I wonder if the Senator ever went up into the Echo (or Fanfare)…
Doubtful!
A bit off topic, but those roof divisions are likely to be almost impossible to maintain. Any wisdom in moving them to an 'antiphonal' section in the back?
Nope. They won't be any more difficult to maintain than any other division, you just go up there and tune or whatever. Keeping them in tune may be more of a challenge, but even that isn't such a big deal since the hall's HVAC is so radically improved since the time the organ was first installed.
@@cnagorka Well, good to know! And the leaks are gone?
The "booster blower" could be the 100" compressor, since it helps the high pressure blower in the right stage chamber and isn't a blower in itself, but an industrial compressor put there instead of a real blower like the others 😀
Nope- it was specifically listed as a 30 horsepower Kinetic.
@@cnagorkaIt may very well have been decided that it wasn’t necessary since the compressor for the 100” was doing the job, so they just left it alone.
Hello Chris, a few videos ago I saw you referencing a book, does said book have any information on the proposals by Wurlitzer and Austin which were not selected? Were they any different to what midmer did? I have seen a photo of a full scale mock up console austin made but nothing more.
Im normally not one to make requests in the comment, but if you have some time, I would love to hear you talk about the reed mixture in the brass chorus and/or the german free reeds in the choir and echo. Thanks!
The book is "Atlantic City s Musical masterpiece" and it mentions the other proposals but doesn't have any specific info from them.
awesome!! also, how in the world do you get into the ceiling chambers?
Via a scary set of metal ladders and wooden steps into the ceiling vault.
Does HORC have plans to install and connect? The silent rank?
Someday when the Echo is restored it'll be activated.
I’m guessing it’s an Aolean in the string 3.
Aeoline?
Yep. Sorry for bad spelling
For the swapped stops, is it corrected on the console and the stop tabs? Or do you just have to remember the swaps?
It doesn't matter much at the console, since when you put on a Tierce stop tab you're getting a Tierce, etc, regardless of where the swapped pipes started out.
What’s the leather like? If it’s never been used is it still OK.?
It still dates from 1929 and when the time comes to restore the Echo it'll get new leather.
I hope someone is making copious notes and videos during this entire restoration. Someone, hopefully, is going to write a major book on the entire history of the various restorations of this organ. I may not live long enough to read it, but someone will find it very interesting. Along with a video!
I hope they're going even further, and weighing everything while it's out. It would finally put the debate to rest as to whether this or the Wanamaker is heavier.