This was my father's church from 1959 to 1964. I loved that organ then and am so glad to learn it is still cherished. One early spring Sunday morning melting ice from the roof took out the electric power. My father asked if the manual pump still worked. A deacon put his weight to the handle and the organ played just fine.
It is obvious why it has never been replace, while it is small, the selection of sounds and the way they are voiced is lovely. Just enough without being too much.
Thank you so much. I play the piano at this church. I don't play organ, but I love it, and I'm grateful we have it. I hope we can provide it with what it needs for perpetuity.
Thanks for mentioning Steere: I grew up with one of those, similar stoplist to this instrument. This is a brighter Johnson than one I helped tune in 1969 which I am told was a transplant whose wind pressure was lowered so as not to overwhelm its new space, at a cost to its brilliance.
I heard that organ when I went to that church for a family member’s wedding in the 1980’s. I don’t think I had ever seen an organ up until that point where the keys would still go down even though you aren’t playing them on that particular manual.
What an absolute gem of an instrument! That Great Open is fantastic, so full of character. It's always wonderful to hear an organ in exactly the same condition as it was built. To hear it as it was originally heard by the people who worked so hard to raise the money to build it is quite something. Especially when it's over 130 years old. As always, an impeccable demonstration. Thanks for posting.
One of my favorite Johnson organs. Been there several times over the many years. Every stop counts and blends or augments with all the others. Thank you for recording this organ which should be better known. It is a wonderful instrument and very versatile. I have explored many of the Johnson organs around the country. This one is way up there in my estimate as far as the smaller instruments.
@ericalbany I have not seen or heard that one. I have probably been to over 50 percent of the extant Johnsons. None lately. The Berkshires and Connecticut are full of gems. I even went to National City California to see and hear one.
@@richardouellette8785 it is from , as I recall, 1873. Moved in 1898 and slightly altered. The building also has a nice 1898 Steere. Let me know if you ever wish to see them.
The Subbass being versatile such that it can be not overbearing in quiet passages, but also be strong under full organ. I'm reminded of the Knauff organ in St. Malachai's RCC in Philadelphia, where the Pedal 16' Open Diapason, the only pedal stop, has this same quality. I reckon it's not just in the voicing, but also where in the instrument it sits and in what direction the mouths are situated.
The smallest existing Johnson is just up the road in West Stockbridge, but I am not sure if that organ is operating at this time as the blower went out recently. Wonderful little instrument of maybe 7 ranks?
The blower died within the last year. After some primary discussions with the church no action has been taken to resolve this as the church has been dealing with some more pressing issues. We hope (Andover Organ Co) to be able to replace it in the near future. We restored the organ in the 60s and have been taking care of it since.
No offense to the organist I can’t believe he plays a whole song for each stop he plays in The Organ is beautiful don’t get me wrong and the man is talented He also looks a little like Burl Ives I wonder if he’s going to play silver and gold for us.😂
Well, I'm not sure if you understand how it can happen, but when things are 130 years old, they tend to show a little wear and tear. It's easy not to realize that, so I understand the ignorance. No worries. :) I'm sure it will be perfectly nice once they money is raised to restore it. You should contribute to make it look great!
Perhaps sight is a disadvantage! What the eye does not see the heart does not grieve over - it is the sound that counts not the cosmetics. You have skilled restorers and they can return it to a pristine condition.
Good to see that there are untouched treasures in the other Berkshire! This instrument is remarkably musical and economical in its specification - a tribute to its builder. It reminds me of a couple of instruments by the English maker T C Lewis in small village churches locally - down to the stop names and tones! I attach a link to the 1870 Lewis organ at Titchmarsh - it was restored in 2016. The two prepared for stops planned in 1870 were added in 2016!! www.harrisonorgans.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Titchmarsh-St-Marys-full-2021.pdf
This was my father's church from 1959 to 1964. I loved that organ then and am so glad to learn it is still cherished. One early spring Sunday morning melting ice from the roof took out the electric power. My father asked if the manual pump still worked. A deacon put his weight to the handle and the organ played just fine.
It is obvious why it has never been replace, while it is small, the selection of sounds and the way they are voiced is lovely. Just enough without being too much.
Thank you so much for your kind words and care for our organ! What a pleasure to hear Peter play and to learn more about it!
Thank you so much. I play the piano at this church. I don't play organ, but I love it, and I'm grateful we have it. I hope we can provide it with what it needs for perpetuity.
A beautiful instrument i have visited many times. Great job guys!!!
Outstanding; thanks, Peter, Ryan, Brent, and UU Meeting!
Gorgeous Oboe stop!
Peter Sykes is certainly a great organist.
Thanks for mentioning Steere: I grew up with one of those, similar stoplist to this instrument. This is a brighter Johnson than one I helped tune in 1969 which I am told was a transplant whose wind pressure was lowered so as not to overwhelm its new space, at a cost to its brilliance.
I heard that organ when I went to that church for a family member’s wedding in the 1980’s. I don’t think I had ever seen an organ up until that point where the keys would still go down even though you aren’t playing them on that particular manual.
Wow this is an amazing instrument. Perfect.
Cool organ!!!!
I restored a William A Johnson organ in Sacramento that's a fotal gem
Lovely!!!
WHAT an expressive sound. Mendelssohn sounds brilliant.
Magnificent instrument superbly demonstrated!
What an absolute gem of an instrument! That Great Open is fantastic, so full of character. It's always wonderful to hear an organ in exactly the same condition as it was built. To hear it as it was originally heard by the people who worked so hard to raise the money to build it is quite something. Especially when it's over 130 years old. As always, an impeccable demonstration. Thanks for posting.
You would be shocked if you looked at a WAJ Diapason. Fairly low cut ups but HUGE truangular nicks What a great sound!
Love it! I hope to be able to play on a Johnson organ like that some day!
One of my favorite Johnson organs. Been there several times over the many years. Every stop counts and blends or augments with all the others. Thank you for recording this organ which should be better known. It is a wonderful instrument and very versatile. I have explored many of the Johnson organs around the country. This one is way up there in my estimate as far as the smaller instruments.
Have you visited the one in the Albany Masonic Temple? We wish it was in better condition but it makes quite a sound.
@ericalbany I have not seen or heard that one. I have probably been to over 50 percent of the extant Johnsons. None lately. The Berkshires and Connecticut are full of gems. I even went to National City California to see and hear one.
@@richardouellette8785 it is from , as I recall, 1873. Moved in 1898 and slightly altered. The building also has a nice 1898 Steere. Let me know if you ever wish to see them.
@@ericalbany thank you. I will keep that in mind when I visit that area again.
@@richardouellette8785 Eric Stott here.
The sister to that organ is located at Holyoke community college in Holyoke Massachusetts!
Beautiful playing by Peter, excellent demo...but the big Bach excerpted near the end is in C-minor, BWV 546.
The Subbass being versatile such that it can be not overbearing in quiet passages, but also be strong under full organ.
I'm reminded of the Knauff organ in St. Malachai's RCC in Philadelphia, where the Pedal 16' Open Diapason, the only pedal stop, has this same quality.
I reckon it's not just in the voicing, but also where in the instrument it sits and in what direction the mouths are situated.
The Victorian builders excelled at that. I think the "recipe" was to scale the Subbass/Bourdon big, arch the cutups, and wind it moderately.
The smallest existing Johnson is just up the road in West Stockbridge, but I am not sure if that organ is operating at this time as the blower went out recently. Wonderful little instrument of maybe 7 ranks?
The blower died within the last year. After some primary discussions with the church no action has been taken to resolve this as the church has been dealing with some more pressing issues. We hope (Andover Organ Co) to be able to replace it in the near future. We restored the organ in the 60s and have been taking care of it since.
Truly minor but the Bach Prelude and fugue is BWV546 in C-minor, not BWV547 in C Major, both pieces on my favorites list.
Santa has gone bald!
No offense to the organist I can’t believe he plays a whole song for each stop he plays in The Organ is beautiful don’t get me wrong and the man is talented He also looks a little like Burl Ives I wonder if he’s going to play silver and gold for us.😂
Wow that thing is sad and pathetic! It has hardly anything on it, and the keys are falling apart! What a complete piece of crap!
Well, I'm not sure if you understand how it can happen, but when things are 130 years old, they tend to show a little wear and tear. It's easy not to realize that, so I understand the ignorance. No worries. :) I'm sure it will be perfectly nice once they money is raised to restore it. You should contribute to make it look great!
Perhaps sight is a disadvantage! What the eye does not see the heart does not grieve over - it is the sound that counts not the cosmetics. You have skilled restorers and they can return it to a pristine condition.
This organ has more character than some organs two or three times it's size. A few missing ivories don't affect the sound!!
Only organs where you live fit in the pocket and are mouth blown
Good to see that there are untouched treasures in the other Berkshire! This instrument is remarkably musical and economical in its specification - a tribute to its builder. It reminds me of a couple of instruments by the English maker T C Lewis in small village churches locally - down to the stop names and tones! I attach a link to the 1870 Lewis organ at Titchmarsh - it was restored in 2016. The two prepared for stops planned in 1870 were added in 2016!! www.harrisonorgans.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Titchmarsh-St-Marys-full-2021.pdf