Dedication Concert Sunday, Oct 16, 2019

[jbird604]

Wow! I have only listened to a few sections of the recording, but what I've heard is absolutely lovely! While a recording is no substitute for being there, this is a nicely made video with a very good representation of the acoustics of the room. I must say that I'm pleasantly surprised at how lively it sounds on the recording. Pretty close to ideal for a church where preaching is as important as the music, though of course purely for organ-friendliness one would love a longer sustain time.

Also, it's hard to judge the brightness and other subtle tonal qualities with a recording, but I think it sounds quite well balanced. Certainly Walker can be rightly proud of this wonderful example of their work. It may continue to evolve in the coming months as adjustments are made in response to how the organ performs in the services. This may turn out to be one of America's greatest organs after all!

[jjcricket1958]

I, too, listened to the recording. Samuel Metzgers did a phenomenal job and the organ seems amazing. I would love to see/hear/play this organ in person. John, do I hear a road trip soon?

[Vebo]

If you do a road trip I wanna know so I can come listen to you play!

[jbird604]

We should have an ORGAN FORUM GATHERING right there!

[michaelhoddy]

I also was impressed with the recording, and an enjoyable, congregation-friendly program as well (any program that has both Finlandia and Nimrod on it makes me more than a little sentimental!). While I guess it's possible to discern in the cracks that this is not a pipe organ, to even an informed listener, it acquits itself quite nicely! The only Walker I've had the fortune of playing is the Wicks/Walker at Calvary Baptist NYC, an organ in relatively unfavorable acoustics with about 15 ranks of pipes and 51 Walker ranks. It was honestly pretty hard to tell the pipe stops and the Walker stops apart, except for some more tuning and regulation variance in the pipe notes.

I also appreciate Walker's approach of doing a single organ specification quite well, and as we've discerned from some other projects of theirs her over the years, quite cost competitively for a fully custom organ. No lights and big screens, one fully worked-out tonal idea. Like a pipe organ. I like that.

[mrdc2000]

There is very little heat generated in todays organ designs. Especially if they are using Class 4 amplifiers, which run cool even while cranking out max power.

Michael,
Even more so, Class 4 amps are especially efficient and provide more than sufficient power wherever needed.
As an example, an old fashioned amp the size of a shoebox cranks out a rated power of between 50-100 watts and produced a lot of heat.
From the late 90's to about 2015 the more progressive organ companies made amps the size of paperback books cranking out about 100-180 watts and got just warm to the touch with only the heatsink getting hot to the touch.
Todays amps such as the Class 4 variety are the size of a cigarette pack or smaller and crank out 150-200 watts, getting no warmer than your own skin.
Another thing to remember is efficiency in simple numbers, old tube amps ran about 25% whereas solin state maxed out at about 50%, but todays Class 4 stuff reaches maximum efficiency at 90%. In other words, the power produced in tube amps was mostly lost to heat and that was similar with transistor designs but only less so.
The Class 4 amps instead of loosing it to heat are able to sent all their power (if the volume is needed) to the speakers instead.

[myorgan]

Even more so, Class 4 amps are especially efficient and provide more than sufficient power wherever needed.
[snip]
The Class 4 amps instead of loosing it to heat are able to sent all their power (if the volume is needed) to the speakers instead.

Mr. DC,

If that is the case, I'd be very curious if any of Allen's amplifiers could be replaced in the older organs (MOS-2 or ADC eras), and at what cost.

I listened to the entire dedication concert of the Johnson Ferry organ. For the first 3-4 pieces, I found the sound strident, and I tired of it quickly-but that could be the recording, though. Reeds were used in the pedal for almost every piece at the beginning. Even the strings sounded strident.

That said, however, when Mr. Metzger got to the first piece using string celestes and perhaps flute celestes, the sound was much more beautiful and soothing, as it should be. The remainder of the dedication concert was much more palatable (with only one exception, but that is a personal preference).

What was a surprise to me, is that the church where I grew up is actually larger than the Johnson Ferry church. Who knew? Overall, it was a nice concert, and the organ will certainly fill the church's needs.

Michael

[myorgan]

Mr. DC,

Well-put. Obviously, I was providing my response based on the recording linked above. If I am ever able to hear/play the organ, I'm sure some impressions will change.

Michael

[Vebo]

If I can comment as someone there at the concert, the internet recording sounded better than my experience in the audience. The mics appeared to be placed right in front of the dais. But I sat next to the install techs (same pew) mid sanctuary. Maybe there will be some adjustment. I worry my review was too negative, not my intention. I enjoyed it and was glad I drove 2 hours to hear it! I just felt like the high trebles were just a bit dull as a congregant, I was not a mic on the front row. And to be honest, as a choir member, I'm used to hearing the pipes right behind me.

[myorgan]

Vebo,

Thank you for sharing your observations of the live concert vs. your observations of the recording. It helps make the point that often one's observations are based on perspective. When that perspective changes, the observations are also subject to change.

Michael