"let's Restore The Organ To Its Original Condition!"

[Guest]

http://www.mander-organs.com/discuss...mp;#entry39707

[Havoc]

Re: "let's Restore The Organ To Its Original Condition!"

From what I know about the belgian organ landscape and the restoration experts there is only one thing important: it is nothing but politics and power games. So while he makes a few valid points he also fails to mention (hides deliberately?) others that are lead right between his 2 "only" options to continue. So he continues the problem of polarisation instead of trying to set out a guideline that could be accepted by both sides.

This is a lot of rethoric to start a flame war, not a sensible discussion.

[Guest]

Re: "let's Restore The Organ To Its Original Condition!"



Mander organs are constantly trying to turn every organ that they touch back to exactly what it was when it was first built. They wanted to put the Royal Albert Hall organ back to its 1871 specification, but it's good that they didn't because then it would have been rubbish. They even wanted to put the St. Paul's' Cathedral organ back onto the quire screen again like it was in the 17th century - I'm surprised that that organ is not on it's original Smith specification.</P>


I believe that putting the Belgian organ back to its original condition could be a good idea -I even like to see a similar thing done to classic cars! Most of the time, I think that it should always be a consideration.</P>


Jezza</P>

[Havoc]

Re: &quot;let's Restore The Organ To Its Original Condition!&quot;

I think that it should always be a consideration

</P>

It should be a consideration and it can lead to interesting and valuable results. Certainly if there is enough information in the form of archives, unaltered (or where the alterations are clearly indentifiable) materials available. Like it was for the Dom Bedos in Siant-Croix.</P>

[mpsnknox]

Re: &quot;let's Restore The Organ To Its Original Condition!&quot;

[quote user="diaphone32"]


Mander organs are constantly trying to turn every organ that they touch back to exactly what it was when it was first built. They wanted to put the Royal Albert Hall organ back to its 1871 specification, but it's good that they didn't because then it would have been rubbish. They even wanted to put the St. Paul's' Cathedral organ back onto the quire screen again like it was in the 17th century - I'm surprised that that organ is not on it's original Smith specification.</P>


I believe that putting the Belgian organ back to its original condition could be a good idea -I even like to see a similar thing done to classic cars! Most of the time, I think that it should always be a consideration.</P>


Jezza</P>


[/quote]</P>
<P mce_keep="true"></P>


Mander did not do this at Princeton nor that Skinner in Detroit. Maybe I'm missing somthing.</P>

[soubasse32]

Re: &quot;let's Restore The Organ To Its Original Condition!&quot;

[quote user="mpsnknox"]Mander did not do this at Princeton[/quote]I believe I would have preferred they did do a full restoration, had it been possible. There is nothing quitelike a large Skinner, warts and all.

Organs that get 'updated'can lose their originality and character.

I'm not saying this is the case at Princeton, but I have seen it happen.

[m&m's]

Re: &quot;let's Restore The Organ To Its Original Condition!&quot;

[quote user="Havoc"]

I think that it should always be a consideration

</P>


It should be a consideration and it can lead to interesting and valuable results. Certainly if there is enough information in the form of archives, unaltered (or where the alterations are clearly indentifiable) materials available. Like it was for the Dom Bedos in Siant-Croix.</P>


[/quote]</P>


It should be a consideration, but not the only one. Maybe some organs are worth restoring for their historical valud, but in a church or concert hall, attention has to be given to what the organ is used for, and whether the orginal form will satisfy the current use of the organ.</P>


I have worked for almost two years on the organ at the church where I am Minister of Music, and the last thing I wanted was a restoration to its 1899 specification, or the 1928 rebuild specification. A Dolce Cornet has no use in a modern Baptist service; neither do six ranks of Dulcianas. (The ranks may have been voiced slightly differently, but otherwise they were all essentially Dulcianas. Neither did I want, or need, two Diapasons on the Great, with the first one being so loud and rough that it would not fit into the Principal Chorus, and the second one not being loud enough. Nor was I happy with all of the great, except for the afore-mentioned two Diapasons, being inside the Choir chamber, and that speaking into the choir loft, rather than directly into the church.</P>