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The Schantz Organ Co. have been doing restorative work on the AEolian organ from the Stan Hywett (pronounced Hewitt) property in Akron, Oh. Read the Akron Beacon Journal's story http://www.ohio.com/news/41874187.html
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Re: Stan Hywett Hall and Gardens
Ohhhh, how I abhor those newspaper stories...."The pipes are over 16' long". (No 32's???) Well, that's nice, but how about a list of WPs or a stoplist? "It is built in the traditional style..." well yes, it's NOT an XB-3, but I think that was already established.[:@]
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Re: Stan Hywett Hall and Gardens
You do realize that the story is trying to appeal to people who don't know as much about organs as many of the members on the forum here.
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Re: Stan Hywett Hall and Gardens
Yes, for that I am grateful. The reporting still is rather grating. Perhaps they could get organists to write those pieces.
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Re: Stan Hywett Hall and Gardens
I know this is tangential, but, bear with me. A wedding column as written by an organist.
<font size="2" color="black" face="verdana, helvetica, arial"><p align="center">
<font size="2" color="black" face="verdana, helvetica, arial">
"If Organists Wrote the Wedding Columns..."</font>
</p><p align="left">
On Saturday, the third of August, at well after the stated time of
2:00PM, Ann Jones and Bob Smith were married at Our Lady of Sorry
Acoustics. The delay was attributed to the late arrival of an aunt of
the bride and was deftly covered by organist Reginald Laudfuss (now
celebrating his seventh month at the church) who improvised on an
original theme for well over ten minutes. This improvisation was
accomplished in all minor keys without the use of the organ's wholly
unnecessary transposer. Mr. Laudfuss gives thanks to the church's
wedding coordinator, Ima Thority, for flashing him a series of hand
signals during the crisis.
Mr.
Laudfuss chose a lightweight summer robe of shimmering burgundy to
conceal his cutoffs and T-shirt. The organist's shoes, in tasteful
black, were by Organmaster, accessorized with upgraded laces from Thom
McAn. They are his third pair in about fifteen years. The wedding party
wore the usual clothes.
The organ is the fourth or fifth rebuild
of what was originally a dreadful 1920's theater organ from the Roxy.
It now contains additional pipework from an Ox tracker, salvaged after
that mysterious fire in a practice room at the University. Other stops
have been added according to the tastes of organists who have come and
gone. The Great Harmonic Flute was voiced by Harrison and purchased
from the Cathedral of Ostentation during their 1977 project. The
Wurlitzer Brass Trumpet (temporarily residing in place of the Swell
Oboe) is the envy of the city; it is rumored to have been stolen (all
61 pipes!) from the now-shuttered Palace. The organ's combination
action, unfortunately, is unreliable.
There were a sufficiently
large number of attendants to build a lengthy processional upon, but
despite last night's rehearsal they heedlessly hurried up the aisle,
resulting in a drastic compression of the "Prince of Denmark's March."
This critical number was therefore performed with no repeats, and Mr.
Laudfuss pointedly ended on the dominant in protest.
However,
the 8' Tuba (purchased pre-voiced over the internet and the central
feature of the March) was a resounding success as could be measured by
the smiles that spread throughout the congregation during the
processional.
After a few minutes of talking by a clergy type,
the organist played the first four phrases of the Schubert "Ave Maria"
(in E-major to avoid a pulled pipe) on the shimmering Choir Gemshorn 8'
(no tremolo) while the couple did something.
Later, somebody's
female relative breathily sang "The Wedding Song." It appeared that
this person's usual venue was a country-western bar, and some tension
occurred during the solo. The soloist attempted to continue singing
during the interludes. Mr. Laudfuss responded by trying to cover her
error with cues from the Swell Trompette 8' (Wicks, 1940's, revoiced by
Gantt in the 1958 rebuild) but she continued in her own misguided way
forcing the organist to shuffle his music loudly. This contretemps
prevented the congregation from enjoying the subtle chiff of the Choir
Gedeckt 8', which would have been the only bright spot in a notoriously
boring song.
The recessional was the Mendelssohn, chosen despite
Mr. Laudfuss's counsel to the contrary. It was played on a satisfying
plenum in A B A B A form to fit the available time. When the wedding
party was finally out of the way Mr. Laudfuss presented the Widor
Toccata as the postlude. The guests inconsiderately talked throughout
the number, but the organist added stops as the noise level increased,
masterfully maneuvering each drawknob, coupler and piston without
missing a single note of the Widor. The sforzando button unexpectedly
brought the Brass Trumpet into the ensemble but by now there was no
turning back and the Widor ended breathtakingly. This noble feat did
not go unnoticed by the congregation, who responded with audible sighs
when the music stopped.
The bride and groom went to college
somewhere, but they did not take any music. After their honeymoon they
will blend into suburbia where they will produce children. The
highlight of each year will be the replay of Mr. Laudfuss's work via a
wedding video.
</p></font>
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Re: Stan Hywett Hall and Gardens
What a hoot! Thanks for brighening an otherwise dreary, rainy day. [um]Comment
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