The August, 2016 issue of TAO features on its cover a photo of the new Quimby organ at Chicago's
4th Presbyterian. This organ is a milestone and is a great improvement over any previous organ
in this church.
Not too many I think would have heard or heard of this newly rebuilt organ, most of the readers here are hundreds if not thousands of miles distance from Chicago.
How about making a dozen or so good HD quality youtubes and please use something better than a cellphone.
Let the readers know when done and please provide the links. Much appreciate this, yes, Quimby is becoming known as a premier builder of pipe organs.
I got that issue in the mail yesterday. What a stoplist! The organ being built (still?) by Dobson for St. Thomas NYC is "only" 100 ranks. So I just looked on YouTube, knowing full well that an organ like this MUST be heard in person to really have any sense of what has been built: There is this -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFZFXSMYNGM. I'm thinking this is the old instrument from the date of upload. Not too shabby right? So... this is probably the new instrument (but the same recording engineer who, IMO, needs to be shot, or at the least, beaten about the head and neck) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEVYzSWMUIs. I don't know about you Mirabilis but I'm not particularly overwhelmed in a good way... ok. ok third time's the charm maybe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB2I0mKm3ac. Maybe not... maybe we should simply have appreciated the awesome console shot on the cover of TAO and not tried so hard to hear the lady sing?
Trying to determine the net effectiveness of an organ from an assortment of what are almost certainly cell phone or consumer camcorder videos shot at close range to the pipes that are then compressed (mangled) by the YouTube file compression codec is an exercise in futility. I'd withhold judgement pending a real recording or in-person visit. Qumby does fine work.
Trying to determine the net effectiveness of an organ from an assortment of what are almost certainly cell phone or consumer camcorder videos shot at close range to the pipes that are then compressed (mangled) by the YouTube file compression codec is an exercise in futility. I'd withhold judgement pending a real recording or in-person visit. Qumby does fine work.
I know that. I said as much. Just having a little fun. I'm not likely to cross the Continental Divide again in my lifetime, so hearing that instrument in person will probably never happen. My comments had more to do with the repertoire and casual nature of the exhibitions than any critical commentary on Quimby's clearly exceptional creation.
Stephen Tharp (one of my favourite organists) is giving a concert there on Nov 18 to celebrate the one year anniversary of the organ. Although I don't live near Chicago, my parents live within driving distance so I'm going to try and visit them and then go to Chicago for the concert and get some Giordano's pizza in the process... :)
Tharp is quite tasteless, at times and I don't think he was a good choice to celebrate the 1st anniversary of this organ.
I find Tharp to be very compelling :) I saw him at a concert in Ocean Grove, NJ and it was the most satisfying and stimulating selection of organ pieces at an organ recital I've ever attended. A number of accessible and excellent modern pieces (such as from Peeters and Alain) and also included his own transcription of Handel's Water Music. His Brahms Intermezzo 'arrangement' and Vaughan Williams Rhosymedre are some of my favourites on YouTube, and his performance(s) of the Peeters Toccata, Fugue et Hymne (not on YouTube) is my favourite of that particular piece.
On Sunday, September 25th, I heard this organ. Too muddy in its total impact and the upperwork is not at all sufficiently
powerful enough to balance with the lower pitches ( 16' 8' 4'). Too bad.
Mirabilis. I think we get it. You are not impressed. What would you like us to do about it? Come to think of it... I might have some... connections... in the Chicago area that could arrange for the Quimby to have a little, accident if you know what I mean... then you and your pals at Schoenstein can put in a better bid than last time. PM me.
I didn't end up making Stephen Tharp's concert. Too bad! I'm going to try to attend when he does one in NYC although I had been looking forward to coordinating hearing the Quimby organ and eating at Giordanos :)
I was at the dedication. I was unimpressed versus my expectations. Not enough clarity, too muddy for my taste. I am wondering if this is common with organs that are mostly tucked away in chambers? Just a question - I am not an expert. But I talked to an acquaintance after the concert who was on the install team, and it sounded like the completion was very last minute. So I have been planning to go back for a second chance. I haven't yet, but very hopeful I will hear something better.
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