The most impressive residence organ ever

[abtrumpet]

I recently visited a home where the individual has a "residence" organ. I use the quotes because, in reality, the organ is 1/2 the residence. It's more like a recital hall with bedrooms and a kitchen attached.

I am having a hard time knowing how to even describe this organ. The individual has built it from scratch, including programming the controllers, purchasing, tuning and voicing the pipes and constructing the facade. The console is a 4-manual console. The organ has 83 ranks. Imagine...83 ranks in your house. None of it is MIDI -- it is all a true pipe organ. One man built this entire instrument from scratch. It is the largest instrument in the entire state where this residence is located, and the 3rd largest in the region, beating out all the churches, universities and other institutions with organs.

Talk about a DIY project.

[andyg]

Moved to the appropriate section. Whilst it's appreciated that this is a 'residence organ, the 'Home Organs' section is for entertainment style instruments, Lowrey, Yamaha, Thomas etc.

[gtc]

There are a few such installations in America, where the house comprises organ plus kitchen.

Here are some examples:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lzUl6mUB1M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZYsOGp1clI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr56OelgxAA

[abtrumpet]

Those are pretty large, but I believe this one is larger.

[Larrytow]

I've read details about this organ somewhere on the net, however I'm not recalling where exactly. He might have a website about it ? If I am recalling right, as with all home pipe organs, this one is an ongoing work in progress. Likely that is why the facade pipes are missing from the Positive case ?

[voet]

Those are pretty large, but I believe this one is larger.

Do you have any more information about this instrument? It looks like it is not finished. For example, the facade pipes of the Positive seem to be missing. While this may be larger than the other instruments referenced above, there is not enough information here to make that claim.

[Leisesturm]

If it's just about size, I think the "Longwood Gardens Pipe Organ" still holds the title for the largest residence organ in the U.S. To be clear, the Longwood Gardens complex is much more than a kitchen and bathroom next to the pipe chambers, but it does comprise, and is registered as, a legal residence, and it is not affiliated with any Community of Faith or Municipal Amenity.

[OrganistBilly]

I have a friend in Birmingham who has 200+ ranks in his house. He lives in a big, old Victorian style home and started his project many, many years ago with (I believe) 11 ranks and a 2 manual console. It's at 5 manuals now and 200+ ranks and is literally, the organ that ate the house. He used to throw incredible boxing day parties and always had someone to come in and play. My all time favorite, I walked in one night and Tom Hazelton was at the bench.

[lizny]

Perhaps when my children move out I can repurpose their rooms. Unfortunately that would put the pipes on the third floor and the console is on the ground floor and staying there. I'd pretty much have to give up the dining room - but then I could totally give the neighbors barking dog the what-for.

[voet]

Perhaps when my children move out I can repurpose their rooms.

That would assure that they don't move back home.

[Leisesturm]

Apologies, I read assure as assume. I'll let myself out ...

[sandstone42]

It's fine. We knew what you meant.

[lizny]

it works both ways