OrganTHE ORGAN PROJECT
The Pipe Organ: The pipe organ, - the Nave Organ - on the West End wall of the Church is by Norman and Beard, dated 1894. It was moved from its original position in the Chancel to its present site in the 1960’s so, although of little historic importance now, because of the move, it does contain some truly magnificent pipework from that excellent Norman and Beard period. The console is on the South side of the Chancel, behind which is a small chamber organ by Bullivant (1983), played from the same console. Age has necessitated drastic action, but it has also provided the Church with a unique opportunity to undertake an extremely exciting, forward-looking development.
The Organ Project – Rationale: It aims firstly to preserve, restore, renovate and enhance the pipe organ. The mechanism, motors, leathers, chests etc of the Nave Organ are now rapidly approaching the end of their working lives. The action is very uneven and the wind is unstable. It has to be said that the workmanship, when the organ was relocated on the West wall, is of rather poor quality and does not really do justice to the good quality Norman & Beard pipe-work. The electrics are also in a poor state, due jointly to age and the fact that it has been constructed using 1960s technology. They have come to the end of their useful life; in fact, if anything, they have survived far longer than would normally be expected. Another huge problem arises when accompanying the Choir. There is no 16’ pedal stop of any kind on the Chancel organ and there is certainly no room in the Chancel to put appropriate pipes. Therefore, when the Choir is being accompanied, any pedal parts come from the Nave Organ, i.e. from behind the congregation. The placing of the large organ there makes accompaniment very difficult and, despite the organists’ best endeavours, the congregation often complain that they cannot hear the Choir because of the organ. The Chancel Organ can accompany the Choir but it is very limited indeed without a pedal section and has no way of crescendo and diminuendo of any sort. The louvered case front is solid, so even these panels do not open or shut to provide any contrast in dynamics. The Nave Organ lacks character and, although it can accompany the congregation well enough for hymns, it is poor for recitals and – see above – useless for choral accompaniment.
The Plan: The plan put forward by Peter Collins Ltd. is brave and exciting. In order to provide a multi–purpose organ, namely, leading the worship, accompanying the choir, recitals, concerts and teaching, his plan involves not one, but two separate organs. The Nave Organ will be a traditional pipe organ designed on a good solid English tone to bring to life again the beauty of Norman & Beard’s pipe-work. In other words, it is a sympathetic rebuild and restoration with suitable additions. The Chancel Organ is digital – the only way the full spectrum of stops, required to accompany the full choral repertoire, can be fitted into the East End. It will use the Rogers sound generating system, similar, although more up to date, to that in use at present in Worcester Cathedral. (Members of the PC visited the Cathedral to hear the sound and were highly impressed.) Two speakers, including dummy pipes, in cases matching the choir stalls and the console, will be placed on the East aspect of the Chancel arch. Both organs, though separate, will be played from a new three manual drawstop console, which will be moveable for recitals and concerts. The Great and Swell manuals will operate on both the Nave and the Chancel Organs. The Choir manual will operate solely on the Chancel Organ. It will be positioned similarly to the existing unit but will be turned 180 degrees so that the main bulk of the console will be where the small Chamber Organ is now - in the South window recess. This will provide the added benefit of improved sight lines to the Altar from the Nave. Being digital, this allows the Church to offer an additional facility of a Practice Organ. By the use of headphones, organists can practise even when there is bell ringing, meetings or small, said services in the side chapels taking place. Both organs can be played independently or together and there will be an electronic sensor to keep the Chancel Organ in tune with the Nave Organ. It is worth noting at this stage that the Church appointed an Organ Scholar two years ago who has just been appointed Organ Scholar of Pembroke College, Cambridge, 2010. It is planned to make St Michael’s a centre for Church Music. The Choir already enjoy an excellent reputation in and around the area. This project will allow them to increase their repertoire as well as enhancing the worship considerably. It will also mean that the wonderful heritage of centuries of church music can be maintained and extended. The Organ will be used for teaching, practice and either Easter or Summer Schools, thus encouraging new students, very much in line with the recently formed Royal College of Organists Academy. We look forward to working closely with this body closely. The Organ will be available for use by schools to enhance their National Curriculum Programmes, and will, of course, be used for recital work to bring the heritage of organ music within the reach of a far wider sector of the community.
Project Cost: The overall cost is some £90,000, of which over half has already been raised by the local community and a few key organisations and Trusts. If you would like to know more about this exciting project, or perhaps feel that you would like to contribute to the fundraising, please contact the Director of Music, Ray Cook on 01296 485142 or e mail: ray_cook17@hotmail.com You can also follow the organ restoration on the blog below. http://stmichaelsorganrestoration.blogspot.com/ |