THE FATHER WILLIS ORGAN AT ST BEES PRIORY
Vložit
- čas přidán 24. 07. 2024
- Visiting the organ at St Bees Priory, Cumbria, UK
3 manual 'Tubular Pneumatic Action' pipe organ built by Henry Willis in 1899
Full history & specification: npor.org.uk/survey/N01634
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, LIKE AND COMMENT - MANY MORE 'ORGANIC VISITATIONS' TO COME! - Hudba
Another beautiful instrument, it's very sad it's not in full working order, but i suppose the cost for renovation and repair will be a fortune. Very good bit o' Bach playing. Excellent video, keep them coming.
A lovely organ and well worth the visit. Thanks for the positive feedback 👍🎹
2:17 distinctive Willis sound!
The Great Cornet is 17.19.22 according to NPOR
Thank you 👍🎹
The 8' Geigen Principal on the Great is a prepared for stop, so no pipework installed. NPOR shows the real potential of this instrument, if it ever were to be restored and completed.
Correct 😊👍🎹
What a lovely instrument! But that has to be one of the softest Solo Divisions I’ve ever heard!!
Great video as always!
And that Tuba… 😍😍😍😍
There’s absolutely nothing like a good, British Tuba stop! That one just needs more umph behind it!
Welcome back!! 👍🎹😊
Loving how you've grown to appreciate the value of a 16' reed on the manuals! Keep up the great work!
They've grown on me 🙂👍🎹
Thanks for the demo. Would be superb if you could build up the main choruses (8’ : 4’ : 2’ : mixture etc) rather than selecting individual pitches. Just a thought…
And a good thought it is! Thank you for the advice 👍🎹
That was a great organ! Lucky for you to have had a visit to this organ! Amazing! If you want another organ suggestion, how about the Church and Co organ of St Michael, Coxwold, a lovely little modern 2 manual
It’s a cracker, although the crappy recording didn’t do it justice. Thanks for the suggestion…it looks nice and might well be appearing soon 😊👍🎹
Thanks for another nice organ! Some very beautiful stops.
Thank you too! 👍🎹
I used to have a cassette tape of a radio 3 broadcast of a recital played on this organ. It must have been ~30 years ago and included Walton's Crown Imperial.
Apparently there are no recordings of this organ remaining. Your old tape would be worth preserving (if you still have a tape player) 😊👍🎹
@@OrganicVisitations strangely enough it’s just come up on my Facebook feed as a link to CZcams. It’s called “BBC The end of the line - Ian Hare plays the organ of St Bee's Priory, Cumbria”.
Thanks for demonstrating yet another fine organ, albeit in need of a bit of TLC (don't we all?).
It’s a cracker, Ian! 👍🎹
Wow, your organ playing sounds just as good as some of the great virtuoso's on the net !!! I do wish however, that you had an extension mike added to your recording apparatus which you could place further out in the church, as the wretched "clacking noise from the keys in irritating. Are the pneumatic pipes all made of lead? If so the organ must be very heavy over all. Anyway, "you lucky-son-of-gun" getting your hands on this huge organ, another great video as usual.
Very nice of you to say so - thank you. I agree I could do with better recording gear and may have to look into investing. Thanks again 👍🎹
What a delicious Full Organ!
And the Great Gamba is prepared for.
Indeed it is! 👍🎹
Wonderful demonstration, I believe this was the last major instrument overseen by Father Henry Willis. It is one of Lt Colonel George Dixon's tonal schemes, along with the fine instrument of St James's parish church in nearby Whitehaven, a smaller three manual instrument by Norman and Beard. Dixon was also responsible for a large Harrison and Harrison instrument in Whitehaven's St Nicolas Church, sadly destroyed in the fire of 1971. Whitehaven might be worth a visit as there is also an excellent small H&H organ in the United Reformed church.
Thank you for the info and for the suggestions re organs to visit. Always very welcome and I will add them to my list 👍🎹
I suspect Diapason no. 2 originally lived on the Great, and was swapped with the Swell Geigen. That would have been a more typical arrangement.
Yes I agree 👍🎹
We recently visited two unaltered Willis organ in New South Wales (Australia):
Armidale (1879): czcams.com/video/0ipB9sqBa2Y/video.html
East Maitland (Hunter Valley) (1876): czcams.com/video/ITHQBqWIvos/video.html
Thank you! I’ll have a watch 👍🎹
Lovely English sound - a pity it's not in better condition. How odd to have a solo manual rather than a choir!
It is a lovely organ but could do with some work. A joy to visit again 😊👍🎹
That instrument is on need of an overhaul and cleaning.
Yes it is, but a lovely instrument nonetheless 👍🎹
Are you just using the mic on your camera? It sounds like it, as the keys are making so much noise. I hope you will upgrade to a good stereo mic positioned properly to capture the sound from the pipes, and a lavalier mic for your voice. And try to avoid the compression which is spoiling the dynamics. All this is constructive criticism, I enjoy your videos.
And, someone needs to call Harrison's and tell them to get their butts over there. Any organ in their care shouldn't be in such bad shape.
Thank you - I do appreciate constructive criticism. I do need to invest in more advanced recording equipment!
For its age I think it’s in pretty good condition. I imagine, just like all church organs, major work all boils down to the cost. If it weren’t in the care of H&H I suspect it would be in much worse state.
Thanks again 👍🎹
As hymn tunes go, I'd have to say Aurelia is pretty... swell.
I don't think I have the maturity and restraint required to play an organ with a 32 ft reed.
I certainly haven’t got the restraint - I can’t help using it! 👍🎹
We have a 32’ reed in our place (ext. down from the Ophicleide) and I only ever use it at Christmas and Easter. It does take remarkable restraint 😂