Well, Terry and Kurt have been ready to rehearse since Sunday but the organ doesn't want to play. First is was the relay switches for the memory, now it appears to be a mother-board issue with the digital portion of the instrument. Hoping to be able to get something working by Saturday.
We are so excited to have the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts with us at the concert, along with Dunedin Mayor Eggers and a representative from Gus Bilirakis' office. We are expecting a full house on Saturday. When was the last time we were all able to enjoy a concert with a full house? the last time was when Kurt and Terry played in March. The house was pretty full then. So tell your friends and be ready when the doors open at 1:00 p.m. This is sure to be a monumental event - now if we can just get The Grand Duchess Organ to get in the game.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Memories
Most of us have done it - found a box of forgotten photos and spent hours walking down memory lane. Photos are a unique tool to remind us and to also tell a story, a history, and a heritage. Terry Charles has been going through his collection of photos and found these two contrasting ones. The first one is the first console of the Grand Duchess - four manuals, and considerably less stop tabs than the upgrade. The second photo shows the difference.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
June 4, 2011 Renovation Update
Many tasks have been completed so far and below is a list of the items that have been renovated so far. But do not be fooled by simple terms such as 'cleaning' or 'polishing'. The act of cleaning or polishing any portion of this instrument is a very time-consuming, intricate and delicate process taking many hours of hard labor.
* Monumental cleaning of the entire organ proper: windchests and all the
pipes were cleaned and polished. This effor took about four months.
* The console interior including all stops actions and solid state switching
systems were thoroughly cleaned.
* The Festival Trumpet En Chamade (61 handmade trumpets of Spun Brass)
was removed, cleaned, polished and reinstalled.
* # 1 Chrysoglott Harp - the 49 metal bars were cleaned, polished and
re-strung. All the moving parts and actions for each were re-adjusted.
* # 2 Chrysoglott Harp - the 49 metal bars were cleaned, polished and
re-strung. All the moving parts and actions for each were re-adjusted.
* Enclosed Cathedral Chimes - 25 chime tubes were cleaned and polished.
The chime tubes were re-hung and all the moving parts and actions were
re-adjusted.
* Un-enclosed Cathedral Chimes - 25 chime tubes were cleaned and polished.
The chime tubes were re-hung and all the moving parts and actions were
re-adjusted.
* Outdated acoustic ambience systems were replaced with state-of-the-art
units.
Now if we all stop for a moment and think about each task above, you may realize that during this process the organ was still being used in Sunday worship for the church, and since space is limited at The Kirk, many parts were removed to a different location for the work to take place.
* Monumental cleaning of the entire organ proper: windchests and all the
pipes were cleaned and polished. This effor took about four months.
* The console interior including all stops actions and solid state switching
systems were thoroughly cleaned.
* The Festival Trumpet En Chamade (61 handmade trumpets of Spun Brass)
was removed, cleaned, polished and reinstalled.
* # 1 Chrysoglott Harp - the 49 metal bars were cleaned, polished and
re-strung. All the moving parts and actions for each were re-adjusted.
* # 2 Chrysoglott Harp - the 49 metal bars were cleaned, polished and
re-strung. All the moving parts and actions for each were re-adjusted.
* Enclosed Cathedral Chimes - 25 chime tubes were cleaned and polished.
The chime tubes were re-hung and all the moving parts and actions were
re-adjusted.
* Un-enclosed Cathedral Chimes - 25 chime tubes were cleaned and polished.
The chime tubes were re-hung and all the moving parts and actions were
re-adjusted.
* Outdated acoustic ambience systems were replaced with state-of-the-art
units.
Now if we all stop for a moment and think about each task above, you may realize that during this process the organ was still being used in Sunday worship for the church, and since space is limited at The Kirk, many parts were removed to a different location for the work to take place.
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