My first video of 2012 and what better way to start than with a video of me playing my favourite kind of electronic organ - the Compton electrone!
For this I have come to the Masonic Hall in St Helens, Merseyside to play the Compton electrone organ model 357 which was installed here in March 1960. As can be seen, the organ has been incorporated into the case of a previous instrument with the speaker cabinet behind the now redundant pipe facade. The specification reads:
PEDAL
Contra Bass 16'
Bourdon 16'
Echo Bass 16'
Octave 8'
Flute 8'
Flute 4'
Trombone 16'
Trumpet 8'
MANUAL I
Bourdon 16'
Diapason 8'
Wald Flute 8'
Gemshorn 8'
Octave 4'
Open Flute 4'
Fifteenth 2'
Tromba 8'
MANUAL II
Contra Salicional 16'
Geigen Diapason 8'
Stopped Diapason 8'
Salicional 8'
Principal 4'
Stopped Flute 4'
Flautino 2'
Sesquiltera II
Contra Oboe 16'
Cornopean 8'
Clarinet 8'
Clarion 4'
ACCESSORIES
Tremulant
1 balanced expression pedal - pedal and manual I
1 balanced expression pedal - manual II
Im playing the lovely Scottish folk song 'Ye banks and braes' and in the second verse can be heard the effective Clarinet stop.
These organs are fast becoming extinct with many churches replacing them with digital instruments etc. Modern technology is indeed appealing with its realistic sampled sounds but history is being lost as a result. Opportunities should be taken to see that these unique instruments are preserved for future generations to experience how technology worked in the pre digital era.
Many thanks to St Helens Masonic Hall for allowing me access to this lovely example of a Compton electronic organ.
NOTE: this is purely my interest in order to make sure that these fine organs are archived forever and I do not make any monetary profit by this video being on youtube.
For more information on the John Compton Organ Company Ltd and to see me play other Compton organs, please click on the following link for my site dedicated to the John Compton Organ Company Ltd:
http://comptonorgans.yolasite.com/
REQUEST: I am always on the lookout for Compton organs to play - particularly electrones - so if you know of any churches which still have these then please do let me know. I will happily give a donation or pay any applicable room hire charge.
