Me playing the organ at St Barnabas Church in Openshaw, Manchester.
The organ which uses electrostatic tone production was built sometime during the late 1950s and early 1960s and is the 357 model. One cabinet containing 2 speaker cones (bass and treble) is employed and this is located underneath the communion table. The specification reads:
PEDAL
Contra Bass 16'
Bourdon 16'
Echo Bass 16'
Octave 8'
Bass Flute 8'
Flute 4'
Trombone 16'
Trumpet 8'
GREAT
Bourdon 16'
Diapason 8'
Hohl Flute 8'
Gemshorn 8'
Octave 4'
Wald Flute 4'
Fifteenth 2'
Tromba 8'
SWELL
Contra Salicional 16'
Geigen Diapason 8'
Stopped Diapason 8'
Salicional 8'
Principal 4'
Stopped Flute 4'
Flautina 2'
Quartane II
Contra Fagotto 16'
Cornopean 8'
Clarinet 8'
Clarion 4'
GENERAL
Tremulant
Im playing the hymn 'Son of the Lord most high' to the tune 'Psalm 147' which shows off the main sounds on the organ and also the 8ft Tromba on the great in the first verse.
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 Stephen and Roy Chow for allowing me access to this fine example of a Compton electronic organ.
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.
