Me playing the organ at All Saint's Church, Weston-super-Mare.
The present organ dates back to 1924 when Griffen and Stroud of Bath built the third organ to be installed in this handsome Victorian Church. Originally two manuals, this was rebuilt in 1935 by the John Compton Ltd as a three manual instrument retaining much of the original pipework. Costing £1664, the bill was not paid in full until 1938, and largely due to a single benefactor – Miss Audrey Lloyd. The console was originally placed on the south side of the chancel screen, then into the Lady Chapel – now occupied by a Chamber organ of unknown provenance but of about 1800 vintage, and in 1955 finally came to rest in its current position in the south. This extension instrument employs Compton’s patent luminous stop knobs (these light up when the stop is pressed into action). Although totally enclosed, the pipes are capable of producing the grandest sounds needed in a large church. The main chamber, behind the façade in the north aisle contains the Swell, most of the Pedal and Great Organs. The Choir Organ and Solo are located on the north side of the chancel. The specification reads:
PEDAL
Sub Bass 32'
Open Diapason 16'
Violone 16'
Bourdon 16'
Echo Bass 16'
Flute 8'
Octave 8'
Octave Flute 4'
Harmonics V
Trombone 16'
Tromba 8'
Choir to Pedal
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
CHOIR/SOLO
Contra Dulciana 16'
Open Diapason 8'
Zauberflote 8'
Violoncello 8'
Claribel Flute 8'
Dulciana 8'
Voix Celestes 8'
Vox Angelica 8'
Principal 4'
Flute Couverte 4'
Wald Flute 4'
Dulcet 4'
Nazard 2.2/3'
Twelfth 2.2/3'
Piccolo 2'
Fifteenth 2'
Acuta II
Trombone 16'
Tromba 8'
Orchestra Oboe 8'
Clarinet 8'
Octave Tromba 4'
Sub Octave
Unison Off
Octave
Tremulant
Swell to Choir
Great to Choir
GREAT
Double Diapason 16'
First Diapason 8'
Second Diapason 8'
Zauberflote 8'
Dulciana 8'
Principal 4'
Flute Couverte 4'
Twelfth 2.2/3'
Fifteenth 2'
Cymbale IV
Tromba 8'
Clarion 4'
Swell to Great
SWELL
Bourdon 16'
Open Diapason 8'
Gedeckt 8'
Salicional 8'
Voix Celestes 8'
Principal 4'
Fifteenth 2'
Mixture III
Contra Posaune 16'
Trumpet '8
Oboe 8'
Clarion 4'
Sub Octave
Unison Off
Octave
Tremulant
ACCESSORIES
6 double touch thumb pistons to choir/solo and pedal
6 double touch thumb pistons to great
6 double touch thumb pistons to swell
6 double touch toe pistons to pedal and great
6 toe pistons to swell
3 canceller thumb pistons
2 reversible toe pistons
2 sustainers - choir/solo and swell
1 general cancel thumb piston
1 balanced expression pedal with indicator - choir/solo/great/pedal
1 balanced expression pedal with indicator - swell
1 balanced expression pedal with indicator - crescendo
5 ventil switches
Voltmeter
For this first video I am playing the hymn 'The Lord Jehovah reigns' to the tune 'St John' which shows off the power of this instrument.
Many thanks to the church officials for allowing me access to this superb Compton organ.
