Me playing the organ at Cobham Methodist Church, Surrey.
The organ here was originally built by the John Compton Organ Company Ltd in the early 1960s and was believed to have been in a private house for home practice. When the original Cobham Methodist Church was pulled down, the hall was converted into use as a church. The organ was given as a gift by a local organist in 1995.
As with all Compton electronic organs, the sounds are produced by 12 rotating tone generators - the idea first pioneered in the 1920s by Leslie Bourne and used in the 1930s on Comptons cinema organ installations as the distinctive 'melotone' unit. This was developed into a complete electronic organ by the late 1930s. After world war two, a whole range of electronic models was brought out including the CH2 as seen here.
As is always the case whenever I visit somewhere, I try where possible to play something in connection with the area so being in Surrey here is 'Where shall my wondering soul begin?' to the tune 'Carey's (Surrey).
Many thanks to the church stewards here at Cobham for allowing me access to this splendid little Compton organ and for such a friendly welcome.
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 dailymotion.
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.
