I know that many of our members are organists. During the summer the Domincan Center of Sinsiniwa WI holds Wed. Evening organ concerts. Last night was the final concert of the season so I tried to get a picture of the organ. It did not turn out as good as I had hoped. Perhaps those of you who do play could post pictures of the organs at your church.

Morgan

This picture if the front of the Sanctuary

I have been playing for about 3 years and own 3 Lowrey's - an MX-1,Parade and my most recent acquisition, a Majesty. Sorry, but don't have a church so can't post any pics of church organs.

Gary

I play a 1957 3-manual 24-rank Casavant, in a Lutheran church in Inglewood, California. The organ is in the rear of the sanctuary, up in a "west-end gallery" in liturgical style --- but I wish it was down front (where there ARE empty chambers for a second chancel organ that has yet to be built). I spend a LOT of time running up and down those stairs during the services!

Here's a recent shot of me at the console, and you can see more photos at the link below.

(note - there is a fairly extensive thread on church organs on the AutomaticWasher.org site -- probably in the archives by now -- there are quite a few postings and photos in it.)

Here's some pictures of the Pipe Organ that I play once a month for Church. Enjoy!

Nathan

I am not certain as to how many ranks of pipes are on this organ--It is a 1950's Otto-Hoffman, with 2 manuals, and a full pedal board.

Here's the larger Pipes of the Organ

I'm on the lookout for a decent home spinet, midsized to larger. I donated my old one to a thrift store when we moved east in August. I've already seen a few around but they are in rough shape or too small. What is everyones favorite make/model for a vintage one and why? I had always wanted a Gulbransen because they seemed to have a very true flutes sound and probably the most realistic piano sound for the time, in the early 70's

HI Petek,

I'm not exactly sure what you are looking for but I have 2 organs I am looking to sell - I have a Lowrey MX-1 as well as a Lowrey Parade. The MX-1 is from the early 80s (I purchased it about 4 years ago and had it looked over by a technician to bring it back to perfect working order). The Parade is about 10 years old, perfect condition. Btw, I am in North Bay, ON.

Gary

Re: My Grammar School Memory:

When I was in Elementary School, we had one particular Program that was put on by the PTA and one of the Janitor's had an Organ that they brought for their part of the performance. He hooked up an Electrolux Vacuum Cleaner's Cloth Hose fitting to the Blower part and placed the end of the Hose in a hole on the side of the Organ. While the Organ was being played, there was a huge Balloon that started to Blow-Up and we were all plugging our Ears, Laughing and the Girls were Screaming, because we were sure that the Balloon was going to Burst.

Needless to say, he stopped playing the Organ and turned off the Vacuum Cleaner, just in time. The Balloon began to loose the Air inside and it made this great sounding Noise kind of like Bagpipes, after you have filling the Bladder up and quit playing them, while it was deflating. It sounded kind of like the Bagpipes Bag loosing the Air in it.

Has anyone else ever seen or heard of such a set-up, of an Organ using a Vacuum Cleaner to operate the Organ and having a Huge Balloon that would Blow-Up as I have described? If anyone might have any Pix's that would be great to share with us. I wish I had a Camera at the time to take some Photo's. Who knew this would be such a great conversation piece so many years later on!!!

Peace, Great and Fun Organ Music Playing, Steve
Electrolux1960

I saw something like that-a ballon connected to a bagpipe.The bagpipist played until the balloon inflated-than he stopped and as the balloon deflated thru the bagpipes-a loud droning sound came from it.Saw this on a Mikey Mouse Club episode.Have it on DVD.

Hey! Rex, did you get that DVD recently, or have you had it for a while? What would the exact Title be, is it still available For Sale? I would love to check that Show Episode out, besides the rest of the Show Episodes, if there are several series on the DVD Disk.

Peace and Kind Regards, Steve
Electrolux1960

I have had it for awhile-got it at Best Buy-in the Walt Disney video dept.Beleive its a boxed set in a metal can.There are other episodes besides the bagpipes one.Its the "Mickey Mouse Club" shows.Reminded me when I was little watching these on our "Green screen" Hoffman TV in the basement!They are well restrored both pictures and sound-monochrome.these do date from the fities.If its not in stock-maybe you can order it from their website.On both the bagpipes and the organ-the balloon would act as another air resevior.Air would be stored in it as the instrument is played-and when the air supply stopped-the air in the balloon allows the instrument to play until the air bleeds off.

Oh, yeah; check this one out! It is the Lawrenceville Organ, and I got to actually touch it! Amazing! I guess knowing a keyboard means I could play it. I play accordion and xylophone-type instruments in the band (a.k.a. marimba, vibraphone...etc.). The accordion is awesome. I got an old trashy accordion from a friend a long time ago (No, not you Mr. Lester; that one still plays!) and dismantled it and built...a vacuum powered "organ." Yes, this machine was far from perfect. The vacuum cleaner (Kirby Omega, then a shop vac for more power) was WAY to noisy to hear the "organ," or rather vacuum powered accordion. It only had the keyboard in which you would lay flat on a table and play like a piano or organ. It was a bad design. I want to see the pipe room and blower at my church. We have a beautiful custom organ; I don't know the brand. I get a chance every now and then to play it. Good sound, too.

So here is the website to the Lawrenceville Organ!!

here is a few pictures of organs i play

hope you like my pics!!!

organ 1 st josephs

st josephs

a Deuter, I think. Is that how you spell it? I know it is pronounced "doy-ter," I believe. It is a custom. It sounds really good. We also have an electric organ in our chapel, which is a Yamaha Elec-Tone. That one is WEIRD!! It sounds strange, but is in MINT shape! I don't think it has been played much.

Just finished watching an episode of the Flying Nun entitled the Organ Transplant in which Sister Bertrille aquires an old pipe organ to replace the one that "fell apart" at the convent. After some mishaps trying to get air into the organ, Sister Bertrille hooks up the Electrolux Model XXX to a pipe in the back of the organ. Watching this episode, i thought about all you guys who play the organ in church, etc.

Incidentally, the scene i always remembered where the sisters are cleaning the Reverend Mother's office they used the Model XXX. I always thought the vacuum used was an E or an L. Just goes to show the old memory ain't what it used to be. What was i talking about? Where am I? Did I sing the ballad yet?

Marty

That's great! I do not remember that episode. Did the XXX have an original hose?

Electrolux XXX the blue one. Had a blue woven hose like an E hose.

"It was originally intended to be a simple concert hall, but the multifunction building for the city of Santa Cruz, Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, also promises to be a landmark. The distinctive, overhanging "wave" curving out over the white concrete Auditorio de Tenerife is the latest creation of renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava."


.
-- To see and read about the concert hall, go to:

http://www.architectureweek.com/2003/0903/building_1-1.html

and

http://www.auditoriodetenerife.com/index_galeria.php


.
-- To see and hear the grand pipe organ, go to:

http://www.orguesblancafort.com

Click "Enter" under "Auditorio de Tenerife"

and follow the prompts.

(The other link on the above page takes you to the organ builder's web site.)

and

http://www.auditoriodetenerife.com/organo


PREPARE TO BE AMAZED!