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The hinterland of Aberdeen is an immensely rich area especially in early 19th century organs by Scottish builders. Monday began with an architectural tour of Aberdeen led by Noman Marr, then a visit to the rebuilt Father Willis in St. Machar's Cathedral. Dr. Roger Williams,Aberdeen University, introduced and demonstrated a Harrison & Harrison organ (1959) in Young's temperament. In the evening, Donald Findlay gave an informative lecture with slides on churches in north-east Scotland, with reference to social and religious history, and why the influence of wealthy landed families in Episcopal and Roman Catholic churches accounted for the many, largely unaltered, instruments inthe area. Alan Buchan followed with an illustrated talk on the history of the organ in Scotland, from pre-Reformation times to the 19th century builders (Bruce, Hamilton and Renton) and to the continuing valuable work of the Scottish Historic Organs Tmst. The next day saw a visit to the 1816 Elliott (two manuals and eleven stops also tuned to Young's temperament) at St. Ann's Episcopal Church, Kemnay, originally from Castle Fraser, where correspondence survives on the choice of Elliott and the considerable expense involved. The other early instrument examined was at Monymusk originally in the chapel of Monymusk House. Built by Johnson ofEdinburgh in 1760, this one manual five stop organ was reconstructed by Lincoln in 1834 and recently restored by Sandy Edmonstone of Perth. Another theme of this conference was Wadsworth's Aberdeen division, managed by the renowned John Wardle and Emest Lawton. They built scores of instruments after the national Church decided in 1864 that organs were not instruments of the Devil. Those seen at Rhynie, Lawton's first of 1899; Auchterless, by Wadsworth, 1904, and at New Pitsligo by Lawton, 1904 were typical solid period workmanship. The tonal subtlety and beauty of the earlier 1878 Wadsworth at the former Enzie Church wasmemorable; here a temporary generator and blower was necessary. Our thanks go to Sandy Edmonstone and the owners, Christies of Fochabers, for installing the equipment. The Conacher brothers, Peter and James, bom in Perthshire in the 1830s and educated in Edinburgh, provided more organs in Scotland than any other except Forster & Andrews. A fine 1871 one manual and pedal of eight stops in St. Margaret 's Roman Catholic Church, Huntley was visited, followed by the 1872 Conacher in the fomer church at Forgue, an untouched two manual and pedal of fourteen stops. Here a claim that only the original, unassisted hand-blowing should be allowed provoked some discussion. Our thanks to the Richardson family for providing a sumptuous tea that aftemoon. Sadly, the 1887 James Conacher in Bellie Church, Fochabers, which we visited two days later, had been so altered as to render comparison with brother Peter's work impossible. On Wednesday, there were visits to two early organs, both in a precarious state. Barthol Chapel has a small chamber organ c.l845, probably by Renton of Edinburgh. Alan Buchan summarised his work on the palaeontology of pipe markings from this and the work of other contemporary Scottish builders. Inapropriate restoration had been carried out on this and on the next organ visited, by David Hamiltonc.1850, in Woodhead Episcopal Church. With tin front and continental pipemouths, it had a decidedly pre-Romantic, German sound. In contrast, our next instrument was at Fyvie Castle. The Music Room's 1905 Nonnan& Beard was remarkable for being crammed into the low gallery under the ceiling; the organ with its rollplayer and rolls is working, though not perfectly. John Norman, with his vast knowledge and experience, contributed two lectures, one on the personalities behind Norman & Beard and the later amalgamations, the other on technical developments; Hill pursuing charge pneumatic actions while Norman &Beard continued with exhaust. Both occupied the same building but with little desire to share ideas. Wednesday concluded with a Porrit of Leicester in between visits to two Father Willis instruments. The 1898 Willis in Old Deer Parish Church, with gleaming spotted metalfront, contrasted with the 1878 Porrit, one of only two built by the firm for Scotland. This delightful organ cried out for sensitive restoration and care. One of the many highlights of the week, Dr. John Kitchen's recital on the three manual Father Willis in Haddo House Chapel was a particularly fine 'Munro'. The programme ranged from Gibbons to Francis Jackson, and was played with the panache and dedication one expects from Dr. Kitchen. St. Gregory's Roman Catholic Church with its magnificent Pugin sanctuary is the original home of an exceptional 1820 James Bruce organ in a fine Gothic oak case.This instrument is a national treasure whose future must somehow be secured. We took a brief look at Speymouth Church and its 1850 Holdich (?) - short of dismantling it, we failed to discover a detailed history. Subsequently, a church magazine at Fochabers revealed that according to the Northern Scot, 10 November 1894, 'The organ... has been placed here by Mr. Eustace lngram, London, but was originally built by the famous maker, Mr. Holdich, for his own private use'. At Fochabers Church, the organ builder was proclaimed as William Hill, 1874. A label was found inside giving the donor, 'The Duchess of Richmond and Gordon, Gordon Castle, Fochabers, North Britain'. Also in Fochabers is an 1842 Bruce in St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church. It is interesting but 'improved': much of the case veneer has been remdved and tuning slides fitted to what is otherwise an original instrument. We are grateful o the housekeeper, Mrs Palmer for her hospitality on this occasion. Our final visit on Thursday was to the 1990 Sandy Edmonstone instrument at Aberlour. It is an historic instrument of the future; in an organ chamber, its 19 stops gave a lively account of themselves. The remainder of the conference was taken up with visits to organs by Ernest Lawton (Bon Accord Free Church, 1923) and John Compton's 1933 Theatre organ in the Capitol Cinema, superbly demonstrated by Michael Thomson, and now in the care of the Aberdeen Theatre Organ Trust, and his 1936 12/70 in St. Nicholas Kirk; this latter instrument still with its original console and luminous stop heads. David Shepherd's stimulating paper on Compton's working principles and methods brought what had been an exhaustive introduction to the Aberdeen organ landscape to a fitting close.
The evening saw the culinary highlight of the week, an outstanding conference dinner at the Rothes Glefi Hotel hosted by Michael Mackenzie, Freddie Symonds and their staff. Afterwards, Dr James Berrow gave a vote of thanks both to the hotel staff and the conference organisers. (Abridged from a report by David Stark).
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