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During the last five years I have undertaken a survey of Derbyshire organs of historical note. All have manual tracker action unless otherwise indicated and all preserve a recognizably original tonal scheme (even when extra stops or manuals have been added). All have been visited by me personally, played, in- spected, annotated and, in many cases, tape-recorded (with the assistance of a BBC Radio Derby engineer). Here follows a brief summary of my findings to date. The earliest organ fragments are at Marston-on-Dove. Upper casework and display pipes are early 1?th century (probably a Chair Organ of Dallam type), while lower casework is early l8th century domestic panelling. It once stood in near- by Sudbury Hall, but in l827 was transferred to Marston. The 5 stops (8-2) are in a row above the keyboard. The soundboard has 2 spare slides but shows no sign of having been longer than C compass. The coupled Pedal (no stops) has 25 notes. Altogether of uncertain parentage; in its present form probably 'assembled' mid-19th century. Another mutilated fragment is the early (1746) Snetzler at Openwoodgate (Belper). Originally a 5 stop chamber organ, it was presented to the church in 1905 and in 1927 it was rebuilt (still tracker) and enlarged to 2 manuals. What remains is the case of Spanish Mahogany, the Great soundboard with Snetzler autograph and some 8ft and 4ft pipework including an inverted conical 'Dolce'. In contrast the 1?6? Snetzler at Kedleston Hall is still exactly as recorded by Buckingham in l824 (The Organ No.208). The Grecian-Classic case is by Adam, architect of the Hall. The non-standard stop list (note the absence of Principal) is worth quoting: Compass: C (not GG) - e''' 55 notes. LH Sesqui Bass, 5rks. (4rks. bottom 6 notes) 0 Diap Treble, from Middle C sharp, Hautboy Treble, from Middle C, enclosed and on its own keyboard, Flute Bass RH Comet Treble, 3rks. from Middle C sharp Flute Treble From Middle C sharp Stopt Diapn Complete The third Snetzler (1779) is a 4 stop chamber organ in the private chapel of Locko Park (Spondon). It is in good order, though a divided upperwork stop has been replaced by a divided Gamba, leaving nothing above 4ft pitch. Of the late Georgian/Regency period the following still remain: The earliest purpose- built church organ of Victorian substance is the l849 Kirtland & Jardine at Hayfield: An interesting survivor of the 1840/50 period is an anonymous 2 manual at Holbrook Methodist. Great 7 stops (8-2?,2); Swell (Tenor C, but with bass octave coupled to Great) 5 stops (8-2+Haut.); Pedal l6. Thorpe has an l851 Bishop 1 manual of 5 stops (8-4+Haut.) and 5 composition pedals. Could it be like the Exhibition organ mentioned in Sumner? St. Peter, Belper, has a large west gallery organ. Built as a 2 manual by Holt in 1853 it received a third manual in l875 (Ratcliffe & Sagar). Silent for over 40 years, it will be heard again this year after restoration by Edmund Stow of Derby: Great 10 stops (l6-22/3,2,Sesq.,Trpt.); Swell 7 stops (l6-4, II,Ob.,Corn.); An early Forster & Andrews (1859) is at Brassington. The simple classical case has a misleadingly l8th century look. Stops with square shanks and cursive script are in a row over the keyboard: 7 manual" stops (8-22/3,2); Pedal l6. Ticknall has an acoustically grand Walker of l869: Great 8 stops (8-2, blank); Swell 7 stops (16-4,II, 2 reeds); Pedal 2 stops (l6). Opus No. 1 of lan Abbott (1869) is still virtually intact at St. Luke, Derby: Very shortly after this is an interesting small Abbott at Long Lane. It has a combined Great and Choir played from its single manual. Great 7 stops (l6-4,Il)+ Pedal l6; Choir 4 stops (8-4)+ Pedal l6. Several Nicholson & Lord instruments are all in the Hill rather than the Willis Brindley & Foster was probably the most prolific builder of the l870's and, like Abbott, followed in the footsteps of Schuize. A comprehensive 2 manual (one of the best) is at Alerwasley (l880). Great 7 stops (8-4,II,Cint.); Smaller 2 manual versions of the above, usually containing one or other (or both) of the mixtures are at: Chellaston (1873); Peak Forest (1878); Eyam (l879); and Fenny Bentley (l879). Both musically and acoustically the most impressive organ in the whole county must be the two-manual Willis (c.l875) in the RC Church of the Annunciation, at Chesterfield. It is divided in the west gallery with a l6ft frontage of Pedal Violone pipes. Great 8 stops (l6-2, Trpt.); Swell 9 stops (l6-2, 2 reeds); Pedal 5 stops (l6). Rich and splendid, and yet not a Mixture (or even a 12th) in sight.' Equally favoured acoustically, though slightly smaller, is the 1875 Willis in St. John, Derby. It received a third manual in 19l4; but this was removed in 1975 when the basic Willis work was restored, with upperwork substitutions for certain 8ft stops, and a new extended Pedal division. The work was done by Johnson of Derby. With much of the brilliance of a Willis is the 1876 Lewis at Ironville. Great 6 stops (16-4); Swell 7 stops (8-2,11, Trpt.); Pedal 2 stops (l6-V', cello 8). Here for the first time we see a foundational Great Organ which depends on the through- coupling of a brilliant Swell for any kind of Tutti. Amidst much rubbish of the l890's a few splendid instruments stand out. Lloyd built a generous 2 manual for the newly completed St. Barnabas, Derby. Great 10 stops (8-2, 3 blanks); Swell 10 stops (l6-2,II,2 reeds); Pedal 2 stops (16, blank). A pity the blanks were never filled in.' The l895 Forster& Andrews at Tideswell has a magnificently carved Gothic case that well matches the architectural splendour of its surroundings. Great 7 stops (8-2, O.nt-); Swell 9 stops (l6-4, III, 2 reeds); Pedal 4 stops (16,l6,102/3, & Principals). Some original pneumatics are also worth of note. The l895 Conacher at Greenhill Central Methodist, Derby,is well placed in a front gallery position. Great 9 stops (16-2-2/3,2, Trpt.); Swell 10 stops (l6-2. III, 2 reeds); Choir 5 stops (8-4, 2 reeds); Pedal 3 stops (l6-8). Still characteristic of its builder is the l899 Brindley & Foster pneumatic at Wirksworth. Great 8 stops (l6-4, II, Pos.); Swell 9 stops (l6-4, III, 2 reeds);Choir 5 stops (8-2, Cint.); Pedal 4 stops (l6-8). As is to be expected, a small 19l4 Hill pneumatic at Crich looks back to the 19th century tonal traditions. Great 6 stops (l6-2;); Swell 6 stops (8-4, Oboe); Choir 4 stops (8-4, Cint.); Pedal 2 stops (l6-8). Harrison & Harrison built in 19l4 a superb 2 manual tracker in a side gallery position at Denby . Great 5 stops (l6-2); Swell 5 stops (8-4, Corn.); Pedal 2 stops (l6-8). I have outlined what my researches to date suggest to be the instruments of most historical interest. Space does not permit more than a passing mention of a number of small (mostly 2 manual) organs of good workmanship though predictable design, dating from the l860s, 70s and 80s. They include:- Milford, Ebenezer Methodist (c.l855) |