I am insterested in informations about the organ in the Crystal Palace. Would you kindly pass this email to a person specialized in organs?
In 1854 a German organ player and teacher developped plans for a monumental organ to the Crysttal Palace; I just discovered these plans. It was an organ with 171 stops on 4 manuals and pedal, but in fact it has never been realized.
I want to know if there were ever built an organ at the Crytsal Palace? And if so, may I ask for the technical devices of this organ?
Thanks for helping me.
Prof. Dr. Christian Ahrens, Ruhr University, D-44879 Bochum, Germany
Crystal Palace Organ
This is what JR Piggott wrote in his excellent new book 'Palace of the People' (ISBN 1-85065-727-0)....
A small organ at Sydenham. mentioned as early
as 1855, played during the Horticultural Society show.
The great organ for Sydenham was discussed early: in
December 1853 a committee consisting of the Rev. Sir
F.A.G. Ouseley, Bart, Professor the Rev. Robert Willis of
Cambridge and Professor John Donaldson of Edinburgh.
The figure of £25,000 was mentioned — completion
was expected within three years and the result
would be ‘one of the wonders of the world’. In April 1854
it was reported by the Gentleman 's Magazine that ‘the
idea of a monster organ is relinquished,’ but in August
1854 John Donaldson left for North Germany with the
Edinburgh organ-builder David Hamilton. The famous
organ by Gray and Davison, with four manuals, seventy-
four stops, 4,568 pipes and weighing 20 tons, and at the
time the largest in Britain, was installed in 1857. In
1920—3 Buckland spent £9,000 on ‘discus’ fan-blowers
for it, and the pitch was lowered and 'an entirely new
system of tubular pneumatic action’ installed. While the
Fire was raging in 1936 the hot air got into the organ
pipes and there were reports of eldritch sounds like a
Titan in agony.
A small organ at Sydenham. mentioned as early
as 1855, played during the Horticultural Society show.
The great organ for Sydenham was discussed early: in
December 1853 a committee consisting of the Rev. Sir
F.A.G. Ouseley, Bart, Professor the Rev. Robert Willis of
Cambridge and Professor John Donaldson of Edinburgh.
The figure of £25,000 was mentioned — completion
was expected within three years and the result
would be ‘one of the wonders of the world’. In April 1854
it was reported by the Gentleman 's Magazine that ‘the
idea of a monster organ is relinquished,’ but in August
1854 John Donaldson left for North Germany with the
Edinburgh organ-builder David Hamilton. The famous
organ by Gray and Davison, with four manuals, seventy-
four stops, 4,568 pipes and weighing 20 tons, and at the
time the largest in Britain, was installed in 1857. In
1920—3 Buckland spent £9,000 on ‘discus’ fan-blowers
for it, and the pitch was lowered and 'an entirely new
system of tubular pneumatic action’ installed. While the
Fire was raging in 1936 the hot air got into the organ
pipes and there were reports of eldritch sounds like a
Titan in agony.