An additional organ for Elmham church

Over Christmas, many of you will have seen that there is a new, electronic organ in the church. It has long been the case that our pipe organ, whilst it makes a lovely sound, is unable properly to support a large congregation. Also it has design limitations that mean that a large proportion of the organ repertoire can not be played on it.
Some years ago we commissioned a report on the organ which concluded that to expand the organ to solve these problems could easily be done in the space we have inside the organ case, but that it would cost at least £120,000. We had one new stop put on the instrument, replacing one that had been removed in the 1950s, but this was all that we could afford, using money raised from concerts and our cello and organ classics CD. This stop alone cost over £8000 even using reconditioned, rather than new, pipes.
So with the recent advances in digital sound sampling technology, we concluded that the best course of action would be to buy a new, electronic organ to use alongside the pipe organ. There were still some issues with cost; but then we were offered a second-hand organ of the type we wanted for a knockdown price, so we leaped at the opportunity!
The organ as it was heard at Christmas is not yet fully installed, although the sound it makes fills the church well enough to really add a thrill to singing carols. We intend to buy some external speakers, which will be placed in the gallery at the west end. This is where the pipe organ originally was, and so once again an organ chorus will be heard from that commanding position.
All of this actually leaves the pipe organ in a better position. We can now use it for smaller services and to play pieces suitable for an instrument of that size. Most importantly, there will be a little money left over to repair damage done to it by rats – which even chewed through a metal pipe! – as well as by somebody who went inside the organ before a new lock was fitted.
Once the new organ is fully installed, there will be an opening recital given by a top player. Watch this space! In the meantime, there are still a few copies of our CD of classics for cello and organ, including works by Elgar, Delius, Brahms, Bach, Handel and Debussy. This was recorded in the church in 2005 by Angus Pearson and Jonathan Dodd; copies can be obtained from Jonathan on 668526, priced at £7. All profits are for the music in our church – things such as the new stop for the pipe organ, which this CD has already funded in part.
Jonathan Dodd