The Covid-19 crisis has triggered a small peak in demand for home practice organs among the musicians who are now trapped at home and excluded from use of their church instrument.
A practice organ for home is by any stretch of the imagination a ‘luxury purchase’. In more normal times it is dominated by a mature customer base with the disposable income to afford one or a generous parent buying an organ for gifted child.
Younger organists also need practice organs
This time we see mainly younger organists, many professional musicians or exam candidates understandably concerned to keep up their skills. We have tried as far as possible to meet their requirements. Deliveries at this time are near impossible to carry out keeping to the rules on social distancing and some customers have chosen to arrange collection of instruments from Bicester.
One rather remote customer we were by good luck able to assist is William Fox. Sub organist at St Paul’s Cathedral is now back at home in Yorkshire having been furloughed. He reached out to us and it just so happened we had a hire organ lying idle with our Huddersfield based engineer Peter Armitage.
Delivery of the home practice organ
Peter was able to deliver this organ the short distance to Williams home with Williams parents providing the additional muscle power so not needing to maintain a 2 metre distance, impossible when holding the other side of an instrument little more than a metre wide.
William and his family kept out of the way while the practice organ was brought into his home. So another Viscount organ gets put to work in these very challenging and stressful circumstances. Wonder when we will be get back to some sense of normal and what that new normal will be? Only time will tell.
Looking for a practice organ for your home, then please do get in contact with us. We can guide and advise you on which instruments are suitable for you based on your needs and requirements.
Not sure if a home practice organ is the right thing for you? Read our article discussing six reasons why you would buy a practice organ.
I have had a passion for church organs since the tender age of 12. I own and run Viscount Organs with a close attention to the detail that musicians appreciate; and a clear understanding of the benefits of digital technology and keeping to the traditional and emotional elements of organ playing.
