It scary to realise that almost 5 years have passed since I was at All Hallows Church in Hargrave concluding this installation just a few months before the pandemic hit.
Local organist Nicholas Pollard achieved what is quite a rare feat obtaining permission to install a large 3 manual instrument in a relatively small church.
The instrument it replaced was a small single manual 9 stop pipe organ that was so riddled with woodworm the cost of restoration was immense.
Despite the condition of the instrument, through the publication of our blog and the power of social media a new home for the pipework was found for an instrument in Germany.
A set up for summer festivities
The larger instrument was in part justified to support a busy summer music village festival based in the church.
The speaker system we installed is near invisible with 8 speakers hidden high in the roof on north and south side wall plates. A pair of speakers sit in the decorative frieze at the top of the rood screen. These carry near all of the choir department save for the Tuba which we placed at the west end in the nave roof.
Appreciation from local organ enthusiasts
The Northampton and District Organists’ Association (NDOA) visited the church on the afternoon of June 8th after visiting two pipe organs in the morning at St Peter’s Church, Raunds and Church Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Ringstead. Two years earlier they had included my home set up on one of their outings where they were treated to a pipe organ as well as two digital instruments.
You can also see the setup of my home barn, and listen to the music tutorial series we recorded.
NDOA enjoyed an opportunity to listen
After a brief welcome from Nicholas, I took over and explained the history of Viscount instruments and filled the NDOA guests in on the various technologies that the industry uses to create organ tone without the use of pipes.
Afterwards Nicholas gave a short demonstration of the instrument, and the guests got the opportunity to jump on the bench to experience the unusual sound of a 3 manual instrument in this relatively small space.
If you’d like to experience the sounds of one of our instruments, we’d love to invite you to our show room in Bicester – please get in touch to arrange a visit.
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.
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