May not be the biggest organ in the world but it is one of only two organs with a true 64' stop (The other 64' stop is at the Midmer-Losh Boardwalk Organ in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA). I heard 'Toccata and Fugue in D Minor' by J. Sebastian Bach played on this organ on YouTube and that comnposition should take advantage of this organ's 64' Contra Trombone stop. Every step should be taken to preserve and maintain the Sydney Town Hall Grand Organ for generations to come.
omg is the swell louder than the great on that organ??? I don't understand that one knob you pulled out at 0:24 meaning the loudest sound on the organ- I don't understand that :S
Yep, she's still in full working order. I believe it last had a major overhaul in the 1970's and I spent several evenings in the 80's singing in school choirs from 15 feet in front of the pipes.
The City of Sydney gives free lunch-time organ concerts on a regular basis.
The Town Hall is closed in 2009-2010 for a major services upgrade (power, sewers, air con, IT) and no events are taking place while that happens but the organ is just waiting patiently for the overhaul to finish.
Today the Grand Organ is in excellent condition and is maintained by Sydney organ builder Manuel da Costa, who had worked with Pogson on the restoration. The instrument is of international significance and is generally considered to be the finest nineteenth century Romantic concert organ in the world.
I quote myself: "The new Grand Organ sounds two ways: just like the original 1929 Organ while played from the case console or like the modern concert organ which creates very rich and powerful sounds while played from the case or the mobile console via a new switching system."
You are right. Played as a modern concert organ it beats the Sydney Grand Organ.
Truly fantastic organ, a tribute to late 19th Century English organ building. The entire instrument was manufactured and put together in England for testing, then dismantled and shipped to Sydney and re-assembled again, all by the same team. Totally awesome construction of the world's largest mechanical action organ and the only 64' full length reed stop in the Southern Hemisphere! Thanks for posting!
Yeah, it's a great video. The organ, however, is not mechanical but essentially tubular-pneumatic. If you listen again to what Robert Ampt tells John Mander, you will hear him saying that a) the actual is tubular throughout, b) the coupling is entirely mechanical, which includes a coupler chassis for a five-manual console -- most tricky, and c) that the Great has, in order to help coupling, an additional Barker machine. So the Great actually is first Barker, then tubular. My.
Hey, what's the name of the song (if it is a song) at 1:08? This instrument is just fascinating, it tops my list of the best instruments in the world, the organ truly is the king of instruments!
Is there anything on Youtube with this magnificent instruments older but smaller sister in the Ulster Hall Belfast?? Coincidentally, as Mander is in this clip, the Belfast organ is a Mander rebuild.
I believe that the Sydney and Belfast instruments are probably the only faithful examples remaining of Hill Concert Hall Organs!!
Fascinating. Yes, the Widor at 2:07 - would be great with the 64' at the climax, I'm sure. Super discussional video. Thanks much! PS: Please let us have the Widor 5th symphony toccata in full next time with the 64'!
what is he playing from 3:11 to 3:33? please
TheDisneyfan4eva 3 months ago
Does anybody can tell me whats there for a piece at 4.02-4.10 ?
amadeus178 8 months ago
Great vid, I would have liked it to be a bit longer. Very nice piece about the relative un-usefulness of the 64'.
Doeff8 1 year ago
0:45 - 0:52 LOL
MrsAlexisClyde 1 year ago
can someone please tell me what that piece is at 1.50 - 2.12.
random23hero666 1 year ago
@random23hero666 The sample is from Charles-Marie Widor's Toccata from the Fifth Organ Symphony
raikaljok 1 year ago
@raikaljok And WAY too fast.
SelvesteDovregubben 11 months ago
May not be the biggest organ in the world but it is one of only two organs with a true 64' stop (The other 64' stop is at the Midmer-Losh Boardwalk Organ in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA). I heard 'Toccata and Fugue in D Minor' by J. Sebastian Bach played on this organ on YouTube and that comnposition should take advantage of this organ's 64' Contra Trombone stop. Every step should be taken to preserve and maintain the Sydney Town Hall Grand Organ for generations to come.
gorickard319582010 1 year ago
wow!
pezze12345 1 year ago
i love the pipes at 3:29 , do they speak or false ???
MrAlex413x 1 year ago
@MrAlex413x no they sing.
doctorjamjam 1 year ago
omg is the swell louder than the great on that organ??? I don't understand that one knob you pulled out at 0:24 meaning the loudest sound on the organ- I don't understand that :S
juaniluco888 1 year ago
@juaniluco888 no, the knobs pulled out at 0:24 are tubas
from the Solo, not the Swell. The Swell doesn't have a big
sound compared to the Great.
music0876 1 year ago
Yep, she's still in full working order. I believe it last had a major overhaul in the 1970's and I spent several evenings in the 80's singing in school choirs from 15 feet in front of the pipes.
The City of Sydney gives free lunch-time organ concerts on a regular basis.
The Town Hall is closed in 2009-2010 for a major services upgrade (power, sewers, air con, IT) and no events are taking place while that happens but the organ is just waiting patiently for the overhaul to finish.
stuartmidgley1 1 year ago
At 3:32 are those pipes 32' or 64' !! size wise i mean ???
MrAlex413x 2 years ago
@MrAlex413x that is a 64'!!! Watch Demonstration of the 64' Contra Trombone.
AcaAllertor127 1 year ago
@AcaAllertor127 Not quite, the metal pipes in front is a 32'
Diapason, the 64' Contra Trombone is in the back. Organ
builders do not usually put wood pipes in front. The 64' is
made of wood.
music0876 1 year ago
@music0876 Can you show what the 64' looks like?Im not that interested in pipe organs much anymore but i am very curious as to what it looks like.
AcaAllertor127 1 year ago
The Grandest organ on the planet!
MrAdrianGunning 2 years ago
That's amazing. I didn't understand 99% of the stuff they were talking about, and I was still in awe. :O
Wonton2006 2 years ago
isnt that last pipe 64 foot long?
immadodgeguy 2 years ago 2
Very impressive instrument. One of very few organs in the world that can play down to C-1 or 8.18 Hz. Is this organ fully functional?
glenn3rd2004 2 years ago
I found this text in the Grand Organ site:
Today the Grand Organ is in excellent condition and is maintained by Sydney organ builder Manuel da Costa, who had worked with Pogson on the restoration. The instrument is of international significance and is generally considered to be the finest nineteenth century Romantic concert organ in the world.
raikaljok 2 years ago
Glad to hear that.
glenn3rd2004 2 years ago
@glenn3rd2004 I have played it! Im not an organ player, i was just too tempted to stay behind the velvet rope. Its in fantastic condition!
LightsOutChannel 1 year ago
What a large piano!
nathanfornash 2 years ago
Uh... This is a Pipe Organ.
dacatholicbandorgan 2 years ago 4
If you say so...
nathanfornash 2 years ago
I think the majority "know so"...
DanielBrennan9 2 years ago
Totally fooled you there!
nathanfornash 2 years ago 2
I do believe that the Melbourne Town Hall organ is a better instrument. And I am unanimous in that.
Christopher8000 2 years ago
I quote myself: "The new Grand Organ sounds two ways: just like the original 1929 Organ while played from the case console or like the modern concert organ which creates very rich and powerful sounds while played from the case or the mobile console via a new switching system."
You are right. Played as a modern concert organ it beats the Sydney Grand Organ.
raikaljok 2 years ago
Truly fantastic organ, a tribute to late 19th Century English organ building. The entire instrument was manufactured and put together in England for testing, then dismantled and shipped to Sydney and re-assembled again, all by the same team. Totally awesome construction of the world's largest mechanical action organ and the only 64' full length reed stop in the Southern Hemisphere! Thanks for posting!
ds1868 2 years ago
Yeah, it's a great video. The organ, however, is not mechanical but essentially tubular-pneumatic. If you listen again to what Robert Ampt tells John Mander, you will hear him saying that a) the actual is tubular throughout, b) the coupling is entirely mechanical, which includes a coupler chassis for a five-manual console -- most tricky, and c) that the Great has, in order to help coupling, an additional Barker machine. So the Great actually is first Barker, then tubular. My.
MilsteinRulez 2 years ago
This organ has a very unique sound.
Cindermakers 2 years ago
Hey, what's the name of the song (if it is a song) at 1:08? This instrument is just fascinating, it tops my list of the best instruments in the world, the organ truly is the king of instruments!
generalgrievous38 3 years ago
Sounds to me like Widor Tocatta 6th movement.
DanielBrennan9 2 years ago
Thanks!
generalgrievous38 2 years ago
I love it. He's got the biggest mechanical-action organ in the world and he's complaining about the Swell being too quiet :D
willowthebored 3 years ago 3
Damn this instrument is great! I have 2 CDs from here and that 64' Contre Trombone is a rare treat
bombarde1701 3 years ago
Quite wonderful....what a beast!!!!
Is there anything on Youtube with this magnificent instruments older but smaller sister in the Ulster Hall Belfast?? Coincidentally, as Mander is in this clip, the Belfast organ is a Mander rebuild.
I believe that the Sydney and Belfast instruments are probably the only faithful examples remaining of Hill Concert Hall Organs!!
Thanks for this clip!!
pjdonagh 3 years ago
How interesting!
pipeup1 3 years ago
that cleaner in the background is very lucky
robbiethemann 3 years ago
"that cleaner"? Are you joking? He's John Mander! The most important organ builder in the world!
latribe 3 years ago
LOLOLO
i was talking about the vacuum cleaner sound in the background.
robbiethemann 3 years ago
how many blowers are there on this musical beast?
vegunited06 3 years ago
Fascinating. Yes, the Widor at 2:07 - would be great with the 64' at the climax, I'm sure. Super discussional video. Thanks much! PS: Please let us have the Widor 5th symphony toccata in full next time with the 64'!
eat911t 3 years ago
What does he play at 1:51? I'm sure I've heard it before, but I don't know the name.
usbcd360 3 years ago
2:07 widor toccata i think
Ne0c225 3 years ago
A fantastic video, thanks to whomever uploaded. Mr. Ampt is a master and knows how to tame his beloved leviathan.
Contratrombone64 3 years ago
Great vid! It's cool to see them fiddling around with that 64' stop.
morbs98 3 years ago