@animesis the concert dates tend to be very poorly publicised and appear last minute. It was playing for the premier week of The War Horse. I am sure if you emailed Donald Mackenzie, he can tell you when it's playing for premiere weeks and possibly some concerts
Most enjoyable - brief as it is. It really has a splendid sound.I remember seeing Gerald Shaw at this beauty in 1962, but lost track of him after that. Did he retire from here?
I have absolutely no musical talent, but I've played the Duchess. In the '80s, I was an assistant manager at Odeon Leicester Square and, once in a while, I'd awaken her from her lair late at night, rising up from the depths in silent majesty. I produced no music, but the sound effects she produced were tremendous!
The melotone unit produces, what I can only describe as, an ethereal tone. Another non-pipe stop which was unique to Compton was the solo cello. One of these is fitted to the Margate Dreamland organ (in situ but unheard for many years). This is a string instrument with mechanically operated "fingers" which alter length of string so producing different notes. The sound was electrically amplified and fed through the chamber shutters via a horn speaker.
Without any authority - and with a total lack of musical talent - I played the Duchess one night when I was an asst manager at Odeon Leicester Square in the 80s. Brought her out of the depths and in front of the Odeon's magnificent fire screen and played, er, nothing much, really. But what a rush!
In some ways, since the basic principle is similar. But the Hammond tonewheels produced sine waves, From an illustration in Richard Dorf's Electronic Musical Instruments, the Compton organs generated a sawtooth waveform, so their synthesis was subtractive, not additive, I would suspect. So they wouldn't have sounded anything like a Hammond.
Ive looked online, but I cant find concert dates for the Duchess, any ideas? I would love to go and see it with my father, Thanks
animesis 1 month ago
@animesis the concert dates tend to be very poorly publicised and appear last minute. It was playing for the premier week of The War Horse. I am sure if you emailed Donald Mackenzie, he can tell you when it's playing for premiere weeks and possibly some concerts
alijanlondon 1 month ago
Most enjoyable - brief as it is. It really has a splendid sound.I remember seeing Gerald Shaw at this beauty in 1962, but lost track of him after that. Did he retire from here?
ian3bh89ng 3 months ago
I have absolutely no musical talent, but I've played the Duchess. In the '80s, I was an assistant manager at Odeon Leicester Square and, once in a while, I'd awaken her from her lair late at night, rising up from the depths in silent majesty. I produced no music, but the sound effects she produced were tremendous!
PaulCastle001 7 months ago 3
The melotone unit produces, what I can only describe as, an ethereal tone. Another non-pipe stop which was unique to Compton was the solo cello. One of these is fitted to the Margate Dreamland organ (in situ but unheard for many years). This is a string instrument with mechanically operated "fingers" which alter length of string so producing different notes. The sound was electrically amplified and fed through the chamber shutters via a horn speaker.
barrowboy6 11 months ago
Does The Duchess still have it's Melotone Unit?
deancook652 1 year ago
The Dutchess certainly does still have its Melotone and it is kept in working order by the resident organist Donald MacKenzie.
DLG949 1 year ago
Is it true that the bench gets hot from the lights?
UncleUlser 1 year ago
The lights produce a lot of heat and yes, they do warm up the bench.
DLG949 1 year ago
This organ is going to be played by Donald Mackenzie this Saturday, October 23rd at 10am. Free entry!
mattrehmhext 1 year ago
Excellent joyful performance :)))
- and what a wonky console!
monoamiga 1 year ago
Come back to Watford Town Hall!
goodchappy 1 year ago
What a fantastic sounding Compton
mattrehmhext 1 year ago 2
Without any authority - and with a total lack of musical talent - I played the Duchess one night when I was an asst manager at Odeon Leicester Square in the 80s. Brought her out of the depths and in front of the Odeon's magnificent fire screen and played, er, nothing much, really. But what a rush!
PaulCastle001 1 year ago
What is the "melotone" stop ?? Never heard of this stop in the US. Thanks.
JoePeterzak 1 year ago
@JoePeterzak
The Melotone is an electrostaticlly produced sound unique to Compton Organs.
Compton also produced Melotone organs without pipes.
DLG949 1 year ago
@JoePeterzak It's comparable to a Hammond tonewheel organ.
JonasClark 1 year ago
@JonasClark
In some ways, since the basic principle is similar. But the Hammond tonewheels produced sine waves, From an illustration in Richard Dorf's Electronic Musical Instruments, the Compton organs generated a sawtooth waveform, so their synthesis was subtractive, not additive, I would suspect. So they wouldn't have sounded anything like a Hammond.
quadibloc 1 year ago
Brill! Love it, and one of my fave organs too! Not an easy one to play, you have to play it the way it wants u to play! lol
bmhall100 2 years ago
Excellent stuff! Really excellent first rate playing! And how brilliant to hear the melotone working! 5 stars plus from me!
christhompsonorganis 2 years ago