John White Organ - Church of the Assumption, Booterstown

A short improvisation displaying some of the colours of this little organ, originally built by John White of Dublin in the late 1850s and rebuilt and tonally altered by Kenneth Jones of Bray in 1978. Sadly, it is in poor condition now, the winding especially.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ronan
• Murray
• Organ
• Music
• Improvisation
• Church
• Assumption
• Booterstown
• Dublin
• Ireland
• John
• White
• Kenneth

[NiamhFrancisPianist]

I play a John White in Cork City, 1901, and it's in bad shape too, though surprisingly a lot of it is in tune. Winding is not great though, sounds very soft for its size and for the size of the church. Will cost €100,000 to repair and will probably end up being made into a hybrid.

[ronanmurray]

@NiamhFrancisPianist It would be an absolute travesty to allow it to become a hybrid. I hope the church has the wisdom to see that. If they don't, I recommend hiring a professional consultant, preferrably from the UK or US to advise them. This country is too small for objectivity, I fear!

[NiamhFrancisPianist]

@ronanmurray I think hybrids are ridiculous anyway. Digital instruments don't last! It'd be a waste of money and of a chance to get a proper job done. You're right, I should try talk them into getting someone from the UK. The big barrier is the cost. Should probably set up a fund raising committee or something!