Tuba Tune at Grace Cathedral

Here is the Tuba Tune by Normon Cocker on the Aeolian Skinner organ in Grace Cathedral, San Francisco. The Solo 8' Tuba Mirablis, as well as the crowning 8' Tuba Major, sing in this piece.

The Aeolian Skinner organ is in the process of being renovated. This work includes replacing worn leather components of the playing mechanism, overhauling the wind system and replacing missing pipes.

The project includes replacing several sets of pipes installed after 1952 that are out of character (1972 Casavant additions) with the original instrument. We would also like to install sets of pipes originally planned for, but never executed.

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  Music

[David Irwin]

Quick question. Do you have any idea why the Washington National Cathedral plans to have it's magnificent Skinner dismantled and replaced? I have heard it once and I was very impressed. I hope it is not replaced by a digital model. That would be blasphemous in my humble opinion.

[bombarde1701a]

Yes...because the Skinner has been "altered" over the years by a variety of sources, and it can hardly be called a Skinner or an Aeolian Skinner. Other then a few stops, most of it has been changed. On the other hand, it doesnt fill the nave (for the congregation) and if you are sitting in the back of the Cathedral, the organ gets lost.

[bombarde1701a]

I love the organ the way it is, and I simply think they should rebuild it and add more pipes or digital stops either in the transepts or in the galleries. Casavant was chosen to build a French style tracker organ in the gallery and Dobson was chosen to replace the Skinner in the great choir. According to them, they are planning on saving the best stuff from the present organ, but thats relative.

[bombarde1701a]

From what they said, they are planning on keeping the original cases and facade

[Michael Shortal]

Anyone have a clue what the additions will be?

[bombarde1701a]

from what I know there wont be any additions other then replacing dead notes etc.

[Susan Matthews]

This track is from my CD Chosen Tunes recorded by Roger Sherman of Gothic. Thank you for the kind comments. The actual CD has a wonderful sound quality, and is still available. ~ Susan Jane Matthews

[David Irwin]

I still can't get over that 10 second reverb at the end. How impressive it must have been to be in the naive at the time of this recording.

[UncleUlser]

Lots of comments about the organ but, who's playing? A fine job on a piece that is not easy to play and quite hard to play this well.

[mrstevebournias]

''Yes...because the Skinner has been "altered" over the years by a variety of sources, and it can hardly be called a Skinner or an Aeolian Skinner. Other then a few stops, most of it has been changed'' The aforementioned remark is the ''spin'' form a self-styled ''consultant'' with no known credentials. The present organ is a MASTERPIECE voiced by ONE man-the head voicer from Aeolian-Skinner.There is NOTHING wrong with it tonally. If you want to add to it do so.Dont throw it out!! Dont ruin it.

[Richard Harrold]

- it won't be going to hell by intent with Lawrence Thain now the Assistant there - he's one of the best young players there is. I should know - my mum taught him from basics to FRCO!

[mrstevebournias]

Skinner sold the Grace Cath job but the contract demanded Harrison to design and install it much to Skinner's dismay.As for John the Divine the present Tuba major is the 1910 Skinner with a new metal bass added in the 1950s and the Tuba Clarion 4 is an aeolian-skinner addition in the 1950's work.

[Peronter77]

great job

[mrstevecbournias]

wnc organ will be thrown out and parted out by the new builder; a travesty the worst in teh history of usa organ building; ignorant authorities sold a bill of goods by a former organist long gone and bannished from wnc; and a so-called ''organ expert'' that nobody knows where he recd jhis expertise other than the gift of gab; the schoenstein tuba at grace in frisco is good but cant hold a candle to any uk cathedral tuba magnas....sorry mr broome or mr schopp

[mrstevecbournias]

donald harriosn included a hi pressure diapason chorus in the solo prepared for all the way thru fourniture all on 10'' wind; the 32 bombarde is one of the best ever to come out of skinner's;sounds metal not wood