Chautauqua "Take Me Out"

In a salute to the Nation's Pastime, famed organist Clark Wilson uses the Massey Organ at Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua NY in a rendition of "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" in 1995.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Chautauqua Institution
• Massey Organ
• Baseball

[gordonmcleod]

@gondolacrescent5

which organ builder in toronto did you work for

i am very interested in the warren/woodstock theatre organs

[gondolacrescent5]

I can't help but add: Warren as early as 1905 employed an English born voicer- 'William Potter". Fortunately, he was in the habit of inscripting his name above the back seam of any metal flue rank he voiced--always the lowest soft-metal pipe of any rank-never on zinc pipes. He also had a stamp bearing his name that he'd hammer into the block of any reed rank he'd voiced. He voiced well into the 1950's and I'd expect his name would be found on many of the metal ranks on the Massey organ.

[gondolacrescent5]

Thanks very much. I imagine an "outdoor" organ imposes all sorts of unusual service requirements.

One thing I know about Warren--they used all sorts of unusual actions that were typically over-built, and expensive/difficult to maintain. The name of the company after 1907 changed repeatedly. There are almost no Warren organs remaining, however their pipes are deployed on numerous Canadian organs that were rebuilt years ago-usually by Casavant. Glad to hear the pipes were re-used.

[megafisc]

Yes, it was a Warren. The organ chamber floor had fallen in causing irreversible damage. Band-aid type maintenance and years of aging materials necessitated replacement of all mechanics. The original tonal design was preserved as well as several modifications over the years.

I have just hired a company do build a new web site for my company that will include a complete section on the Massey Organ.

I will be sure to post a link here when it is ready.

[gondolacrescent5]

I've been working with pipe organs around Toronto for 25 years and have experience with old Warren organs. Was the 1907 organ a Warren? I can see from a recent video of the inside of the organ that there's apparently nothing left of the old mechanism, which does not surprise me as I was faced with the task of rebuilding a 1912 3m Warren. Rebuilt some reservoirs, a few pedal chests, kept the pipes and replaced everything. Is there a web site to obtain historical info of the Massey organ?

[MonteCarlotta]

This fabulous organist is Clark Wilson (he has a website). Clark is a traveling concert artist and tonal finisher. He has many CD recordings available too.

Yeah Clark! -BP-

[megafisc]

I'm wondering who this is playing. I reconstructed the Massey Organ in 1992-93. This video was taken some time between 1993 and 2005, I believe because we did an upgrade to the control system that eliminated some buttons I see in the console in 2004 or 2005, I would have to check my records to be certain. I can never hear enough of this magnificient instrument! Thanks for posting this video.

[jasonsnkr]

Aaaaaaah! What year was this????

[tempetiger]

That sounded great! Do you play organ in a ballpark?