...what is in the organ loft.

[Daniel Kalal]

This is an updated collection; several more have been added after several more rides (the tenuous Guzzi connection).  I think the last time I used the title “Loud pipes save souls” but, that resulted in a rapid (and mostly unread) drop to the second page.

Most of these (but, not all) are in Europe.  A few are in cathedrals (the last one is Salisbury), but most are just typical churches of the sort that are quite common (you never know until you look inside).  It’s hard to sense the scale, but some of these pipes are immense.  The largest measures some thirty feet—you feel those in your chest as much as hear them.


 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   

   

[oldbike54]

 Beautiful 

 Dusty

[StuCorpe]

Beautiful, thanks for sharing these.

[sib]

I imagine when some of these were built, the slogan was "loud pipes save souls"

[wavedog]

Thanks for posting the photos. The interior, and the organ pipes, of those churches are incredible. One of the things that I enjoy when traveling is visiting interesting churches. Looking at the architectural details can occupy hours of my time. Great photos.

[AMGeneral]

The keyboards are often just as impressive. Often using both feet as well to play.

 I recently found the pics from my govmt sponsored stay Schwabisch Gmund, Germany. Need to get it scanned and posted.

These are great pics!

See ya,
Rod

[Bill N]

Why is it when I see pipes like this, I feel God is near?
Bill

[Two Checks]

The last pic is of the original " surround sound". I had a supervisor a few years ago whose hobby was working for a pipe organ company tuning the "voices".

[geoff in almonte]

There is a church in Ottawa (Parkdale United) with a large pipe organ - the bass tubes are 32 feet in length.

The sound is astonishing!

Thx for the images.

G

[Sasquatch Jim]

 Did you know that most organ pipes are lead?

[azguzzirep]

I see and hear these all the time due to my work. In 2007 I was in Koln and visited the cathedral there and luckily got to hear someone playing that tremendous organ😀

[fossil]

In my hometown Lüneburg the biggest church (and we have some!) has two organs. The old one is a phantastic instrument. In the summer there are regularly concerts that can be listened to for free. Really good players very often take pleasure in giving those concerts. Great!

http://www.st-johanniskirche.de/kirche/orgeln/

[charlie b]

Thanks Daniel.  I am another who loves to look in churches and admire the architecture.  In olden days the church was the most elaborate structure made in the town.  Sometimes even larger than the "castle" of the landowner.

West Point Cadet Chapel

Hard to get a picture of the pipes the way they are arranged in the building.
https://www.army.mil/article/69430/Celebrating_100_years_of_the_Cadet_Chapel_Organ

Here's an article with the keyboard
http://www.theatreorgans.com/walnuthill/feature0107.htm

One of my favorite times of year there was in Dec.  The organist would play Christmas music in the evenings and we could hear it in the barracks area (dorm rooms for you civvies :)  ).  The range of sounds was amazing.  It could be made to sound like a full orchestra, including the cannon sounds in the 1812 Overture.

[chuck peterson]

I kid you not...this at a Heath Mass rally few years ago...bmw and guzzi combined, proceeds go to support the local community

Very elderly lady gets up at the sat evening festivities...about 100 plus grungy biker guys listening...

Something like this..."the Heath community wishes to thank all of you for your donations this year...it's going to restore the Johnson organ....

First snickers...

"It's the biggest Johnson organ ever made!"....

Howls of laughter...poor lady couldn't understand how funny she had become

I believe a few of you were there...Cam?

Thanks for the pics Daniel, really spectacular

[Anders Pedersen]

I don't know much about organ music, but I think most will enjoy this well-known piece "Widor's Toccata" (it goes really well with Daniel's pictures!):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtj300j129k

My mother chose this as the outro at the funeral of her husband (not my father). Ma could have picked worse. 

[LowRyter]

I learned there's more to these huge organs than the pipes that you see.  I was working my way through college, a religious school (don't laugh), doing janitorial work.

I was taken up to the loft above the hall and there were pipes everywhere.  Each placed in a special location. 

And one little gal there was an instructor, should could play amazing things just with her feet. 

[sib]

I learned there's more to these huge organs than the pipes that you see.  I was working my way through college, a religious school (don't laugh), doing janitorial work.

I was taken up to the loft above the hall and there were pipes everywhere.  Each placed in a special location. 

And one little gal there was an instructor, should could play amazing things just with her feet.

'Twas many a virgin deflowered in the organ loft.

[LowRyter]

Sib, I suppose that sounded a little worse than it was.  The organ instructor/solo artist had to be well into her 70s.   But she should kick the heck out of that organ.  Her feet weer jumping up and down.  Of course they allowed no dancing at the time. 

 

[keuka4884]

Beautiful pictures. The pipe organ was a most impressive piece of technology in those churches. In my small town there are fewer and fewer people who play the organ, so the churches are moving to electrical music.

Another great camera subject in Europe would be the medieval clocks in many cities and towns. Churches too. Some fantastic mechanisms.