From our organist
What is happening to the historic organ in St Mark’s? Major maintenance has commenced, which requires the removal and careful cleaning of many pipes (some on site), plus installing new electrical controls in the console and organ chamber (like re-wiring a small house). Both are rather labour intensive tasks.
Behind the front pipes we see in the church is a large space, or chamber, with about 1,650 more. Most of the sound comes from those ‘hidden ones’. As dust gets into the area, the pipes become dirty, and their sound deteriorates. (See photos below of about 1/4 of the pipes.)
The console is the part with keyboards and pedals which you see being played. It has been removed so that a new set of electronics (computers) can be placed inside. They will control the valves that blow air into the pipes to produce sound. The old controls are obsolete, and spares are not available 34 years later.
The last major organ maintenance, in 1989-90, was limited by the available funds; some compromises were made. Some of those changes will be reversed, and a small amount of new pipework added. Sound quality will be improved, rather than volume. This work is only possible because of a bequest made for this purpose.
