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NEWSLETTER FOR FRIENDS AND DONORS
SEPTEMBER 2008
Keeping you informed
This is the first of a series of newsletters to keep Donors and Friends of the Town Hall Organ informed about the restoration project. General News will be posted on the Website, but Friends and donors get something more!
Friends' support rewarded
The Friends played an important role during the long process leading to the signing of the contract. The work of those early years will be rewarded by an instrument, the like of which New Zealand has not seen before.
Friends still needed
As a Friend or Donor you can still play a vital part. If the prospect of this project moved you to support it, you will surely be keen to encourage others to enjoy this unique moment in the city's musical history. It will never happen again in our life-time. This is, without doubt, the most significant pipe organ event in New Zealand for 100 years.
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BENEFIT CONCERT - October 4, 7.30pm
Between the major funding from the Auckland City Council and the cost of the organ there is a financial gap to be bridged. Donors who are adopting pipes are helping to build this bridge. So too is City Organist John Wells. Please support his benefit concert on Saturday October 4. The concert will be held in St Patrick's Cathedral Wyndham Street. John will be joined by Grant Dickson (Bass), Philip Lloyd (Trumpet), the Viva Voce choir (John Rosser, Director) and Max Cryer (Master of Ceremonies). A great musical feast is promised.
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Banner
Have you seen the banner on the prow of the Town Hall? Anyone walking by can hardly be unaware of the project. NZSO on the left, APO on the right and ORGAN in the middle!!
Website
The website www.aucklandorgan.org.nz is frequently updated with the latest information. However, through these newsletters, you, as a Friend or donor, will receive detail addtional to that published on the website.
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A few Auckland facts and figures
The new organ's supporting framework if laid end to end would extend a kilometre. The life-size drawings for the windchests would stretch 70 metres, end to end. The lowest wind pressure will be 3 1/2 inches - the highest 15 inches. There will be 18 windchests. (An average church organ has 4 or 5.) 23 reservoirs will store wind at the required pressures.
4 huge electically driven blowers located in the basement will supply the wind. The organ will rise 3 stories behind the facade and occupy almost the entire space in the organ loft. The organ will be a third larger than any other pipe organ in New Zealand.
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Installation
The organ's mechanism and largest pipes will arrive in December.
An installation team of 12 from Bonn will work in shifts through
January and February.
Finishing
The voicing team will arrive late in 2009 and work in shifts over several
weeks to install the smaller pipes and voice all pipes to match the hall.
A schedule will be drawn up to accommodate both organ builders and hall bookings. By all accounts, 2010 will be 'The Year of the Organ'.
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Adopt-a-Pipe
You may have already supported the project by by 'adopting' a pipe - or several. Perhaps you could encourage your friends to do so as well. 'Adoption' certificates make ideal birthday and Christmas gifts - unique, limited number, a piece of history.
See www.aucklandorgan.org.nz for further details.
Pictures: Section through Solo,Bombard,Great (part)& Choir organs & console of new organ * Dr Wells at the 1970 console * The Town Hall Organ Banner * Restoration CAD drawings * a new Pedal Windchest * Klais project leader Stefan Hilgendorf and the biggest 1911 pipe, the 32' Open Wood. |
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