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Newsletter for Friends and Donors
December 2008
CONTAINERS ARRIVE
On Friday December 12th the first three containers of organ parts arrived from Germany aboard the Cap Bianco. They were transferred to a secure storage area near the Town Hall ready for unloading in the first week of January. Another container arrives in mid January and the remainder in August.
Meanwhile at the Town Hall preparations are underway for the installation of the organ. The floorboards of the organ loft were lifted in early December so steel girders could be placed under the floor joists ensuring the thirty five tonne organ has a firm foundation.
The floor boards are now being sealed to minimise dust, an important consideration with pipe organs.
From December 17th to 24th a tight schedule will see: the Allen electronic organ removed, the auditorioum sound reflectors and lighting grid shifted, cranes installed, scaffolding erected in the loft, , new electical wiring and fire protection measures, and a once-in-one-hundred year painting job of the walls and ceiling.
TEAM FROM BONN
Nine organ builders will arrive in Auckland from Orgelbau Klais at the beginning of 2009 to install the organ. They'll be joined by a member of the South Island Organ Company and a team from The Edge. Philipp Klais reports that it was a difficult job selecting the Bonn team because 'everyone wanted to come to New Zealand'! As for The Edge, those involved in the dismantling last January were first to put their hands up for the installation.
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The photo shows a group of organ builders having lunch at Orgelbau Klais - pizza in the chill autumn air. Some of them will miss most of northern winter by coming to Auckland, although they will see little sunshine during the 24/7 installation programme. Those from the group coming to Auckland are: Stephen Kovak(extreme left), Johannes Meinerzhagen (check shirt), Horst Hoffmann (right rear), and Moritz Fassbender(far right).
MAORI STOPS
Over the centuries the instruments of the ancients have inspired organ builders - Sackbut, shawm, zink, flageolet, shakuhachi - in fact almost every kind of trumpet and flute has found a home in the organ. When city organist, John Wells promoted the idea of Maori sounds for this instrument in Aotearoa New Zealand, Orgelbau Klais took up the idea with great enthusiasm. Through much experimenting, and advice from Richard Nunns, the company produced an organ version of the Koauau (flute) and Pukaea (trumpet). The Koauau pipes are made of scientific glass fitted to oak bases; The largest Pukaea pipes are made of wood with the rest in organ metal. These ranks of pipes will be located in the Solo Organ at the instrument's highest level.
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In the voicing room, company head, Philipp Klais, explains to John Wells how they have arrived at the sound of the Koauau.
The Maori stops are unique in the organ world, in more ways than one. Ngati Whatua has enthusiastically accepted an invitation to participate in this aspect of the project and has been offered the wooden resonators of the Pukaea to carve and paint in a
traditional manner. Once installed they will be seen from the public walkway inside the organ.
PUBLIC WALKWAY
This feature may also be unique. While organs have access for maintenance, public access is rare. The Town Hall organ is designed for guided tours with passageways at three levels connected via an elegant solid oak staircase, seen here under construction in Bonn.
ADOPT A PIPE
Arrangements are being made for displaying the leather-bound
donors' register in the Town Hall foyer. If your name is not in it,
linked to one or more of the organs 5000-odd pipes, go to
www.aucklandorgan.org.nz to see how you, your family and your friends can be part of this historic project. It's a once-in-a-century opportunity! |
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