At the name of Jesus and Lullaby of Birdland - Queen Street Methodist Central Hall, Scarborough

#organ #churchorgan #pipeorgan

Me playing the organ at Queen Street Methodist Central Hall in Scarborough.

Methodist Central Halls were not just built for worship but for entertainment during the week with the aim being to keep the flock away from pubs and clubs - anywhere where alcohol and other sinful temptations could be found! So the organs found in these venues were often designed to perform a wide variety of music and the organ here is no exception.

It was built in about 1923 by Fitton and Haley of Leeds to replace an instrument damaged by fire and dedicated as a memorial to those who served in world war one. The specification reads:

PEDAL
Harmonic Bass 32'
Open Diapason 16'
Violone 16'
Bourdon 16'
Octave Bass 8'
Flute Bass 8'
Trombone 16'
Tromba 8'

CHOIR
Concert Flute 8'
Viol d'Orchestre 8'
Wald Flute 4'
Nazard 2.2/3'
Piccolo 2'
Clarionet 8'
Vox Humana 8'
Tuba 8' (unenclosed)
Celesta
Tremulant

GREAT
Double Open Diapason 16'
Open Diapason 1 8'
Open Diapason 2 8'
Claribel Flute 8'
Dulciana 8'
Principal 4'
Harmonic Flute 4'
Fifteenth 2'
Tromba 8'

SWELL
Lieblich Bourdon 16'
Violin Diapason 8'
Lieblich Gedact 8'
Salicional 8'
Vox Angelica 8'
Principal 4'
Quintaton 4'
Flageolet 2'
Mixture III
Cornopean 8'
Hautboy 8'
Tremulant

COUPLERS
Choir to Pedal
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
Choir Sub Octave
Choir Octave
Swell to Choir
Choir to Great
Swell Sub Octave to Great
Swell Octave to Great
Swell to Great
Swell Sub Octave
Swell Octave

ACCESSORIES
5 thumb pistons to choir
5 thumb pistons to great
5 thumb pistons to swell duplicated by toe leavers
5 toe leavers to pedal
3 reversible toe leavers (later addition)
1 balanced expression pedal to choir division
1 balanced expression pedal to swell division

I am playing the hymn "At the name of Jesus" to the tune 'Camberwell' from the Methodist hymnal 'Hymns and Psalms'. Then in total contrast I play the 1952 jazz number "Lullaby of Birdland" to demonstrate the 'Celesta' tuned percussion stop and the lighter side of this versatile instrument.

Many thanks to the church officials for allowing me access to this magnificent instrument.