> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mattcinnj
> ...
>
> How about some respect for folks like the builders of
> the Trinity Organ ?
>
> Matt
>
> PS I forgot to mention voicing the Swell Shutter slamming,
> blower stuff etc.


I recently acquired a high-quality stereo headphone, and set about
re-listening to some of my CDs.  One of the first was Roger Fisher at St.
Bees Priory (DRL, CSCD 121D).  I had not been aware previously of the
mechanical sounds recorded along with the music, but they were glaringly
noticeable when listening through headphones.  The organ is an 1899 Father
Willis, apparently still mechanical action, although an electric blower was
installed in 1931.  The non-musical sounds I heard were mostly key-action,
although a few might have been attributable to combination action and
levers.  I can tolerate these peripheral sounds while present at a live
concert when they are unavoidable (along with audience coughs and program
shuffling), but when they do not add to the musical experience, to add them
artifically is ridiculous.  I am enough of a technophile that I appreciate
the sounds of machines in action, when the sounds don't detract from the
final product of the machine.  I wasn't aware of how noisy a piano's action
was until I bought a digital piano and compared the artificial weighting of
the keys with a real piano.  The knocking/ tapping key noise with no
amelioarating tones to mask them partially negates the advantage of
practicing with headphones.  Noisy tremulants (Schlicker?), even the sounds
of older combination actions being set during intermission, don't contribute
to enjoyment of the pipe organ for those who are not privy to its inner
workings.

Mac Hayes

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