My "first" organ...

[Frederik Magle]

The first organ I have "designed" (stop-list and console design) has been build by Flemming Fald and Skandinavisk Orgelcentrum.

The stop-list (disposition) is as follows:

Manual I, Grand Orgue

Bourdon 16'
Montre 8'
Flûte harmonique 8'
Salicional 8'
Bourdon 8'
Prestant 4'
Flûte octaviante 4'
Doublette 2'
Cornet V
Fourniture IV
Trompette 8'
Clairon 4'

Manual II, Récit Expressif

Flûte traversière 8'
Viole de Gambe 8'
Voix Céleste 8'
Cor de Nuit 8'
Quintaton 8'
Flûte douce 4'
Plein Jeu III
Bombarde 16'
Trompette harmonique 8'
Basson-Hautbois 8'
Voix Humaine 8'
Clairon harmonique 4'

Pédales

Contre-Bourdon 32'
Flûte 16'
Contrebasse 16'
Flûte 8'
Flûte 4'
Contre-Bombarde 32'
Bombarde 16'
Trompette 8'

I have not yet heard the final result but has been told that it sounds very well

This is - in this case - a so called "electro acoustic" organ and that automatically raises a lot of questions. My own stance on the topic is clear: A pipe organ is always to be preferred over an electronic organ in a church or concert hall if financially possible!! However, the organs of Flemming Fald is of high quality within their field and I can recommend them as home organs amongst other things. This instrument was originally planned as a "tour organ" and I will possibly use it as such one day (I do not own one myself yet as it is not inexpensive... 150-200.000 Danish Kr.)

 

[Pamadu]

Re: My \"first\" organ...

Very Interesting.!!!!!!!!! May investigate if they have Australian Distributors. I have heard The Result of this particular method of "Pipeless Organ" here in Australia.But NOT this Maker. Has My Approval.

I am using,at home an "Ahlborn" 3 Manual & a One Manual (H6)..But they are "Digital".....If Not Too expensive in Aussie $$$$$$$ May Look into another One from This Maker.(Will need another Room). Like Your "Stop Specification". I would want a 16' Bourdon,though, on the 2nd Manual.But it Has everything You Need. A Great Practice Instrument,(Will contact the makers & see if they have a "Demo" CD to Hear it etc.) and Certainly,Have No Objections if a Church/School/Hall/Home etc. Bought one in Preference to a Pipe Organ,if it was a Question of "Finance". BUT This Question of "Pipe Organs" versus "Electronic/Digital" etc. is a Problem. A Pipe Organ,Will Always Win with Me....But They do Cost Money,and require Space & the "Correct" accoustics etc. Many Things can be Achieved on a Smaller Pipe Organ in a Church etc. than to go "Overboard" on a Large Instrument,that will put them in Debt for a lifetime......BUT.!!!!!!!!!!!!

pamadu/Paul.

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Re: My \"first\" organ...

I have made contact with this Firm. They are sending me CD's and other information.However,now that I am coming over to That way in October,will most probably go visit them
and will keep You posted.

pamadu/Paul.

 

[Pamadu]

Re: My \"first\" organ...

The above Post is what happens with this "Logging in/Out Problem"..You come up as "Anonymous" hehehehehehe

at least it is there. pamadu/Paul.

 

[Pamadu]

Re: My \"first\" organ...

I have had several "private" emails on this topic.Let me make it Quite Clear.....My views/stance on this topic are the same as Frederik's...It is a debate like "politics & religion"...has no end.However,only too pleased,and I am sure Frederik is as well,to discuss further within this forum
and thread.That's what joining mimf is all about.

No arguments...but good wholesome "musical & other related discussion".That way,we all can learn each other's views

Pamadu/Paul

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Re: My \"first\" organ...

what's 200 kr. in usd?

 

[Nalia]

Re: My \"first\" organ...

150-200.000 D.Kr. = 25-34000 US$

 

[Pamadu]

Re: My \"first\" organ...

Nalia. 25-34000 US $ = approx 33-45000 AUS $ Believe it or Not. This is a good price for this type of instrument,without going into all the technical things.ALSO,
to get the equivalent instrument as a "REAL" Pipe Organ you would have to multiply the above amounts by 10 or lots MORE. I know it sounds lots of money (and is) but the finished product,with it's touch & sound and a lot of other technical things,is WELL worth it. I will be meeting with
Flemming of this company,when in Denmark and He will be showing me these instruments and I will also get to play them.He has emailed me,and mentioned the possibility of an Australian Distributorship.etc.

I understand how this seems a lot to
you and others,but the size (specification) as an "alternative" to a Pipe Organ could never be matched.ALSO
as a "Practice Instrument" (to pack up and move with you on a concert tour) as Frederik originally designed this Model for,is and could be an invaluable assett. ALSO as a "Home Instrument" it fits into one corner of a room,where a "REAL" Pipe Organ takes up so so much room in a Church,Hall etc.
HOWEVER.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I again state: like Frederik. "My stance will always remain
with the "Real" thing. etc." BUT with today's modern technology etc. it is now possible to have a "Town Hall/Cathedral Pipe organ "Sound" in your own home".
One final note on this: I like the idea of thinking that these new electronic/digital/electro-static/accoustic etc instruments
are "Instruments of their Own (in their own field)" & NOT referred to or compared
as "to imitate the REAL thing". Nothing can do that. BUT these modern technological advances are "so convincing" that as stated above by Myself & Frederik,they can provide
when finances and other matters make the "Real Thing" an impossibility.

AMEN.

Cheers

Pamadu/Paul.
Nalia.!!!! This debate of "Pipe versus Electronic" has been going for many years...It is like Politics & Religion. hehehe

has no ending.

P.S. If you press the link Skandinavisk Orgelcentrum,or http://www.orgel.dk/ as in Frederik's first post you can download a few mp3's and hear the results.

 

[Nalia]

Re: My \"first\" organ...

Believe it ore not pamadu, I don’t fine it an extreme high price. Not compered to a new piano.
Just think of the fine detailed work and the many hours it takes to make such a wonderful piece of “toy”.
It is not just to put some wood an iron in one end of a machine and wupti out of the other end comes an organ ore piano

Pamadu I hope you forgive me my hopeless English and especially the spelling. Believe me, it’s almost as bad in Danish

Nalia

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Re: My \"first\" organ...

that doesn't sound so bad of a price...I'm sure that shipping it here would add another hundred or so...if they even can with our stupid import laws...we can get all the pot, heroine, cocaine, acid, and cuban cigars we want but if you want something legal you have to cut through 15 miles of red tape...

 

[Pamadu]

Re: My \"first\" organ...

I agree Nalia...and Your English is Good

Better than my Danish...that's why i keep away from "Velkommen" now.hehehehehe

and to Anonymous: where on earth do you live??????
sounds to me that with all that illegal stuff,people would be too "out of it" to play.

however,I think the Red Tape could be cut if YOU wanted to import one...might bring some

to the place. Cheers

Pamadu/Paul.

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Re: My \"first\" organ...

I'm in the beautiful smoggy land they call USA...and yeah not many people play piano and organ these days. All this retarded rap stuff is all people listen to now... oh well!

 

[Frederik Magle]

Re: My \"first\" organ...

[moved the off-topic discussion to Area 51]

 

[Sander]

Re: My \"first\" organ...

If you really don't have much money, try a midi-organ. This uses the computer for soundproduction and is kind-a-like a digital organ, but with a good sample set you can have up to one sample per note, instead of the at most 8 samples per manual for an ordinary digital organ. For a midi organ you need a digital organ with midi-interface, or you can build one from different components, like synthesizers and a pedalboard. Some companies make these especiale for midi-organs. Pedal boards cost about 1000 Euro, a three manuals cost about 1600 euro. If you have an old organ, or organparts, there are also different places on the web where you can find circuitry to attach midi to them. You also need cables and the correct samples, soundcards and a computer. But when you're done you have some (relatively) inexpensive portable 'organs'.

Different samplesets are available. Some from complete organs all around the world and some edited from organ samples up to 250 stops.

For more information check www.midiorgan.com. At this site there are many links for you to build your own midiorgan.

 

[Frederik Magle]

This is an old thread, but I've got important news about this instrument. After I had made the design it was build - about 2 years before I started this thread - and sold to the head organ professor at the Aarhus Music Conservatory, Ulrik Spang-Hansen, who has been using it as his "home organ" for the last 4-5 years. He has been very happy with it but recently decided to get a larger instrument with 3 manuals and twice the number of stops. This meant that "my" organ went up for sale and so I decided the time had come - the time for me to buy this organ! And not long ago that's exactly what I did!

I must say I am very happy with this instrument! it doesn't change my stance on electronic organs in churches (like I said in the first post in this thread), but it's absolutely perfect for me to use in my studio for recordings and rehearsal. Furthermore I plan to have a giant flight-case made so I can take this organ with me and play concerts where there are no pipe organs.

I'm going to take some pictures as soon as I get my camera working but in the meantime I have uploaded a recording of an improvisation I did only 1 hour ago. It's an improvisation, which I have named "Impromptu, August 19th, 2007" (yeah I know very original ). Freely improvised (no preparations whatsoever), recorded in one take and with no additional editing, the recording is "warts 'n' all" - take it or leave it - yet I hope you will enjoy this first presentation of my home organ (more recordings will follow for sure):

Impromptu for organ, August 19th, 2007. (9.1 MB, 192kbps MP3)

Impromptu for organ, August 19th, 2007 is copyright © Frederik Magle and may not be altered or redistributed in any way without express permission. You are allowed to link freely to this page. You are not allowed to link directly to the MP3 file (hotlinking) without clearly stating the copyright and linking to this site as well. The music has been uploaded for free download with the consent of the copyright holders and in accordance with Danish and international copyright law.

 

[Krummhorn]

Congrats :clap: Frederik ...

Loved the Impromptu piece ... great sound (hope your neighbors appreciate your musical talents) and looking forward to hearing more recordings.

What did you use for making the recording?

 

[NEB]

I'll second that. Most enjoyable indeed. :clap:

 

[methodistgirl]

The church organ I play was made by wicks company in Ill. back in the
nineties or some time in the past I don't really. It has two top keyboards
and the ever traditional bass keys on the bottom. I just love this one
because it is just the right size to learn on.

 

[susangio]

Impromptu for Organ

Wonderful piece, Frederik! Thank you yet again. Some of your chord evolutions/transitions remind me of the one piece by Max Reger I learned long ago (cannot remember the name of it, but I dearly loved it). This piece you composed really made me want to play it--if I still had access to an organ and was in practice.

 

[Frederik Magle]

Thanks for your comments!

For this recording I simply used the stereo output from the organ, and then added some reverb with a TC Electronics M2000 effects processor. However, the organ actually sounds better when heard through the build-in speaker system. The quality of the preset default stereo output is very lacking, so I have arranged with the organ builder that it will be replaced with a 5-channel output, improving audio quality and enabling me to mix the channels myself in order to strike the best possible balance.

I promised a picture and here it is. I know the computer monitor on top is not aesthetically pleasing, but this is an instrument for work so it have to be there in order for me to control the recording from the console.