• Welcome to the Pipe Organ Forum! This is a part of the open community Magle International Music Forums focused on pipe organs (also known as "church organs"), organists, organ music and related topics.

    This forum is intended to be a friendly place where technically advanced organists and beginners (or even non-organists) can feel comfortable having discussions and asking questions. We learn by reading and asking questions, and it is hoped that the beginners (or non-organists) will feel free to ask even the simplest questions, and that the more advanced organists will patiently answer these questions. On the other hand, we encourage complex, technical discussions of technique, music, organ-building, etc. The opinions and observations of a diverse group of people from around the world should prove to be interesting and stimulating to all of us.

    As pipe organ discussions can sometimes become lively, it should be pointed out that this is an open forum. Statements made here are the opinion of the poster, and not necessarily that of the forum itself, its administrator, or its moderators.

    In order to post a new topic - or reply to existing ones - you may join and become a member by clicking on Register New User. It's completely free and only requires a working email address (in order to confirm your registration - it will never be given away!). We strive to make this a friendly and informative forum for anyone interested in pipe organs and organ music.

    (Note: If you wish to link to and promote your own website please read this thread first.)

    Many kind regards
    smile.gif

    Frederik Magle
    Administrator

    Krummhorn
    Co-Administrator

some bad news...

smilingvox

New member
On the night of July 8th, a large portion of the Steere & Son, at New Baptist Temple (Brooklyn, NY), was lost in a fire. It was built in 1917 and one the largest unaltered Steeres, if not the largest.

By the looks of the footage I watched, the fire was in the Epistle side (Schermerhorn Av. side), where the Swell (?) was. I'm guessing that the Great, Choir, and Pedal, on the other side, are okay. The Echo is in the far corner from where the fire started.

I don't like to go by what the media say. I, myself, would talk to someone at the church to get the real stuff.
 
teddy

teddy

Duckmeister
Always sad when something like this happens. Hope it was not arson. There is nothing worse than mindless destruction.

teddy
 

smilingvox

New member
No, it's not arson. It was something I suspected... electrical. Started in the Swell Organ chamber, but not in the division itself. A lot of older buildings in NYC have wiring that's out of code. Same thing happened at St. John the Divine's gift shop, back in 2001.

I spoke to Keith Bigger, curator. He said that the only damage to the rest of the organ was smoke damage. The console sits in the middle of the choir loft, but was untouched by flame.

An organ company in NJ is being considered for rebuilding. I think Keith said that he has records on the pipe scales, so plans call for replicating the original Swell. Plus, there's a Steere in Jersey with a similar Swell for reference, as well. The church was well insured, so they're looking at rebuilding soon.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top