Here I am at Monton Methodist Church playing the very upbeat worship song "Shine Jesus shine" on the 2 manual Norwich electronic organ. The organ has 2 external speaker units installed in the roof at the front of the church and I have added pictures of these at the very end of this video for interest.
At the Allen electronic organ installed at Emmanuel Ecumenical Church in Salford. The church was originally Salford Methodist Community Church but in recent years has joined with the local Anglican church to become Emmanuel. A new church is in the process of construction on a different site and due to open next year. It is proposed that this organ will be reinstalled in the new premises. Im playing "Mango Walk" on this Allen electronic organ which dates back to the late 1970s and make use of the "percussion" effect stop at the very end.
Me playing the 2 manual Allen electronic organ which dates back to about 1978. Im playing the hymn "Jesus is Lord" and hve included a shot of the external speaker unit at the very end of this video.
James Bond on the church pipe organ! Me playing "From Russia with love" on the 2 manual Young & Sons pipe organ at Manchester Road Methodist Church in Swinton, Salford.
Me playing the old childrens tune "Polly put the kettle on" on the 2 manual Young & Sons pipe organ at Haughton Green Methodist Church in Denton, Manchester.
A cinema organ in a church! Me at Beer Congregational Church, Devon playing "Puff the magic dragon". This is actually a Wurlitzer organ originally built for the Picture House cinema in Walsall, West Midlands - the very first Wurlitzer to come to the UK! The organ was installed here in about 1957 and is now being restored to its former glory.
Me at the organ of St John Vianney Catholic Church in Clayhall, London. Im playing the old tune "If I could help somebody" and using the organs electrostatic melotone unit blended with the Tibia for most of the melody and to round it off I use the Triangle! The organ was originally installed at the Ritz Cinema in Nuneaton and has 3 manuals, 6 ranks of pipes and of course the melotone unit. It was designed by organist Harold Ramsay. When this church was built in the late 1960s, rather than spend large sums of money on a new organ the priest at the time was a cinema organ enthusiast and had this organ brought and installed here. The organ is used for the sunday services, weddings, funerals and other church activities and regular concerts are organised by the cinema organ society.
Me at the Burton-on-Trent Wurlitzer theatre organ playing "The first time I saw you" which makes use of the Glockenspiel and Xylophone used together.
The organ was originally installed at the Forum Cinema in Wythenshaw - a suburb of South Manchester - not far from the airport. There are 8 ranks of pipes and as standard on British theatre organ layouts, these are divided into 2 enclosed chambers as follows:
CHAMBER 1: Open Diapason, Flute, Violin, Violin Celeste
CHAMBER 2: Tibia, Tuba, Trumpet, Vox Humana.
And of course there are the usual percussions and novelty sound effects such as Fire Bell, Bird Whistle etc. This instrument does not feature a piano.
Me playing "Summer Nights" from Grease on the 3 manual 17 rank Wurlitzer organ installed at the New Victoria Centre in the village of Howden-le-Wear in County Durham. The organ was originally built in 1930 for the New Victoria cinema in Bradford. It is now lovingly cared for by the North East Theatre Organ Assocation (NETOA). The welcome I received here was perfect! For anyone who sees the keys moving on the grand piano be assured it is not a ghost doing a duet with me - I am playing the piano from the organ!
