Chim Chim Cher-ee - Chris Lawton at the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool
- 11 years ago
Me playing the famous organ installed at the world famous Tower Ballroom in Blackpool.
The organ was built and installed in 1935 by the famous Wurlitzer company where it replaced a smaller instrument. When Reginald Dixon became organist in 1930, he felt that the original organ lacked power and so designed the instrument we have today.
The organ is almost original in specification with a few exceptions. In 1948, the Tuba Mirabilis rank was added and in 1951 the Vox Humana rank was replaced by the present Solo String. In 1956, the console was badly damaged during a fire so was rebuilt using parts from another Wurlitzer instrument originally from the Gaumont in Holloway, London. In the 1990s the original Bechstein grand piano attachment was replaced with an electronic midi module although the original piano is still in situ.
The organ is contained in 3 chambers above the proscenium to the following layout:
MAIN
Diaphonic Diapason
Violin
Violin Celeste
Tibia Clausa 1
Concert Flute
Harmonic Tuba
Tuba Mirabilis
Solo String
SOLO
Tibia Clausa 2
English Horn
Kinura
Krumet
Orchestral Oboe
Saxophone
Glockenspiel
Cathedral Chimes
Sleigh Bells
Bass Drum, Snare Drum, Tambourine, Castanets, Chinese Block, Tom Tom, Triangle, Tap Cymbal, Bird Whistle, Fire Bell, Surf, Horses Hooves, Auto Horn, Train Whistle
UNENCLOSED
Xylophone
Chrysoglott/Vibraphone
Crash Cymbal
Piano (electronic midi unit)
The video starts with some views of this famous seaside resort which im sure will be instantly recognisable. Rather than 'rise out the stage' to 'Beside the seaside', I decide to do something complete different and so played a few bars from the famous 'Toccata and Fugue in D minor' by Bach. Then I play 'Chim Chim Cher-ee' from 'Mary Poppins' making use of the piano and glockenspiel combined with the 'Quint' and 'Tierce' couplers which give the organ its distinctive 'Blackpool sound' which organ enthusiasts seem to either love or hate. I am certainly the former and not the latter!
Many thanks to my fiancee Michelle for arranging this visit for my 34th birthday and of course to the Tower company and organist John Bowdler for making us so welcome.
The organ was built and installed in 1935 by the famous Wurlitzer company where it replaced a smaller instrument. When Reginald Dixon became organist in 1930, he felt that the original organ lacked power and so designed the instrument we have today.
The organ is almost original in specification with a few exceptions. In 1948, the Tuba Mirabilis rank was added and in 1951 the Vox Humana rank was replaced by the present Solo String. In 1956, the console was badly damaged during a fire so was rebuilt using parts from another Wurlitzer instrument originally from the Gaumont in Holloway, London. In the 1990s the original Bechstein grand piano attachment was replaced with an electronic midi module although the original piano is still in situ.
The organ is contained in 3 chambers above the proscenium to the following layout:
MAIN
Diaphonic Diapason
Violin
Violin Celeste
Tibia Clausa 1
Concert Flute
Harmonic Tuba
Tuba Mirabilis
Solo String
SOLO
Tibia Clausa 2
English Horn
Kinura
Krumet
Orchestral Oboe
Saxophone
Glockenspiel
Cathedral Chimes
Sleigh Bells
Bass Drum, Snare Drum, Tambourine, Castanets, Chinese Block, Tom Tom, Triangle, Tap Cymbal, Bird Whistle, Fire Bell, Surf, Horses Hooves, Auto Horn, Train Whistle
UNENCLOSED
Xylophone
Chrysoglott/Vibraphone
Crash Cymbal
Piano (electronic midi unit)
The video starts with some views of this famous seaside resort which im sure will be instantly recognisable. Rather than 'rise out the stage' to 'Beside the seaside', I decide to do something complete different and so played a few bars from the famous 'Toccata and Fugue in D minor' by Bach. Then I play 'Chim Chim Cher-ee' from 'Mary Poppins' making use of the piano and glockenspiel combined with the 'Quint' and 'Tierce' couplers which give the organ its distinctive 'Blackpool sound' which organ enthusiasts seem to either love or hate. I am certainly the former and not the latter!
Many thanks to my fiancee Michelle for arranging this visit for my 34th birthday and of course to the Tower company and organist John Bowdler for making us so welcome.