This volume brings together a series of essays delivered at the international colloquium "Historic Organs Reconsidered: Restoration and Conservation for a New Century," held in 1999 at Historic St. Luke's Church in Smithfield, Virginia. With St. Luke's exceptionally rare 1630 English chamber organ as a backdrop, invited authorities from seven countries offered diverse views on musical, ethical, and historical issues driving organ restoration today. Part 1 of the book places the often-vexing issues of organ restoration in the broader context of musical instrument restoration and historic preservation and considers the implications of emerging "forensic" examination methods for restoration ethics. Part 2 visits two conservation laboratories, providing an inside glimpse of new approaches to preservation-minded restoration. Part 3 focuses specifically on Historic St. Luke's organ and its musical history, with attention to the organ's possible builder, its first owners, and early repertory. Part 4 offers perspectives on restoration through case studies of other historic organs in Europe and America.

Immigration, wars, industrial growth, the availability of electricity, the popularity of orchestral music, and the invention of the phonograph and of the player piano all had a part in determining the course of American organ history.

Intended as a practical guide to organ conservation issues, this work covers such topics as the need for regulation, the availability of grants, the benefits of good advice, the results of neglect and bad practice, the rewards of care and good housekeeping, and the principles of good restoration practice. Dominic Gwynn draws on his knowledge, experience and expertise and dedicates over half of the book to restoration techniques and the materials from which organs are made.

A collection of papers from a conference on organs, held in Liverpool in 1999. Areas covered include conservation related to musical performance and surviving historic instruments, concert organs and their repertoire, advisers, training, archaeology, and conservation plans.

Excerpt from Organs and Organ Building in New EnglandThe history of the Brattle organ has been comparatively uneventful, and the instrument is enjoying a peaceful old age. Such has not been the case with most of our historical organs, some of which have been gradually dismembered and some have disap peared altogether. The common fate of old organs is to be use-d as make shifts in new churches until a per manent instrument can be secured. Finally the old metal pipes are melted down and made Over and the wooden portions are used for kindling wood.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.