Me playing the organ at Freemantle United Reformed Church in Shirley, Southampton.
The present church was opened in 1957 to replace the original church which had been destroyed during the blitz in world war two. The organ is built by the John Compton Organ Company Ltd and is a typical example of the instruments that Comptons were building for small churches in the post-war period. As usual for Compton, the organ is built on the extension principal using 4 ranks of pipes (Diapason, Flute, Salicional and Trumpet) all housed in a fully enclosed chamber which at Freemantle speaks through an ornamental grille at the front of the church. The specification reads:
PEDAL Sub Bass 16' Flute 8' Trombone 16' Trumpet 8' Great to Pedal Swell to Pedal
GREAT Bourdon 16' Open Diapason 8' Hohl Flute 8' Salicional 8' Octave 4' Flute 4' Twelfth 2.2/3' Fifteenth 2' Super Octave 2' Mixture III Swell to Great
ACCESSORIES 4 double touch thumb pistons to Great and Pedal 4 double touch thumb pistons to Swell and Pedal 4 toe pistons to Pedal 1 canceller thumb piston - Great to Pedal 1 canceller thumb piston - Swell to Pedal 1 balanced expression pedal - organ 1 balanced expression pedal - crescendo Voltmeter Double touch canceller to each department 3 ventil switches
For this first video im playing the hymn 'Jesus calls us here' out of the new Methodist hymn book ;Singing the Faith' which demonstrates the main sounds on this instrument.
Many thanks to organist Jim Crisp for allowing me access to this fine Compton organ.