THE MAGIC OF RESIDENTIAL PIPE ORGANS

SYMPHONIC ORGANS WERE ONCE A SIGN OF WEALTH AND TASTE.

By David Berman

To paraphrase Mr. Dickens, the year 2020 was for me the worst of times and the best of times. I broke ten ribs carrying wallpaper downstairs … and I found an old acquaintance that fulfilled a dream of mine. During the first quarter of the 20th century, wealthy homeowners might have self-playing symphonic organs in their homes. The smallest were just a few ranks of pipes while the largest had in excess of a hundred ranks. In so many ways, the instruments brought homes to life. Like living, breathing entities, the lungs of the house, which itself became the sounding board, the organ pipes sang out the popular songs of the day as well as the thunderous majesty of great symphonies and operas. I reconnected with my Æolian–Skinner Opus 947 almost…

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Old House Journal (Digital) - 1 Issue, May/June 2024

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