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Counting down!

13/10/2018

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The final countdown to the grand re-opening of the Christchurch Town Hall and its iconic, enlarged Rieger pipe organ is now on! Martin Setchell reports that all is going well with the final stages of the rebuild, and subject to the usual compliance requirements (certificate of public use for the building etc) the complex will re-open in late February-early March next year, 2019.

The original 1997 instrument was enlarged by Rieger in early 2011 thanks to a generous bequest from the estate of the late Frank Partridge.  A new fifth division of the organ called Oberwerk, playable from the third manual was added to the existing four (Bombarde, Schwellwerk, Hauptwerk and Pedal). It  houses mainly quieter ‘foundation’ stops, providing more options (for example when accompanying soloists, choirs or small ensembles), but also fills some gaps by providing two new solo reed stops (vox humana and clarinet). These are all enclosed, controlled by a separate Oberwerk pedal. A softer 16 foot Bourdon stop, playable both from the Oberwerk and the pedals, provides an alternative, quieter bass. Rieger's  updated state-of-the-art electronic sequencing system is an additional bonus. Just two days' work, for final tuning of the organ, remained when the devastating earthquake of 22 February 2011 brought work to an abrupt and unscheduled end, so these new ranks will be heard for the first time.
Gerhard Pohl and Martin Setchell at the Rieger organ in Christchurch
Gerhard Pohl (right) with Martin Setchell at the Rieger, 3 days before the February 22nd, 2011 earthquake which devastated Christchurch, and silenced the organ for eight years.
All the structural and pipework repairs will be completed before Christmas by a team of four Rieger staff. We are especially pleased that the final tuning and voicing will be carried out by Rieger's senior voicer, Gerhard Pohl in January 2019. Gerhard will thus be able to complete the work he started in February 2011. His team will be on hand while Martin records his new long-awaited CD. A highlight of this will be a brilliant new work, appropriately entitled 'Celebration', specially commissioned from the popular Norwegian composer Mons Leidvin Takle. 

Martin will give the re-opening inaugural organ concert, currently scheduled for Wednesday 27 February. It will be supported by the Friends of the Christchurch Town Hall Organ Trust, Vbase and the City Council and is planned as a free event to celebrate the organ's re-opening. Further solo concerts in the Town Hall International Organ Series are scheduled for Sunday 9 June (Maurice Clerc, France) and Sunday 18 August (Ben Sheen, USA).
 
It has been a long wait, but in the end, surely worthwhile. To keep up to date with details of the opening events and further concerts, and the new CD, please call back here.
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The concrete is being poured

15/11/2015

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The first substantial signs of restoration are being seen in  (or arther under) the town hall.  Three grout machines that have been specifically imported from Germany are happily regurgitating their concrete under the building as the first major step to strengthening the land which suffered so badly in the earthquakes.  The restoration of the Town Hall, which also includes a significant upgrade and refurbishment of the facility, is due to be completed in 2018. Read more on the Press website here
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Congratulations 

2/11/2015

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Cool blue bananas and congratulations to George Boerstler who was one of the many people who completed the jigsaw and got the correct phrase! :-)
Mr Boerstler will receive his copy of the 2016 calendar shown here very soon. ​Look out for the next competition which will be announced in our newsletter.

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Coming to the party

29/10/2015

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Good to read that the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra has decided that they will, after all, come to the party and return to the Town Hall. It is, indeed, an "outburst of common sense".  Read full article in The Press
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Town Hall organ on Pipe Dreams

15/10/2015

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The inimitable Pipedreams radio programme chaired, presented, and no doubt researched by Michael Barone is presenting this week's programme on that ever-so English tradition of Town Halls. As Michael writes: "…the tradition of grand pipe organs in civic halls seems to have been an English invention, one carried on successfully throughout the Empire and still maintained…and emulated…today." 
It is divided into 2 one-hour programmes, and Michael begins the second hour with some tracks from Martin Setchell's Priory CD "Great Australasian Organs VII" recorded on the Christchurch Rieger. The new Klais in Auckland and Dunedin's Norma also appear. 
For details and how to listen to Pipedreams, go here: 
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Update on repairs - and a competition

11/10/2015

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Organs of the world calendarThe prize for this month's competition.
The good news is that work on the town hall repairs is progressing well, and according to project manager, Patrick Cantillon, workers will install their first jet grout column soon. Whoopppeeee! Anyone know what a jet grout column is? I'll ask Patrick next time I'm talking to him. 
For more info and pictures look at the latest newsletter here. 
And while you're at it, check out the competition for October, where you can go in the draw to win a lovely organs of the world calendar for 2016. 

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The battle's over, victory won. . .

12/6/2015

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PictureThe get-well card that is with the organ inside it's sleeping bag in the hall.
And the Town Hall WILL be repaired. Great jubilation all round. It was a 13-1 decision by the Christchurch city council this afternoon, and is the culmination of 4 years and nine months reports, investigations, testing, debate, (3 council debates in fact) and much anxiety for those who have loved this space for so many reasons. Compelling emotional reasons aside, the crux of the success of the decision is that it makes perfect financial sense to repair the entire structure. 
Check out some of the initial Press report of the decision here

We'll be keeping a good watch on progress of repairs, with happy hearts and huge impatience. 
Now to get a good night's sleep.

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Must-watch video while waiting

12/6/2015

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I'm trying to calm my nerves while waiting for the council decision today. Meanwhile, I keep watching this video made by Gerard Smyth on the Town Hall. The organ features towards the end, wrapped up in the protective casing. It's sad, funny, reassuring, informative, and well done. Thank you Gerard.
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The last battle

11/6/2015

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In a whirl of Tweetings, Facebook postings, emails, phone calls and any other means of communication we are embarked on one last fight: the Christchurch City Council meets this Thursday for once and for all to consider the Deloitte report on the viability of the rebuild/restoration of the Christchurch Town Hall. Martin will be making a submission along with many others to the council on Wednesday (tomorrow) and the public debate and private council meeting will happen on Thursday.  If you can, and want to, contact the city councillors with your views; if tweeting, use the hashtag #ilovechchtownhall. It's vital that we show our appreciation of this hall and back the findings of the Deloitte firm in their report. (Unfortunately the Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery and the Earthquake Commission, the Hon. Gerry Brownlee, didn't think it necessary to read this report before blabbing to the media about how the rebuild should not go ahead; and The Press, even more stupidly, didn't think it was odd to print such comments given they were based on ignorance.  
It would also pay to keep in mind the very heartening choice of our Christchurch Town Hall as one of the top 10 halls in the world ; read this article here.
Anyway, we are doing all we can. What follows is the list of councillors you should contact before Thursday : 


Mayor Lianne Dalziel
www.facebook.com/LianneDalzielMayor
@LianneDalziel
mayor@ccc.govt.nz

Deputy Mayor Vicki Buck
Email: vicki.buck@ccc.govt.nz

Councillor Raf Manji:
https://www.facebook.com/RafManji2013
@rafmanji
raf.manji@ccc.govt.nz

Councillor Ali Jones:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ali-Jones-Shirley-Papanui-Ward-Councillor-for-CCC/439629189489578
@AliJonesCCC
ali.jones@ccc.govt.nz

Councillor Glenn Livingstone:
@glenn20thirteen
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Glenn-Livingstone-City-Councillor-BurwoodPegasus/128772333816270
glenn.livingstone@ccc.govt.nz

Councillor Yani Johanson
@yanij
https://www.facebook.com/CrYaniJohanson

Councillor Jamie Gough:
@jtgough
https://www.facebook.com/jamiegoughpage
jamie.gough@ccc.govt.nz

Councillor David East:
Email: david.east@ccc.govt.nz

Councillor Andrew Turner:
Email: andrew.turner@ccc.govt.nz

Councillor Phil Clearwater:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Phil-Clearwater/634152839928996
Email: phil.clearwater@ccc.govt.nz

Councillor Paul Lonsdale:
@Paul_Lonsdale
https://www.facebook.com/VotePaulLonsdale
paul.lonsdale@ccc.govt.nz

Councillor Jimmy Chen:
Email: jimmy.chen@ccc.govt.nz

Councillor Pauline Cotter:
Email: pauline.cotter@ccc.govt.nz

Christchurch City Council official twitter and FB account:
@ChristchurchCC
https://www.facebook.com/ChristchurchCityCouncil
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Even The Press agrees.

10/6/2015

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Optimism all on for Thursday

Ahead of the decision this Thursday, The Press published this reaction to the report for the Christchurch City Council: Work could start soon on restoring the Christchurch Town Hall.
The report was comprehensive and very positive. You can read it in its entirety if you follow this link and scroll down to the June 11 date. The report is contained in the appendix to the agenda for the Christchurch City Council meeting on Thursday. 

Better still, if you live in Christchurch, go to the public debate in the morning, before the council shuffle off to chat things over in private... 

Cross all digits, people.
PS: we wouldn't want to have to start again really, would we??!?
Picture
Town Hall being built in 1972
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