NZORGAN.COM
  • Home
  • EVENTS
  • Friends
  • Contact
  • History
    • Specification
    • Installation >
      • January-gallery
      • February-gallery
      • March 2 - April 23
    • 1997 Opening events >
      • May 13-14 Rehearsals
      • May 15, 1997 Opening Night
      • May 16, 1997 Concerts for schools
      • May 16-17, 1997
    • Some past concerts 1997-2010 >
      • 1999 2nd International Organ Series
      • 2000 Bach's Back
      • 2001 Canterbury Sesquicentenary Music Festival
      • 2001 Jacques' Back!
      • 2002 International Organ Series
      • 2003 Pictures at an Exhibition
      • 2010 The Last concert
    • Extending the organ >
      • Extension slideshow 1
      • Extension slideshow 2
      • Extension slideshow 3
      • Extension slideshow 4
      • Extension slideshow 5
      • Finishing the job
      • The final touches
    • Post-earthquake >
      • Visit - Sept 8th, 2010
      • First visit - May 2011
      • Second visit, September, 2011
      • Third visit, with Rieger CEO
      • January 2014 visit
      • September 2016
    • 2019 Grand Re-Opening
    • CDs recorded on the Christchurch Town Hall organ
    • Sound extracts
    • Videos
  • Quakes
    • Canterbury earthquakes links
    • Damage to organs in the Canterbury area
    • Rebuilding a city
  • Latest News
    • Opening-events
    • Newsletter
    • Blog
  • Organ jigsaws
  • Pipeline Press
  • New Zealand
  • Privacy policy

Counting down!

13/10/2018

0 Comments

 
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.
0 Comments

The concrete is being poured

15/11/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
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
0 Comments

Coming to the party

29/10/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
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
0 Comments

Town Hall organ on Pipe Dreams

15/10/2015

0 Comments

 
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: 
0 Comments

Update on repairs - and a competition

11/10/2015

0 Comments

 
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. 

0 Comments

Must-watch video while waiting

12/6/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
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.
0 Comments

The last battle

11/6/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
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
0 Comments

Even The Press agrees.

10/6/2015

0 Comments

 

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
0 Comments

Breath-holding time coming up

7/6/2015

0 Comments

 
Yet another final final final final final final final decision from our town council:  

"Town Hall Council decision is scheduled for the 11 June 2015. There will be a public debate, followed by the decision on whether the Christchurch town council wish to proceed or not in a private afternoon meeting." 

I'm getting used to these anxious waits resulting in what appears to be yet another final decision about the fate of the town hall. Seems people are very reluctant to just go ahead. Let's hope this is simply the aftermath of the tender process. 

Watch this space for news about the town hall on June 11, 2015.
Concert in Christchurch Town Hall
Time was: The Sesquicentennial Concerts in the Town Hall in 2001
Picture
The river-side view of the Christchurch Town Hall in February, 2015, showing the quake damage.
0 Comments

World-class concert hall

14/3/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
So here's another world authority to confirm what we have known for years in Christchurch: that we have a top world-class acoustic in the Christchurch Town Hall. In a recent letter to The Press, Dr Ian Lochhead wrote: 


"What does Christchurch have in common with the following cities: Lucerne, Boston, Manchester, Vienna, Berlin, Paris, Lahti (Finland), Tokyo and Sao Paolo? According to an article by Professor Trevor Cox in The Guardian of (March 5) these cities possess 10 of the best concert halls in the world. Cox is Professor of Acoustic Engineering at the University of Salford and was President of the Institute of Acoustics from 2010 to 2012. He is also an acclaimed author and broadcaster on the science of sound. 

Here is confirmation by an international authority writing in one of the world’s leading newspapers of what we, in Christchurch, have always known; that our Town Hall is one of the best concert halls in the world. Seven of the concert halls in Cox’s list are in Europe, eight are in the northern hemisphere but only one is in Australasia. Of the cities listed only Lahti is smaller than Christchurch; all the others are many times its size.
Our Town Hall is an invaluable asset to the city that, if properly promoted, will generate cultural tourism, international recognition and civic pride while also fulfilling pressing local needs. Sadly, Cox is wrong about one thing; he reports that the Town Hall is currently being repaired." 


Thanks Ian - so well put. the article to which he refers can be found in The Guardian newspaper here.
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Archives

    October 2018
    November 2015
    October 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015

    Author

    When I can, I'll add important stuff.

    Categories

    All
    Christchurch Town Hall
    Competitions
    Listening Chances
    Odds & Sods
    Organ Re-opening
    Pipe Organ
    Website Update Progress

    Tweet

    RSS Feed

    Tweets by @JennySetchell
    Art Prints
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.