January 1997

Remember: these images are mainly video frame grabs, hence the low resolution. But they were the best we could do, given the technology of the day and  time restraints of daily uploads (often long after midnight). 

Home

Next page

Pipes carefully crated and ready to unload

Work on the organ began in the small Austrian town of Schwarzach about three years ago, but fund-raising for the approximate $1.2million has been going for several decades.

Many of the 3372 pipes will remain in their packing crates until the organ case is erected, to protect them from dust.

Four craftsmen from the Austrian firm of Rieger Orgelbau have been installing the organ since the beginning of 1997 and already the massive frame is in place at the front of the auditorium.

The front of the organ case starts to take shape as the Principal pipes are put in place.

The player's feet also operate these black pedals. The crescendo pedal makes the sound gradually louder.

Quick changes in sound can be made using these toe pistons when the hands are busy.

Four of the large wooden pedal pipes were the first to be placed in position

The player's feet on the pedal keys will eventually operate these tracker rods.

The tracker rods

A view behind the console shows the keys are connected to the pipes by mechanical action.

Thomas and Georg, two of the four organ builders from the Rieger firm, at work inside the organ case

Georg polishes one of the metal pipes ready for hoisting into the front of the case, which is made from Austrian spruce and maple

The small figure gives an idea of the size of the instrument

All handling of the metal pipes is done with extreme care, using gloves

Looking through the principal pipes out to the auditorium

The underside of the concave and radiating pedalboard which is waiting to be positioned

Non-sounding pipes visible (on the left) are used to complete the facade display

Wooden resonators of pedal pipes at the back of the organ

This red and gold gridwork will serve as decoration for the facade

Looking out to the auditorium

Inside the organ case

The facade (front pipework) is now complete

Framework behind the console

Back of the stop jambs, protected by metal encasings

Rollerboards transfer the motion sideways from the keyboard width to the chest width

Aside view of the right of the organ case

Dominik looks into the case from door beside the console

V iew upwards of the left side of the facade

Bricks on the reservoirs regulate the wind pressure

Georg works on the electrical componentry in the blower room

Wind trunking conveys wind from the bellows to the wind chests

Armin Schwendinger (left) with Martin Setchell

Georg works on the rollerboards behind the console

Thomas Hayden works on the rollerboards in the great case while below him. . .

Scaffolding is now removed from the front

Thomas's legs viewed from the pedal department

Holes in the windchest where pipes will eventually go

Seating will be re-installed in front of the orga

Georg balances on narrow beams while working on the rollerboards

Three manuals (keyboards) are connected by mechanical (tracker) action to the divisions of the organ

Principal pipes - the side the audience doesn't see

Modern technology helps the organist, with sequencer systems and video monitoring

Flexible tubing connects the front pipes to the wind chests

Not Swiss cheese, but the top of one of the wind chests before the pipes are positioned

Dominik installs some of the flexible tubing in the corner of the Great division

While Thomas sits at the console testing the action, he uses two-way radio to...

...Keep in touch with Georg inside the case, who adjusts the tracker action where necessary

Gradually the ranks are added. Here the Great division takes shape

It is becoming a tight squeeze now behind the console

A corner of the organ case

Home

Next page