This is an archive of news articles from March 2004. Current news articles can be found here and an archive index can be found here. Information in this archive may no longer be valid.

• New Schantz dedicated in the Reformed Church, Poughkeepsie
  Sunday 14th March saw the dedication of a three manual Schantz in Poughkeepsie, New York State by Reformed Church organist John Davis Jr. The organ includes nine ranks from the church's previous 1924 twenty-three rank Austin. Its specification, designed by John Davis in conjunction with Schantz, is below.

  Specification: Reformed Church, Poughkeepsie
  Great		Swell
  Violone Open Diapason Violone Bourdon Octave Koppel Flute Twelfth2 2/3' Fifteenth Mixture IV1 1/3' Trumpet Tremulant Tuba Major Chimes	16' 8' 8' (ext 16') 8' 4' 4' 2 2/3' 2' 1 1/3' 8' 8' (Choir) (25 notes)	Lieblich Gedeckt Geigen Diapason Salicional Voix Celeste Chimney Flute Principal Traverse Flute Nasard2 2/3' Octavin Tierce1 3/5' Plein Jeu IV Basson Trumpet Oboe Clairon Vox Humana Tremulant	16' 8' 8' 8' (GG) 8' (ext 16') 4' 4' 2 2/3' 2' 1 3/5' 2' 16' 8' 8' (ext Basson) 4' (ext Trumpet) 8'
  Pedal
  Contra Bourdon Open Diapason Violone Bourdon Lieblich Bourdon Octave Violone Bourdon Lieblich Bourdon Choral Bass Open Flute Contra Trombone Trombone Bassoon Octave Trombone Oboe Clarion Oboe Clarion Tuba Major Tuba Clarion	32' (digital) 16' 16' (Great) 16' 16' (Swell) 8' (ext 16') 8' (Great) 8' (ext 16') 8' (Swell) 4' 4' (ext Bourdon) 32' (digital) 16' 16' (Swell) 8' (ext 16') 8' (Swell) 4' (ext Trombone) 4' (Swell) 8' (Choir) 4' (Choir)
  		Choir
  		Principal Stopped Diapason Major Flute Dulciana Unda Maris Octave Concert Flute Gemshorn Larigot1 1/3' Clarinet Tremulant Tuba Magna Tuba Major Tuba Clarion Harp Zimbelstern	8' 8' 8' 8' 8' (tenor C) 4' 4' 2' 1 1/3' 8' 16' (tenor C, ext 8') 8' 4' (ext 8') (49 notes)
  All usual couplers and accessories

• Abseiling choirboys at Hereford
  No, not off the organ, but the tower. "As far as I know, this is the first time that this has happened although it has been threatened on many occasions," said Lt Col Andrew Eames, Cathedral Administrator and part of the support team. "The boys will be dispatched from the north side of the central tower and abseil down to the north transept roof and down to the Close." Funds are being raised for a hospital in Tanzania as well as the cathedral, and the four choristers will commence their descent on Friday the 19th of March. To sponsor the choirboys, visit www.herefordcathedral.org, or send a cheque to Glyn Morgan, Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust, 5 College Cloisters, Hereford HR1 2NG (tel: 01432 271990).
  
  
• Play the Father Willis at Lincoln Cathedral
  If you've ever fancied playing a cathedral organ, Lincoln are now offering the chance to play their four manual Willis in return for a donation to funds. 50 buys you half an hour of playing time after evensong on Mondays. Some experience is strongly advisable and a cathedral organist will keep you company, but the choice of music is up to you. For more details, contact the Director of Fundraising - contact details and more are on the Lincoln Cathedral website.
  
  

• Specification: United Church of Cloverdale
  Great Open Diapason Melodia Dulciana Octave	8' 8' 8' 4'	Swell Stopped Diapason Salicional Wald Flute Oboe	8' 8' 4' 8' (new)
  Swell to Great		Blower's Signal
  Pedal Bourdon	16'	Great to Pedal Swell to Pedal

  Recent restoration at the United Church of Cloverdale, California
  Cloverdale is located 80 miles north of San Francisco. After the great San Francisco earthquake, Thomas Whalley of Berkeley, CA, built a small two manual instrument for the church's "new" sanctuary in 1906-1907. Very typical in design of many competent small American organs, its restoration was planned by William Visscher (formerly of Visscher Associates, and pictured left with the organ) and completed by Hupalo Repasky.

  In the restoration, the 1920s electric blower was retained, along with the original hand pump. The sides of the organ were visually improved, and the Blower's Signal stopknob has been converted into a power switch. The mechanical action, flat pedalboard and specification remain unchanged, with the exception of a new Oboe replacing an almost inaudible Aeoline. The replaced pipes have been crated and remain with the organ. Major funds for the restoration were made available by a grant from a private foundation in Southern California, with the balance being donated by friends of the church and the Cloverdale Arts Alliance.