C O N T E X T 1 0 5 : J U LY 2 0 0 8 25 John Norman Not just organ cases but a case for organs Historic organs are sometimes placed at risk because relatively few architects or conservation professionals have the specialist knowledge to assess their value. Victorian additions to medieval churches? Absolutely not. The organ goes back to classical antiquity in its invention. Research indicates that there were several thousand organs in pre-Reformation English churches. Thanks to the iconoclasts, almost nothing remains, nor did much survive the depredations of Cromwell’s troops. This makes the historic organs that we do have particularly valuable, even though they may be younger than the buildings in which they stand. Historic organs are sometimes placed at risk because relatively few architects or conservation professionals have the specialist knowledge to assess their value. Encouraged by the DCMS, the British Institute of Organ Studies (BIOS) has instituted a graded Historic Organ Certificate scheme. Although the listings are publicly available on the internet, it will be some time before all the important historic instruments are covered. The BIOS is the amenity society for organs, with the objectives of promoting scholarly research into the history of the organ, conserving sources and materials, and working for the preservation of historic organs. Old organs, like old buildings, are often not homogenous, so their historic value may lie in particular features. Sometimes the visible case is older than the contents. Historic value may also subsist in mechanical or musical features. On one recent occasion an organ with historic musical features was destroyed, unrecognised, because it was housed in an undistinguished modern case. There is much more to an organ than just the visible case. The sorts of issues that must be addressed to assess the historic significance of an organ are: Date Any organ or part of an organ which is pre-1800 has major historic value, as have many but not all organs from the 19th century. As in architecture, one has to be progressively more selective with instruments of the 20th century, although values will change with time. Organbuilder What is the significance of his work, musically, mechanically and architecturally? Musical quality Organs by the leading 19th-century organbuilders (of whom the best known are Henry Willis and William Hill) are of particular importance if not seriously altered, especially if their original pitch and tuning method survive. Many instruments by lesser builders may also be important in their particular context. Rarity How many surviving organs by a particular organbuilder exist? Completeness Unaltered examples of a maker’s work are especially important. Innovation Is the instrument an early or a significant St LawrenceWhitchurch, Little Stanmore, Middlesex. Gerard Smith, 1717.The restoration of the case was grant-aided by English Heritage. (Photo: Goetze and Gwynn/Malcolm Crowthers) St John the Baptist, Thaxted, Essex. Henry Lincoln, 1821.The instrument is virtually unaltered. (Photo: John Norman)
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