Trip to Saltaire Organ Museum - Saturday 20 May 2006
Playing with organs
By Michael Gerwat
May 20th hardly dawned bright and clear. Our VISC trip was supposed to include an afternoon walk.
It was poring with rain as we set off to the reed organ museum in Salt ere.
Feeling somewhat bedraggled, we entered the museum, set in a rather splendid Victorian building. For me, as a forma piano tuner, it was like stepping back to a world I had lost over 20 years ago. Up until this time, I had never dared approach musical museums. The total loss of my hearing all those years ago, cut me adrift from the world of music. With now having two cochlear implants the world had come back to me in a limited form.
This adventure, was breaking new ground for me. Music had been my life 20 years ago, now I was about to step back in to a world of instruments.
Phil, the museums owner was one of those people who has his work in his very soul. The place was packed to the doors with every conceivable type of reed organ. French, German and American harmoniums, small portable book-sized instruments that you could hold in your hand. Harmoniums for playing on ships, some designed for the tropics, self playing organs, you name it and it was there.
Phil actually restores these instruments from junk heaps to fully working models. An extremely pains taking operation demanding patients and a lot of hard work. Interestingly enough, he was taught by a totally blind person. Lots of the work depends very much on touch as much as anything.
Phil is a real showman. He had opened up the museum specially for us and by god, did we have a wonderful show. Everyone agreed that, even if they hadn’t known much about these types of instruments before, he bought them to life. On a personal note, I had broken down a barrier and faced instruments again after nearly 20 years gap. I can not thank VISC enough for providing a thoroughly enjoyable day out.
Somehow, we never did get that long afternoon walk. The weather did improve but, after spending longer in the museum and a lovely pub lunch afterwards, time had rolled on. We did however, manage to board the small tramway that meanders its way up Shipley glen. Taking a short walk along to the country centre and letting those who had some sight, look at pictures of our bird life.
Then it was time for home and actually the day didn’t finish there, because most of us went on to the musical quiz up at shier view. But that’s another story.