Playing at Rochdale Town Hall

A few years ago a friend of mine told me you could hire the organ at Rochdale town hall for a cheap rate. I enquired and found out it only cost £2.50 an hour and have been a regular organist for a number of years. Today was the first time had been in a few months and i decided to take Nic my girlfriend as she had never been before and as a keen photographer she would love the great hall that the organ exists in.

We turned up around 1730 and we went straight up t the hall. I sat at the organ while Nic wandered around taking numerous photos before she stumbled across a very old baby grand piano. As soon as i heard her say babygrand i was down the steps of the stage and playing n the piano

As you can see the picture to the right shows the organ situated in the main hall.

As some people may know i used to plsy the organ at st Marys in cadishead for funerals and sunday service. It had been a while since i last played.

As you step up to the organ their is galss shutter which yo pull up, then to the right there is a stop and start button which controls the lights aboce the organ and the blower motor at the back. When you press it you hear this overpowering motor start and a slight draft come throguh the stoppers as you start pulling them out to make the organ sing.

Picture to the left is organ up close.

The organ was restored a few years ago by company in rochdale the overhauled the motor and some of the pipes. It took them a number of years to get it finely tuned to which it is now in full working order.