Volume 1 of this set includes an outline of organ history, external design and decoration, internal arrangement and mechanical systems, acoustics, more. Complete with illustrations, tables, and specifications. Set includes 385 figures and 15 plates.

This 1996 book describes the history of organs built in England from AD 900 to the present day.

Established for the building of keyboard instruments, by the mid-1790s the workshop of brothers Robert and William Gray had become one of the leading organ-makers in London, with instruments in St Paul's, Covent Garden and St Martin-in-the-Fields. Under William's son John Gray, the firm built some of the largest English organs of the 1820s and 1830s, as well as exporting major instruments to Boston and Charleston in the United States. In the early 1840s, with the marriage of John Gray's daughter to Frederick Davison - a member of the circle of Bach-enthusiasts around the composer Samuel Wesley - the firm became 'Gray & Davison'. Davison was a progressive figure who reformed workshop practices, commissioned a purpose-built organ factory in Euston Road and opened a branch workshop in Liverpool to exploit the booming market for church organs in Lancashire and the north-west. Under Davison's management, the firm was responsible for significant mechanical and musical innovations, especially in the design of concert organs. Instruments such as those built in the 1850s for Glasgow City Hall, the Crystal Palace and Leeds Town Hall were heavily influenced by contemporary French practice; they were designed to perform a repertoire dominated by orchestral transcriptions. Many of the instruments made by the firm have been lost or altered; but the surviving organs in St Anne, Limehouse (1851), Usk Parish Church (1861) and Clumber Chapel (1889) testify to the quality and importance of Gray & Davison's work. This book charts the firm's history from its foundation in 1772 to Frederick Davison's death in 1889. At the same time, it describes changes in musical taste and liturgical use and explores such topics as provincial music festivals, the town hall organ, domestic music-making and popular entertainment, the building of churches and the impact on church music of the Evangelical and Tractarian movements. It will appeal to organ aficionados interested in the evolution of the English organ in the later Georgian and Victorian eras, as well as other music scholars and cultural historians. NICHOLAS THISTLETHWAITE has written extensively on the history of the English organ and other aspects of English church music, and his book, The making of the Victorian organ (1990) is recognised as the standard work on the subject. He has acted as consultant for the restoration and rebuilding of organs, most recently at St Edmundsbury Cathedral and Christ Church

Volume 2 of this set includes an outline of organ history, external design and decoration, internal arrangement and mechanical systems, acoustics, more. Complete with illustrations, tables, and specifications. Set includes 385 figures and 15 plates.

Practical Organ Building by W. E. Dickson: W. E. Dickson's "Practical Organ Building" is a comprehensive guide that offers practical insights and techniques for constructing and maintaining pipe organs. From the principles of organ design to the intricacies of pipe construction and voicing, this book provides a valuable resource for organ builders and enthusiasts alike. Key Aspects of the Book "Practical Organ Building": Organ Design and Construction: Dickson delves into the principles and techniques of designing and constructing pipe organs, covering aspects such as layout, wind supply, and soundboard construction. Pipe Voicing and Regulation: The book offers guidance on the art of voicing and regulating pipes, achieving the desired tonal characteristics and balance in the organ's sound. Maintenance and Tuning: Readers gain insights into the maintenance and tuning of pipe organs, ensuring the longevity and optimal performance of these musical instruments. W. E. Dickson (dates unavailable) was an expert in organ building and a skilled craftsman in the field of pipe organs. His passion for organ construction and expertise in the subject contributed to the preservation and advancement of organ-building knowledge. "Practical Organ Building" remains a valuable reference for organ builders and enthusiasts, reflecting Dickson's commitment to the art of organ craftsmanship.