I would suppose someone loved that mini-organ dearly, once, and it was preserved so cafefully because it was so valued. Now, because of your generous donor, your instrument will be loved by thousands, as it becomes well traveled, and we all get to hear it. Thank-you, Ben! 🎶🥰🎵🎶 Thank you, too Mr. Ray. Your gift to Ben turned out to be a gift to all of us!!! 🎶☮️🎵🎶
Glorious things of thee are spoken; Love divine all loves excelling to the tune of Blaenwern. The portable harmonium is a thrilling new dimension to Ben's channel. George Herbert would love it! Never a week should pass without our being thankful to Ben for sharing his keyboard skills with us, his devoted RUclips family.
That tiny portable reed organ is not just a rare find, but a special acoustic gift. I cant wait to hear it sound out in a church. The donor was a delightful guy, and he himself deserves mention as a preservationist. Thanks, Ben!
❤ if you can, please tell that lovely gentleman that there are people all over the world who appreciate him and his sweet gift. Kindest regards from the Chicagoland area
Hi Ben, I am an organ builder in the vicinity of Seattle, Washington USA. Although our usual work is pipe organs, mainly those for the 19th and early 20th C. especially the mechanical action ones. As is happens, we also do quite a few restorations of reed organs and harmoniums (we also have a rare physharmonica set to be restored when we get the time.). I wish we were closer to you and we could help with your new instrument as well as any you may encounter in your travels. We have been enjoying your videos which we find lend a nice calmness to our evenings that is often quite welcome. I extend whatever help we could lend in terms of advice or encouragement as you might need it. Keep up this great work. It is dear to our hearts. We also go around to visit old churches in both our work and as historians. We always look forward to your videos, THANKS!
"Do you play?" How wonderfully naive, and precious! Congrats on your new acquisition. My mum had one very similar to this when I was little; sadly a fish bowl on top of it was slowly leaking and by the time it was discovered, the organ was ruined.... As always, Ben, your videos are a weekly tonic of calm, and reflection on the glory of God, and the music the Faith has inspired. Thank you for time you take to make and edit them; they are balm for the soul...
As a teenage church chorister back in the 1950s used to cart one of these around the wards of geriatric hospital every week. Later figured out how to tune a reed organ - a waste of time if the reeds had accumulated a century's detritus. Drew the brass reeds out with a dentist's pick and then soaked them in hot Caustic Soda - best done outdoors.
Your new small wooden box appears to hold wonderful potential within it. Now that it has fallen into your appreciative custody I think it would benefit from some light restoration so that its appearance is aligned with its musical charm.
I served a church as pastor that had access to a folding reed organ that was used for field services by the US Army. It provided accompaniment for our outdoor Easter sunrise services for many years.
I'm so happy for you in acquiring this little organ. I'm an experienced reed organ restorer, and I think you have a rather unusual little organ. Here in the Untied States, most portable organs like this one have two sets of reeds...one 8' pitch and one 4' pitch, and are usually a 49 note keyboard. Usually, the 8' is open all the time and a knee control opens the 4'. Sometimes there are little knobs on the right and left key cheek that will open the bass and treble 4' separately, so it could be used as a Solo. The left knee control opens a swell flap to increase the volume. I've never heard of a Piccolo stop on a portable organ....and it sounds like maybe a 2' pitch. Am I right ? The Flute sounds like the usual 4' pitch to me. Again..am I correct? I've restored several of these small organs but I've never run across one like yours. I think you maybe have a very unique little organ and it sounds really great with it's rich sounds. Great job in presenting this video.
We had Love Divine All Loves Excelling as the first hymn of our wedding in May this year. With a full strength choir and a mighty organ, I could not even sing a word, that's how moving it was! Thank you for playing, what a fine instrument that is
You are a fascinating musician. You demonstrated to us that you do not need to use 100% of your dexterity in order to produce inspiring music. You can play using less dexterity but express your soul---and that produces music that is most profound. Most divine. Most heavenly. God bless you, Ben.
As always, warmest greetings from Ireland! 🇮🇪☘️ Yet again a wonderful sharing by your goodself. This gift from your generous donor is now being enjoyed by so many thanks as ever to your generous heart.
LOL! Love that about the hymnal! My NEH is ex Canterbury Cathedral!... After they turfed those wonderful books for newer red ... I think Hymns Ancient and Modern? ... my then teacher offered the rather battered, falling apart green NEH to me, as I was without a decent hymnal at the time. I carefully patched it up and quietly chuckle every time I find a hymn with decades of Canterbury pencil notes hastily scribbled next to staves or verses! It's my treasure now 😊 You are a treasure, Ben! Never give up ... please 🙏🏻
I’m l lm I’m I’m now longing to hear your new organ in one of your old churches as you you played well in your secret place I know it will sound so lovely in one of the old churches how amazing with your find as you give such joy shearing your love ❤️ of old churches you are so amazing I loved the hymn all love all excelling one of my favourit
@@joantennant5579 i'm very much looking forward to future episodes, too. in the spirit of travelling preacher's organ, i'd like to hear a version of 'Jesus would You come by here?'
What a treasure!! Can't believe it was sitting in a corner and they tried to sell it for firewood - what a horrifying thought! Safe with you now and we can look forward to hearing you play it in some of those fabulous old village churches❤
"can't believe it was sitting in a corner" ..................... it was, at some point, stood on its left-hand END (presumably in a small broomcupboard): the right-side woodwork has coffee-cup rings / paint tin marks.............. sacrilege !!
A transportable organ, how exciting! it sounds beautiful, I can't wait to hear it in an ancient church setting. Sedding your organ donor a million and one kisses for his priceless donation 😊🙏
I believe Ben's answer was: "Do I play??" I loved it. So spontaneous. The donor was a delightful guy. Just being able to repair clocks qualifies him as a member of the "Who Needs Electricity?" club.
A special video! That little harmonium was a real find & it still sounds amazing, played by you, of course! Can't wait to watch where you travel to next!
WOW, that mans house looks exactly like mine ! I too am a Clock Collector and restorer, with many clocks all round my home - just like him. I also have not one, but two similar Organs to that one. One is a Mason and Hamlyn, and one is almost identical, but has no visible name on it. Mine have no stops though, but fold up in the same way. I found one in a junk shop in Padstow, and one here in High Barnet in an Antiques 'Emporium' - many years ago. You have inspired me to get them out of my loft and finish restoring them. Thanks Ben for this brilliant video. Take care 🙂
My late organist friend told me that he did his National Service with the Sappers in Germany, acting as organist to the Chaplain, and using a portable 'Field Organ', probably like this one. Other comments mention Army use, and I'm sure many such instruments will have been sold off, maybe even in Chatham. Back in Civvies, my friend served as organist for our local church for a further sixty years, and recalled that he had never had a more appreciative congregation than his fellow soldiers at the height of the Cold War!
Thank you again. One church you might like to play in is at Itchen Stoke near Alresford, Hampshire. It has no organ as far as I know but is a stunning building under the redundant churches organization, your new pump organ from Kent might liven things up ! Wonderful videos and very meaningful.
I suggest putting swivel heavy duty caster wheels on the harmonium "legs". I also suggest a waterproof outdoor cover for it when your rainy season arrives; such as a luggage cover or a patio furniture cover for small tables. And you might also find some lashing straps if you're going to move it again on a cart/dolly.
Unrelated to organs, but I used to collect old clocks, sometimes having them refurbished and refinished. I had several in my bedroom. Today, I don't think I could stand the clicking, but I really enjoyed it back then. I enjoy your posts. Thanks
i can stand the clicking. but if all the clocks are synchronised, and all the strikes and chimes are wound, it's madness at midhight. my clocks have been brought back to life by a retired clock / watch repairer who had his 93rd birthday recently !!
Love divine is sung over here ( Uk) to Blaenwern. You can sing it to Hyfrydol as I think the metre is the same but I haven't heard it. There is another tune called Love Divine written by Stainer. Tastes vary of course but I'm not too keen on it as it has to be sung twice to cover a verse The hymn itself was written by Charles Wesley but the hymn tune itself ie Blaenwern was written by a Welsh hymn writer whose name escapes me at the moment......
Love everything about this episode! Thank you to the generous donor and giving new life to a wonderful organ!❤ Looking forward to your next road trips!
Dear Ben, The little 'interuption' showing you editing the video was in itself very interesting. That might be a short video in itself. Keep up the good work.
Can you imagine how many organs like this one may be in England has you have a great history of keeping and maintaining things for decades and decades; and your buildings for centuries.
Ben, this channel is wonderful. It should be a mainstream TV programme. On a similar basis to Winter Walks on BBC 4, it induces a superb ‘mindfulness’. Thankyou.
That sounds so wonderful. I love these beautiful little reed organs. You can FEEL the music. I had a full sized one for many years, as well as several full sized modernish electric church organs. I always prefer the acoustic instruments. I loved playing any time I could. As I became a complete invalid I passed them on to others who can play and appreciate them. Thank you so much for bringing this beautiful music into my life.
What a fabulous video, Ben. Lovely to see such a rare instrument finding a new lease of life in your capable hands. Thanks for playing two of my most favourite hymns too. Abbots Leigh (albeit to words of Church of God, elect and glorious) and Love Divine were both played at my wedding, and I regularly let them rip on my church pipe organ.
Hello, what a beautiful organ! I recognize the principle from an episode of the BBC's Repair Cafe. I think that was a harmonium. good luck with it! Greetings from Remke from the Netherlands.😊
SO glad you got that folding reed organ. I think they are much more expressive than an ordinary pipe organ. I have three harmoniums and when I switch to the piano I find myself pump pump pump with terrible results.
So glad that you did in fact NOT take one of his kidneys with that. LOL I agree, this is going to be perfect for you to take into some of the dear beautiful old buildings. If you use a trolley, I do strongly recommend four pneumatic tires, as the air can absorb some bumps along the paths without transferring their impact along to the reeds.
Thank you for all your hard work and excellent video production! I don't go to churches for service, but the preservation of those buildings and organs is near and dear to my heart. Love from Germany!
That is such an exciting find. Some of my favourite memories are of my grandmother playing such an instrument at the old family Methodist Chapel of her childhood. And Abbot's Leigh is one of the three best hymn tunes ever. Thank you.
Thank you for a marvellous video. What an extraordinary find the donated portable organ is. St Cecilia looks after her own. Happy days for you Ben and for us.
This organ looks and sounds like a Bilhorn Folding Portable organ invented by an American evangelist Peter Phiilip Bilhorn in 1885 for use in his services. He and his brother established the Bilhorn Brother Organ Company in Chicago which sold the ingenious instruments through large stores in the US such as Sears Roebuck.
Interesting. Our Episcopal Hymnal uses Austria for "Glorious things of thee are spoken" and Hyfrydol (my favorite) for "Love divine, all loves excelling."
Austria is used over here as well but Abbots Leigh is also quite common Austria was written by Haydn for the then Austrian national anthem Changed when Austria became a Republic as the words open with God save Franz the emperor There was a RUclips video on the funeral of Otto von Haps urg at which the federal President was present. The Cardinal Archbishop of Vienna decided it was a good idea to end the Requiem by singing the old imperial anthem........The President looked daggers at the Archbishop 😅😅!!
This is indeed excellent news, Ben. What a beautiful instrument. I often enjoy playing pump-reed organs for their expressiveness, by how soft or hard we pump the bellows, much like an accordion. My favorite and most expressive reed instrument (and certainly the most portable) is a simple pocket harmonica.
i have a box of blues harps. didn't master those either. pre-www i couldn't work it out, but i recently discovered Duster Bennett did NOT play cross harp, on the classic 'bright lights album'. hours, days i wasted !!
Thanks for featuring so many reed organs in your program....as an owner, collector, restorer, performer on these instruments, your program is valuable. As a pipe organist, also I am devited to each of your programs....next i need to support your efforts!!!!
You made that harmonium reed organ sound good. They can be ghastly. Have to say I prefer what you do in St Martin’s . Only give that up to be in Salisbury Cathedral. Be good to have you do a recital there.
How my heart swells at seeing George Herbert's church and hearing his music. Having glimpses throughout the years of George Herbert through music and poetry, your video inspired me to do a google search. I discovered a wealth of information. I'm on the hunt now for copies of his biographies thru the used book sites. Thank you Ben and Ray for this video.
That was quite nice of Ray to gift you this harmonium. Is that the Maton family holiday cottage where you played it for us? Beautiful scenery there. Cheers and hello to Billy, as well. Thanks.
Congratulations for a new reed organist! 👏🏼It's a bit difficult instrument to get a beautiful sound off it, but when one learns to pump with legs for produce the right pressure and that spesific touch with fingers, it's absolutely a jolly good instrument.
Congratulations on one of the best click bate titles ever, Ben. For a moment I seriously believed you had some big backstory you had never shared. You got me good and proper!
i am so delighted that the organ has gone to the right home, and excited at the prospect of future videos. what a joyful afternoon !! you shoulda seen his happy liddle face. priceless
Wow, what an amazingly beautiful instrument you got there! Good of this guy to give it to you, so good of you to pick it up! But, well, it's a very usual way of getting such instruments, I did it myself with a normal cabinet-style reed organ. So shocked to hear they wanted to sell it as "fire wood"... I'm looking forward to more videos of you playing it! (and for me, getting mine back as I'll have a lot more space in my new apartment ;-)). BTW: I see such a Zoom microphone/digital recorder, is that what you use on the road? I got one too, I use it almost exclusively for recording organs in churches, it seems to do the job pretty well, in spite of its small footprint and that it is actually quite cheap.
Here I was imagining a much larger instrument. As a portable I'm delighted it survived to become such a fine addition to your channel. Fits your car easily. Maybe next week, a road trip for you and the harmonium?
Have I missed something, Ben? Are you no longer the organist at St. Martin's? Enjoy my Sunday evenings with Countryfile, Antiques Roadshow and Ben Maton. Highlght of the week!
You could make money playing it for tips in a restaurant where they serve (wait for it) organ meats. Could you compose a piece called "For Love of Steak and Kidney Pie?"
I saw an folding organ like that in Goodwill. It all worked, the bellows was good. It said "US Army" on the back. They wanted $10 for it but I was afraid my wife would hit me on the head so it stood there until they probably chucked it out.
that's shocking but i am not really surprised. when i bought the organ at the local auction-house a dozen years ago they couldn't sell it: £50? nah £40? no no £30? sozz. when the auctioneer said: "it has to be worth a tenner for firewood...." i stuck my hand in the air. it's taken a while but i'm so delighted the story has moved on in such a positive way.
Loving the series. The little Reed organs always remind me of Thomas the tank engine, lightweight but vital. However for presence just can't beat Gordon.
Bellissimo strumento con un bellissimo suono. Anche se di umili origini, l’harmonium è protagonista nella letteratura musicale di importanti compositori come Rossini e Liszt! Ottima soluzione per scongiurare l’uso di elettrofoni così diffusi qui in Italia per mancanza di cultura dei nostri preti moderni, molto attenti ai social piuttosto che al decoro culturale e spirituale
I’m longing to hear from you and playing your new organ in one of your old churches it will sound so great you make your videos so amazing you all ways tell us the history from the old churches you play thank you for playing 🤞
Also thank for playing my favourite hymn all love all love excelling ❤ look ing forward to hear you playing in one of your unused churches which you always love 🙏thank you Ben for making me cheer full on Sundays take care of you back won’t you 📖👵🏻
![Yailin La Mas Viral, @kreizyk.official - Dale 2 (Remix) [Video Oficial]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/JaYHBzgqz94/mqdefault.jpg)
Give us a subscribe if you enjoy! Let’s take this over 30,000 subs! 😮
You're so close...! This brilliant film is going to do it.
And Ben, the roads look wonderful to someone who will never see them otherwise ❣️
You're very close.....which is very good progress I'd say😊
I would recommend one of those lightweight , 4 wheeled , drop sided , pneumatic tyred garden trollies for a gentle mode of Organ transport .
Nearly there👍😊
I would suppose someone loved that mini-organ dearly, once, and it was preserved so cafefully because it was so valued. Now, because of your generous donor, your instrument will be loved by thousands, as it becomes well traveled, and we all get to hear it. Thank-you, Ben! 🎶🥰🎵🎶
Thank you, too Mr. Ray. Your gift to Ben turned out to be a gift to all of us!!! 🎶☮️🎵🎶
Glorious things of thee are spoken; Love divine all loves excelling to the tune of Blaenwern. The portable harmonium is a thrilling new dimension to Ben's channel. George Herbert would love it! Never a week should pass without our being thankful to Ben for sharing his keyboard skills with us, his devoted RUclips family.
Thanks Mr Ray for sharing your organ with Ben and the world.
Ben i understand your joyful excitement! I smiled and laughed during your video. Thanks!
All of Ben’s videos bring me joy! Ben’s joy in this video is infectious!😊
my pleasure T. this organ donation has worked out loads better than i ever imagined.
@@raymondo162I am thrilled for you and you should know how much joy it will give.
Love what you are doing! Glad to see a younger generation keeping history and church music alive.
Thanks John, I’m pleased to hear that. :)
O Ben you are truly blessed to have this gift. We are abundantly blessed that you share this. Such a glorious gift. Thank you.
That tiny portable reed organ is not just a rare find, but a special acoustic gift. I cant wait to hear it sound out in a church. The donor was a delightful guy, and he himself deserves mention as a preservationist. Thanks, Ben!
❤ if you can, please tell that lovely gentleman that there are people all over the world who appreciate him and his sweet gift. Kindest regards from the Chicagoland area
I so agree❤
What a happy story! I am sure the original makers of your little reed organ would be looking down from heaven and smiling when you play it.
Especially when he takes it into an ancient church that hasn’t had an instrument in ages, if ever.
Hi Ben, I am an organ builder in the vicinity of Seattle, Washington USA. Although our usual work is pipe organs, mainly those for the 19th and early 20th C. especially the mechanical action ones. As is happens, we also do quite a few restorations of reed organs and harmoniums (we also have a rare physharmonica set to be restored when we get the time.). I wish we were closer to you and we could help with your new instrument as well as any you may encounter in your travels. We have been enjoying your videos which we find lend a nice calmness to our evenings that is often quite welcome. I extend whatever help we could lend in terms of advice or encouragement as you might need it. Keep up this great work. It is dear to our hearts. We also go around to visit old churches in both our work and as historians. We always look forward to your videos, THANKS!
"Do you play?" How wonderfully naive, and precious! Congrats on your new acquisition. My mum had one very similar to this when I was little; sadly a fish bowl on top of it was slowly leaking and by the time it was discovered, the organ was ruined....
As always, Ben, your videos are a weekly tonic of calm, and reflection on the glory of God, and the music the Faith has inspired. Thank you for time you take to make and edit them; they are balm for the soul...
Ben was very gracious by not being rude. He was very kind.
I'm in awe at your luck! Certainly deserved! A harmonium powered by a cheese and pickle sandwich!
As a teenage church chorister back in the 1950s used to cart one of these around the wards of geriatric hospital every week. Later figured out how to tune a reed organ - a waste of time if the reeds had accumulated a century's detritus. Drew the brass reeds out with a dentist's pick and then soaked them in hot Caustic Soda - best done outdoors.
That little organ has the most beautiful sound. Love it!
I totally agree. “Small Is Beautiful” E. F. Schumacher.
Your new small wooden box appears to hold wonderful potential within it. Now that it has fallen into your appreciative custody I think it would benefit from some light restoration so that its appearance is aligned with its musical charm.
That is probably the nicest sounding reed organ I have ever heard. What a wonderful find that came right to you.
I served a church as pastor that had access to a folding reed organ that was used for field services by the US Army. It provided accompaniment for our outdoor Easter sunrise services for many years.
I'm so happy for you in acquiring this little organ. I'm an experienced reed organ restorer, and I think you have a rather unusual little organ. Here in the Untied States, most portable organs like this one have two sets of reeds...one 8' pitch and one 4' pitch, and are usually a 49 note keyboard. Usually, the 8' is open all the time and a knee control opens the 4'. Sometimes there are little knobs on the right and left key cheek that will open the bass and treble 4' separately, so it could be used as a Solo. The left knee control opens a swell flap to increase the volume. I've never heard of a Piccolo stop on a portable organ....and it sounds like maybe a 2' pitch. Am I right ? The Flute sounds like the usual 4' pitch to me. Again..am I correct? I've restored several of these small organs but I've never run across one like yours. I think you maybe have a very unique little organ and it sounds really great with it's rich sounds. Great job in presenting this video.
What a rare find. A small portable organ that I would love to hear you Ben play it in a Historic Church.
We had Love Divine All Loves Excelling as the first hymn of our wedding in May this year. With a full strength choir and a mighty organ, I could not even sing a word, that's how moving it was! Thank you for playing, what a fine instrument that is
What a wonderful little instrument! I am so glad that it has been saved and that you now have it to make beautiful music on in beautiful places.
Someone should make those again. Especially like the one you have the collapses like it does. It's a treasure!
Congratulations on your organ acquisition! I always look forward to your videos..
You are a fascinating musician. You demonstrated to us that you do not need to use 100% of your dexterity in order to produce inspiring music. You can play using less dexterity but express your soul---and that produces music that is most profound. Most divine. Most heavenly. God bless you, Ben.
What a gift! And apparently in such amazing playing condition. You couldn't have asked for better.
_"Do you play...?_ what a precious question ☺️🤗
i was very impressed with Ben's ivory-tickling skills..... looking forward to more
Seriously!!!!!!
Not at all, Ray didn't want to embarrass Ben if he could not (nor have to move another piece of furniture.)
How easy for moving about, so well designed. You should keep a book, if you don’t already, registering all your organ transplants.
As always, warmest greetings from Ireland! 🇮🇪☘️ Yet again a wonderful sharing by your goodself. This gift from your generous donor is now being enjoyed by so many thanks as ever to your generous heart.
"being enjoyed by so many" yahaay !! i'm surprised how much interest i'm seeing in a matter of hours.
LOL! Love that about the hymnal! My NEH is ex Canterbury Cathedral!... After they turfed those wonderful books for newer red ... I think Hymns Ancient and Modern? ... my then teacher offered the rather battered, falling apart green NEH to me, as I was without a decent hymnal at the time. I carefully patched it up and quietly chuckle every time I find a hymn with decades of Canterbury pencil notes hastily scribbled next to staves or verses! It's my treasure now 😊
You are a treasure, Ben! Never give up ... please 🙏🏻
Absolutely magical, Ben. What an adventure, what a perfect find. Just goes to show - good people really do make good things happen.
I’m l lm I’m
I’m now longing to hear your new organ in one of your old churches as you you played well in your secret place I know it will sound so lovely in one of the old churches how amazing with your find as you give such joy shearing your love ❤️ of old churches you are so amazing I loved the hymn all love all excelling one of my favourit
@@joantennant5579 i'm very much looking forward to future episodes, too. in the spirit of travelling preacher's organ, i'd like to hear a version of 'Jesus would You come by here?'
Nice work all round. Nice donor, nice little organ, nice hymn-playing. Thanks.
That it was found in Chatham is interesting. Perhaps it was a ship padre's organ. Or a missionary organ.
i thought 'missionary', but i reckon 'ship's padre' is well a possibility....... but i'm guessing
What a treasure!! Can't believe it was sitting in a corner and they tried to sell it for firewood - what a horrifying thought! Safe with you now and we can look forward to hearing you play it in some of those fabulous old village churches❤
"can't believe it was sitting in a corner" ..................... it was, at some point, stood on its left-hand END (presumably in a small broomcupboard): the right-side woodwork has coffee-cup rings / paint tin marks.............. sacrilege !!
A transportable organ, how exciting! it sounds beautiful, I can't wait to hear it in an ancient church setting. Sedding your organ donor a million and one kisses for his priceless donation 😊🙏
ooooooooh !! thanks soooooo much budda
It is hilarious the way you taped a big 'MATON' on the front of your hymn book. 😂👍
My Dad always does the same lol. Those are too expensive to get accidentally stolen!
God bless Ray! ❤
thanks Pamela. i actually feel a bit blessed that finally the b&m has the right home
Ray: “Do you play?”
Ben: 😎
Was Ray joking, or hadn't he seen your channel? Gave me a good chuckle.
I couldn’t believe that he was asking that question to one of the finest organists in the world 🤭🎹😮
@@PortsladeBySea Not everyone is on the Internet.
I believe Ben's answer was: "Do I play??" I loved it. So spontaneous. The donor was a delightful guy. Just being able to repair clocks qualifies him as a member of the "Who Needs Electricity?" club.
Ooh.....I loved those clocks!!😊
A special video! That little harmonium was a real find & it still sounds amazing, played by you, of course! Can't wait to watch where you travel to next!
"Do you play?" 😁 Tom Pinch (in Dickens' Martin Chuzzlewit) would call this "the sweetest little organ."
WOW, that mans house looks exactly like mine ! I too am a Clock Collector and restorer, with many clocks all round my home - just like him. I also have not one, but two similar Organs to that one. One is a Mason and Hamlyn, and one is almost identical, but has no visible name on it. Mine have no stops though, but fold up in the same way. I found one in a junk shop in Padstow, and one here in High Barnet in an Antiques 'Emporium' - many years ago. You have inspired me to get them out of my loft and finish restoring them. Thanks Ben for this brilliant video. Take care 🙂
My late organist friend told me that he did his National Service with the Sappers in Germany, acting as organist to the Chaplain, and using a portable 'Field Organ', probably like this one. Other comments mention Army use, and I'm sure many such instruments will have been sold off, maybe even in Chatham. Back in Civvies, my friend served as organist for our local church for a further sixty years, and recalled that he had never had a more appreciative congregation than his fellow soldiers at the height of the Cold War!
Thank you again. One church you might like to play in is at Itchen Stoke near Alresford, Hampshire. It has no organ as far as I know but is a stunning building under the redundant churches organization, your new pump organ from Kent might liven things up !
Wonderful videos and very meaningful.
Gotcha- thanks
Do you play?
Ben: Hold my beer.
I suggest putting swivel heavy duty caster wheels on the harmonium "legs". I also suggest a waterproof outdoor cover for it when your rainy season arrives; such as a luggage cover or a patio furniture cover for small tables. And you might also find some lashing straps if you're going to move it again on a cart/dolly.
Unrelated to organs, but I used to collect old clocks, sometimes having them refurbished and refinished. I had several in my bedroom. Today, I don't think I could stand the clicking, but I really enjoyed it back then. I enjoy your posts. Thanks
i can stand the clicking. but if all the clocks are synchronised, and all the strikes and chimes are wound, it's madness at midhight. my clocks have been brought back to life by a retired clock / watch repairer who had his 93rd birthday recently !!
"Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" played to a tune I've never heard before. Beautiful, as always. Congratulations on the adoption of your new "babe!"
Are you referring to the "Hyfrydol" hymn tune akin to "Alleluia Sing to Jesus"? That's how I know it.
@@255f145c15w No, but I do know that one, also. I know it best to John Zundel's 1870 tune.
Love divine is sung over here ( Uk) to Blaenwern. You can sing it to Hyfrydol as I think the metre is the same but I haven't heard it. There is another tune called Love Divine written by Stainer. Tastes vary of course but I'm not too keen on it as it has to be sung twice to cover a verse
The hymn itself was written by Charles Wesley but the hymn tune itself ie Blaenwern was written by a Welsh hymn writer whose name escapes me at the moment......
Love everything about this episode! Thank you to the generous donor and giving new life to a wonderful organ!❤ Looking forward to your next road trips!
For an instant, I thought you were having a transplant. What a neat little organ. Just beautiful. It looks like someone is a fisherman (waders).
What a lovely instrument. I love how if you play a reed organ loud enough, it distorts like a tube amp.
Dear Ben, The little 'interuption' showing you editing the video was in itself very interesting. That might be a short video in itself. Keep up the good work.
This is WONDERFUL!!! That tiny little organ has great sound!!!
Thank you Ben, and Ray, for lightening our hearts! ❤
it really lightened my heart to find the right owner for it, and i am really looking forward to future episodes..........
"Do you play" - made my morning. Thank you.
Can you imagine how many organs like this one may be in England has you have a great history of keeping and maintaining things for decades and decades; and your buildings for centuries.
Ben, this channel is wonderful. It should be a mainstream TV programme. On a similar basis to Winter Walks on BBC 4, it induces a superb ‘mindfulness’. Thankyou.
That sounds so wonderful. I love these beautiful little reed organs. You can FEEL the music.
I had a full sized one for many years, as well as several full sized modernish electric church organs. I always prefer the acoustic instruments. I loved playing any time I could.
As I became a complete invalid I passed them on to others who can play and appreciate them.
Thank you so much for bringing this beautiful music into my life.
You are a true musician, Ben. The beard makes you more distinguished, clean shaven younger….
Nice to see one of these instruments in such good order. Well done Ben
What a find, sent by God to you 🎉❣️
I’m really pleased to read that :)
What a great sound and I'm so glad you found each other! ❤
What a fabulous video, Ben. Lovely to see such a rare instrument finding a new lease of life in your capable hands. Thanks for playing two of my most favourite hymns too. Abbots Leigh (albeit to words of Church of God, elect and glorious) and Love Divine were both played at my wedding, and I regularly let them rip on my church pipe organ.
Hello, what a beautiful organ! I recognize the principle from an episode of the BBC's Repair Cafe. I think that was a harmonium. good luck with it! Greetings from Remke from the Netherlands.😊
SO glad you got that folding reed organ. I think they are much more expressive than an ordinary pipe organ. I have three harmoniums and when I switch to the piano I find myself pump pump pump with terrible results.
So glad that you did in fact NOT take one of his kidneys with that. LOL
I agree, this is going to be perfect for you to take into some of the dear beautiful old buildings.
If you use a trolley, I do strongly recommend four pneumatic tires, as the air can absorb some bumps along the paths without transferring their impact along to the reeds.
Thank you for all your hard work and excellent video production! I don't go to churches for service, but the preservation of those buildings and organs is near and dear to my heart. Love from Germany!
This is exciting! Wonderful sound from this small instrument. Thank you, Ben!
Speaking of Organ donors...my Dad recently suggested I apply for an organ donor card...he's a man after my own heart haha
LOLZ good n proper !!
That is such an exciting find. Some of my favourite memories are of my grandmother playing such an instrument at the old family Methodist Chapel of her childhood. And Abbot's Leigh is one of the three best hymn tunes ever. Thank you.
Thank you for a marvellous video. What an extraordinary find the donated portable organ is. St Cecilia looks after her own. Happy days for you Ben and for us.
This organ looks and sounds like a Bilhorn Folding Portable organ invented by an American evangelist Peter Phiilip Bilhorn in 1885 for use in his services. He and his brother established the Bilhorn Brother Organ Company in Chicago which sold the ingenious instruments through large stores in the US such as Sears Roebuck.
Ben Mentioned Barnes and Mullins who still trade today selling musical instruments, so possibly made to order for then by the firm you mention
Interesting. Our Episcopal Hymnal uses Austria for "Glorious things of thee are spoken" and Hyfrydol (my favorite) for "Love divine, all loves excelling."
Austria is used over here as well but Abbots Leigh is also quite common
Austria was written by Haydn for the then Austrian national anthem
Changed when Austria became a Republic as the words open with God save Franz the emperor
There was a RUclips video on the funeral of Otto von Haps urg at which the federal President was present. The Cardinal Archbishop of Vienna decided it was a good idea to end the Requiem by singing the old imperial anthem........The President looked daggers at the Archbishop 😅😅!!
If you ever decide to organize a tour of some of the churches featured on your channel with you playing...count me in!
This is indeed excellent news, Ben. What a beautiful instrument.
I often enjoy playing pump-reed organs for their expressiveness,
by how soft or hard we pump the bellows, much like an accordion.
My favorite and most expressive reed instrument (and certainly the most portable)
is a simple pocket harmonica.
i have a box of blues harps. didn't master those either. pre-www i couldn't work it out, but i recently discovered Duster Bennett did NOT play cross harp, on the classic 'bright lights album'. hours, days i wasted !!
Your enthusiasm is infectious. Great find, great work ! Carry on good chap !
Thanks for featuring so many reed organs in your program....as an owner, collector, restorer, performer on these instruments, your program is valuable. As a pipe organist, also I am devited to each of your programs....next i need to support your efforts!!!!
You made that harmonium reed organ sound good. They can be ghastly. Have to say I prefer what you do in St Martin’s . Only give that up to be in Salisbury Cathedral. Be good to have you do a recital there.
How my heart swells at seeing George Herbert's church and hearing his music. Having glimpses throughout the years of George Herbert through music and poetry, your video inspired me to do a google search. I discovered a wealth of information. I'm on the hunt now for copies of his biographies thru the used book sites. Thank you Ben and Ray for this video.
Great as usual! Thanks for shaving!!!!!! While in Kent, grab some hops.
That was quite nice of Ray to gift you this harmonium. Is that the Maton family holiday cottage where you played it for us? Beautiful scenery there. Cheers and hello to Billy, as well. Thanks.
Congratulations for a new reed organist! 👏🏼It's a bit difficult instrument to get a beautiful sound off it, but when one learns to pump with legs for produce the right pressure and that spesific touch with fingers, it's absolutely a jolly good instrument.
You could have played the hymn tune *Bemerton*
It’s a simple four liner but lovely suspensions in the alto line.
Wonderful news Ben. Best wishes from New South Wales, Australia.
Ben ! This is huge. ! Well done man !
Indeed!!!
Thanks
Beautiful sound! The hymns sound amazing - thank you, Ben!
Congratulations on one of the best click bate titles ever, Ben. For a moment I seriously believed you had some big backstory you had never shared. You got me good and proper!
Congratulations on your new acquisition!! I and thrilled for you and love how excited you are to have this incredible little music machine!
i am so delighted that the organ has gone to the right home, and excited at the prospect of future videos. what a joyful afternoon !! you shoulda seen his happy liddle face. priceless
Ben I often see interesting thing in your videos that have nothing to do with your videos all add to the overall entertainment thank you
Wow, what an amazingly beautiful instrument you got there! Good of this guy to give it to you, so good of you to pick it up! But, well, it's a very usual way of getting such instruments, I did it myself with a normal cabinet-style reed organ. So shocked to hear they wanted to sell it as "fire wood"...
I'm looking forward to more videos of you playing it! (and for me, getting mine back as I'll have a lot more space in my new apartment ;-)).
BTW: I see such a Zoom microphone/digital recorder, is that what you use on the road? I got one too, I use it almost exclusively for recording organs in churches, it seems to do the job pretty well, in spite of its small footprint and that it is actually quite cheap.
Here I was imagining a much larger instrument. As a portable I'm delighted it survived to become such a fine addition to your channel. Fits your car easily. Maybe next week, a road trip for you and the harmonium?
"Nice organ", if you'll pardon the expression.
Great sound, so compact.
You have just inspired me to look at another one (8th ?) to buy, next week !
Have I missed something, Ben? Are you no longer the organist at St. Martin's? Enjoy my Sunday evenings with Countryfile, Antiques Roadshow and Ben Maton. Highlght of the week!
Fantastic Ben look forward to hearing it in a church
Thanks for your posts 😊
You could make money playing it for tips in a restaurant where they serve (wait for it) organ meats. Could you compose a piece called "For Love of Steak and Kidney Pie?"
I saw an folding organ like that in Goodwill. It all worked, the bellows was good. It said "US Army" on the back. They wanted $10 for it but I was afraid my wife would hit me on the head so it stood there until they probably chucked it out.
oh! I hope someone rescued it!
that's shocking but i am not really surprised. when i bought the organ at the local auction-house a dozen years ago they couldn't sell it: £50? nah £40? no no £30? sozz. when the auctioneer said: "it has to be worth a tenner for firewood...." i stuck my hand in the air. it's taken a while but i'm so delighted the story has moved on in such a positive way.
Great,that you could get this instrument,Ben and one notices your joy 👋
Loving the series. The little Reed organs always remind me of Thomas the tank engine, lightweight but vital. However for presence just can't beat Gordon.
Bellissimo strumento con un bellissimo suono. Anche se di umili origini, l’harmonium è protagonista nella letteratura musicale di importanti compositori come Rossini e Liszt! Ottima soluzione per scongiurare l’uso di elettrofoni così diffusi qui in Italia per mancanza di cultura dei nostri preti moderni, molto attenti ai social piuttosto che al decoro culturale e spirituale
Very rare, cool, and antique instrument! I have a tiny reed organ and it only has a few keys to play with.
I’m longing to hear from you and playing your new organ in one of your old churches it will sound so great you make your videos so amazing you all ways tell us the history from the old churches you play thank you for playing 🤞
Also thank for playing my favourite hymn all love all love excelling ❤ look ing forward to hear you playing in one of your unused churches which you always love 🙏thank you Ben for making me cheer full on Sundays take care of you back won’t you 📖👵🏻
What a great little find. Love it!