ISO Journal 28

English Orchestral Reeds in Durham : A Historical Note

Twelve voicers, with some 225 years of experience between them, recently travelled to Durham to study the art of voicing orchestral reeds in the English style. They came from the USA, Germany, Norway, Sweden, France and Italy. These ISO Workshops were organised by Harrison & Harrison in September/ October 2007 and were directed by Peter Hopps, head voicer at Harrison & Harrison.

Mark Venning (Harrison & Harrison, UK) resumes the historical background to the use of high pressure orchestral reeds in the United Kingdom, and particularly those found in the Durham Cathedral organ.

This article continues with three detailed reports of the workshop itself. Ryan M Albashian (Taylor & Boody, Staunton, USA), Henry Güntzel (Orgelmetallpfeifenbau Henry Güntzel, Rosenbach/OT Herwigsdorf, DE) and Jean-Christophe Debély (Mühleisen Manufacture d'Orgues, Strasbourg, FR) in turn each details their impressions of these reeds, the particular technical aspects of their construction and their voicing.

Illustrated with numerous photographs.

Authors : Ryan M. Albashian (Taylor & Boody, Staunton, USA), Henry Güntzel (Orgelmetallpfeifenbau Henry Güntzel, Rosenbach/OT Herwigsdorf, DE), Jean-Christophe Debély (Mühleisen Manufacture d'Orgues, Strasbourg, FR), Mark Venning (Harrison & Harrison, Durham, UK)

Durham Cathdral, Harrison & Harrison, 1905, 1935 and 1970 (IV/98 P)
Courtesy of Harrison & Harrison