Pipe Organs George Ashdown Audsley

illustration organ-stops , artistic registration - names, forms, construction, tonalities, , offices in scientific combination (1921) george ashdown audsley

audsley s interest in pipe organ largely sparked experiences hearing w. t. best @ st. george s hall, liverpool. audsley wrote numerous magazine articles on organ, , 1880s envisioning huge instruments numerous divisions each under separate expression, in imitation of symphony orchestra. los angeles art organ co. (successors murray m. harris organ company) had audsley design world s largest organ building st. louis exposition of 1904, , included him on paid staff. instrument produced book on art of organ-building being published great pipe organ purchased john wanamaker store in philadelphia, pa, today known wanamaker organ. in 1905, audsley published monumental two-volume art of organ building attempt position himself pre-eminent organ designer in us. lavish work includes numerous superb drawings done audsley , still consulted today although organ fashions have evolved in many directions in ever-fluid, passion-driven world of music. advocate of console standardization , radiating concave pedal keyboards accommodate natural movement of human legs. unfortunately, plan develop profession of organ architect consultant work in consultation major builders in achieving high-art product short-lived. few commissions pipe organs or buildings came way, , few organs built high-art standards. in subsequent years, wrote several works, 1 of published posthumously, shortened forms of 1905 organ building book, updated comment on controversies of day , rapid advances in applying electro-pneumatic actions , playing aids craft. national association of organists (now defunct) bestowed audsley medal in honor.