The J.J. Binns Organ - Rochdale Town Hall

THE NEW ORGAN (1913)

The organ was finally built in 1913 by J.J Binns of Bramley Leeds. It was donated by Alderman Sir Samuel Turner J.P. (1840-1924) former Mayor of Rochdale and local businessman and philanthropist. On Saturday 2nd November 1912 The Rochdale Observer announced 'NEW ORGAN FOR THE TOWN HALL' accompanied by a full description and a sketch of the proposed instrument.

“The organ will occupy the recess at the back of the platform and will be, as was expected, an instrument worthy of the donor, and of the town.” It was reported that “Alderman Turner has been advised by a committee of organists of the borough including Mr. B. C. Crossley (Organist at the Parish Church), Councillor Diggle, Mr James Duckworth, J.P., and Mr T. Elvyn Kershaw. J.J. Binns of Bramley, Leeds was the chosen builder.”

It is worth noting that Sir Samuel Turner's place of worship, the former Baillie St. Methodist Church, had a large instrument built by Binns in 1892. (right)

James Jepson Binns (1855-1929) was one of the most prolific organ builders of the early 20th century. He left school at the age of 11 to become an apprentice at Radcliffe & Sagar in Leeds. From 1873 he worked for Abbot & Smith as a voicer before founding his own company in Bramley, Leeds in 1880. Binns was an accomplished singer and organist; he composed several hymn tunes and, in his youth, was offered a position with the Carla Rosa Company due to his fine baritone voice. His musicianship, combined with his tireless energy and personal attention to his numerous instruments, meant that he created some of the finest examples of British organ building with a reputation for excellent voicing, reliability and no-expense spared design. His instruments built between 1890 and the First World War are regarded as Binns' greatest work and the organ of Rochdale Town Hall is a supreme example of this golden era.

BINNS' ORDER LEDGER (ORGAN No. 703)

The Organ of Rochdale Town Hall appears as Organ No.703 in Binns' account ledger.
It is for an instrument of 53 speaking stops and 3018 pipes (almost identical to the earlier organ No. 503 at The Albert hall, Nottingham) and was one of the largest organs built by Binns. The organ was built with tubular pneumatic action throughout with organ cases made of oak to designs by the borough architect, Mr Hathaway in conjunction with Binns to match the existing woodwork of the Great Hall

ROCHDALE TOWN HALL ORGAN CASE

The opening recital was given in the presence of King George V and Queen Mary on Wednesday 9th July 1913 by Herbert Walton (1869-1929), then Organist of Glasgow Cathedral, former organist at the Binns organ in St. Marks Leeds and consultant for Binn's' organ at St. Aidans Leeds.

The opening Recital Programme was as follows:

ET Chipp -Introduction & Variations on the Austrian Hymn
Boccherini -Minuet in A
JS Bach - Fugue Alla Gigue
Liszt - Liebestraum in A Flat
PJ Mansfield - Fantasia on Scottish Airs Op. 65
Meyerbeer - “Schiller” March
Schubert - Serenade
Hollins - Morceau de Concert
Wagner - Overture “Tannhauser”

From the most delicate stops to full organ, the instrument speaks clearly into the Great Hall. The diapason chorus distinctly reflects the voicing of Schulze whose work Binns had studied first hand in several rebuilds and greatly admired. The solo stops, particularly the harmonic flute chorus, are beautifully voiced and the control available from the swell boxes is phenomenal.

THE ORGAN REBUILD (1979)

At the dawn of the 1970s it became evident that a thorough rebuild would be needed and the 'Town Hall Organ Restoration Committee' was created and succeeded in raising modest funds as well attracting funding from the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust on the condition that the organ be kept in regular use and be made available for the benefit of Rochdale townspeople and students.

The organ was rebuilt in 1978-9 by J.W.Walker & Sons Ltd
The instrument was given a new electro-pneumatic action with modern playing aids and the keyboards were inclined. The instrument was re-opened in 1st December 1979 and remains one of the finest musical instruments in the world as well as a superb example of J.J. Binns' craftmanship.


THE ORGAN OF ROCHDALE TOWN HALL - CONSOLE
ROCHDALE TOWN HALL The cornerstone of Rochdale Town Hall was laid on 31st March 1866 and the magnificent Grade I listed Gothic building designed by George Gilbert Scott's pupil, William Henry Crossland (1835-1908) of Leeds was opened on 27th September 1871. THE GREAT HALL (SHOWING FRESCO BY HENRY HOLIDAY) The initial estimate for the building of the Town Hall was £20,000, but by completion this had risen to a breathtaking £160,000. This vast overspend meant that the Great Hall was left with a space in the three gothic arches behind the stage of the Hall for a Grand Organ.		THE GRAND STAIRCASE The centrepiece of the Town Hall is the Great Hall. It is approached by a Grand Stone Staircase and remains one of the most magnificent municipal rooms in Britain. Every surface contains rich detail including a hammer-beam roof decorated with carved golden angels and roof panels depicting the arms of England and Ireland, a priceless collection of stained glass with portraits of the sovereigns of England, and a vast fresco by Henry Holiday depicting the signing of the Magna Carta. GRAND STAIRCASE CEILING
THE NEW ORGAN (1913) The organ was finally built in 1913 by J.J Binns of Bramley Leeds. It was donated by Alderman Sir Samuel Turner J.P. (1840-1924) former Mayor of Rochdale and local businessman and philanthropist. On Saturday 2nd November 1912 The Rochdale Observer announced 'NEW ORGAN FOR THE TOWN HALL' accompanied by a full description and a sketch of the proposed instrument. “The organ will occupy the recess at the back of the platform and will be, as was expected, an instrument worthy of the donor, and of the town.” It was reported that “Alderman Turner has been advised by a committee of organists of the borough including Mr. B. C. Crossley (Organist at the Parish Church), Councillor Diggle, Mr James Duckworth, J.P., and Mr T. Elvyn Kershaw. J.J. Binns of Bramley, Leeds was the chosen builder.” It is worth noting that Sir Samuel Turner's place of worship, the former Baillie St. Methodist Church, had a large instrument built by Binns in 1892. (right) James Jepson Binns (1855-1929) was one of the most prolific organ builders of the early 20th century. He left school at the age of 11 to become an apprentice at Radcliffe & Sagar in Leeds. From 1873 he worked for Abbot & Smith as a voicer before founding his own company in Bramley, Leeds in 1880. Binns was an accomplished singer and organist; he composed several hymn tunes and, in his youth, was offered a position with the Carla Rosa Company due to his fine baritone voice. His musicianship, combined with his tireless energy and personal attention to his numerous instruments, meant that he created some of the finest examples of British organ building with a reputation for excellent voicing, reliability and no-expense spared design. His instruments built between 1890 and the First World War are regarded as Binns' greatest work and the organ of Rochdale Town Hall is a supreme example of this golden era. BINNS' ORDER LEDGER (ORGAN No. 703) The Organ of Rochdale Town Hall appears as Organ No.703 in Binns' account ledger. It is for an instrument of 53 speaking stops and 3018 pipes (almost identical to the earlier organ No. 503 at The Albert hall, Nottingham) and was one of the largest organs built by Binns. The organ was built with tubular pneumatic action throughout with organ cases made of oak to designs by the borough architect, Mr Hathaway in conjunction with Binns to match the existing woodwork of the Great Hall ROCHDALE TOWN HALL ORGAN CASE The opening recital was given in the presence of King George V and Queen Mary on Wednesday 9th July 1913 by Herbert Walton (1869-1929), then Organist of Glasgow Cathedral, former organist at the Binns organ in St. Marks Leeds and consultant for Binn's' organ at St. Aidans Leeds. The opening Recital Programme was as follows: ET Chipp -Introduction & Variations on the Austrian Hymn Boccherini -Minuet in A JS Bach - Fugue Alla Gigue Liszt - Liebestraum in A Flat PJ Mansfield - Fantasia on Scottish Airs Op. 65 Meyerbeer - “Schiller” March Schubert - Serenade Hollins - Morceau de Concert Wagner - Overture “Tannhauser” From the most delicate stops to full organ, the instrument speaks clearly into the Great Hall. The diapason chorus distinctly reflects the voicing of Schulze whose work Binns had studied first hand in several rebuilds and greatly admired. The solo stops, particularly the harmonic flute chorus, are beautifully voiced and the control available from the swell boxes is phenomenal. THE ORGAN REBUILD (1979) At the dawn of the 1970s it became evident that a thorough rebuild would be needed and the 'Town Hall Organ Restoration Committee' was created and succeeded in raising modest funds as well attracting funding from the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust on the condition that the organ be kept in regular use and be made available for the benefit of Rochdale townspeople and students. The organ was rebuilt in 1978-9 by J.W.Walker & Sons Ltd The instrument was given a new electro-pneumatic action with modern playing aids and the keyboards were inclined. The instrument was re-opened in 1st December 1979 and remains one of the finest musical instruments in the world as well as a superb example of J.J. Binns' craftmanship.		BINNS ORGAN (BAILLIE STREET, ROCHDALE)
		JAMES JEPSON BINNS ONE OF THE THREE ORGAN CASES PEDAL PIPES (INSIDE) ORGAN CASE (DETAIL) CONSOLE (WALKER PLAQUE)
JONATHAN SCOTT PERFORMS WAGNER'S TANNHÄUSER OVERTURE (ARRANGED BY EDWIN LEMARE) AT THE ORGAN OF ROCHDALE TOWN HALL “It gives me great pleasure to bear testimony to the high-class voicing and general excellence of the organs erected by Mr. J. J. Binns, of Bramley. Mr. Binns is undoubtedly one of the most successful artists in tone production we have, and I have no hesitation in placing him in the front rank of English organ builders.” E. H. Lemare, Esq., F.R.C.O., A.R.C.M., Organist Carnegie Hall, Pittsburg, U.S.A. (1904) THE CENTENARY RECORDING OF THIS HISTORIC INSTRUMENT AVAILABLE NOW - CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ORGAN SPECIFICATION The Organ of Rochdale Town Hall, J.J. Binns, 1913 rebuilt J. W. Walker & Sons LTD, 1979
PEDAL ORGAN - 10 stops - 175 pipes 1. Double Open Diapason 32' (to FFFF lowest 5 acoustic) 2. Great Bass 16' 3. Violone 16' 4. Bourdon 16' 5. Echo Bourdon 16' (from 33.) 6. Flute Bass 8' (from 4.) 7. Violoncello 8' (from 3.) 8. Octave Bass 8' (from 2.) 9. Trombone 16' 10. Tromba 8' (from 9.) CHOIR ORGAN - 9 stops - 537 pipes (Enclosed) 11. Lieblich Bourdon 16' 12. Geigen Diapason 8' 13. Lieblich Gedact 8' 14. Aeoline 8' 15. Unda Maris 8' (ten. C) 16. Flauto Traverso 4' 17. Flautina 2' 18. Clarionet 8' 19. Vox Humana 8' Tremulant - Octave - Sub Octave GREAT ORGAN - 13 stops - 915 pipes 20. Double Open Diapason 16' 21. Large Open Diapason 8' 22. Medium Open Diapason 8' 23. Small Open Diapason 8' 24. Hohl Flute 8' 25. Dulciana 8' 26. Flute Harmonic 4' 27. Octave 4' 28. Octave Quint 2 2/3' 29. Super Octave 2' 30. Full Mixture III (15.19.22) 31. Trumpet 8' 32. Clarion 4'	SWELL ORGAN - 14 stops - 964 pipes (Enclosed) 33. Lieblich Bourdon 16' 34. Open Diapason 8' 35. Rohr Flute 8' 36. Viol d'Orchestre 8' 37. Vox Angelica 8' 38. Voix Celestes 8' (ten. C) 39. Suabe Flute 4' 40. Salicet 4' 41. Piccolo 2' 42. Mixture III (15.19.22.) 43. Contra Fagotta 16' 44. Horn 8' 45. Oboe 8' 46. Clarion 4' Tremulant - Octave - Sub Octave SOLO ORGAN - 7 stops - 427 pipes (enclosed except 53. TUBA) 47. Violin e Cello 8' 48. Flute Orchestral 8' 49. Flute Orchestral 4' 50. Piccolo Orchestral 2' 51. Oboe Orchestral 2' 52. Corno di bassetto 8' Tremulant 53. Tuba 8' (on 10in wind) Octave - Sub Octave ACCESSORIES (1979 Rebuild): Thumb Pistons: 6 each to Choir, Great, Swell & Solo 6 General Pistons Reversibles for Ch/Ped, Gt/Ped, Sw/Ped, So/Ped, Sw/Ch, So/Ch, Ch/Gt, Sw/Gt, So/Gt, So/Sw, Pedal Trombone General Cancel, Capture Set with Lock Switch Toe Pistons: 6 each to Pedal & Swell Reversibles for Gt/Ped, Sw/Gt, Pedal Trombone Balanced Expression Pedals for the Choir, Swell & Solo Organs	COUPLERS Solo to Swell Solo to Great Octave Solo to Great Solo to Great Sub Octave Solo to Choir Swell to Great Octave Swell to Great Unison Swell to Great Sub Octave Choir to Great Swell to Choir Solo to Pedal Swell to Pedal Great to Pedal Choir to Pedal Combination Couplers: Gt. & Pedal pistons coupled (drawstop) Man.Compass: 61 notes Ped. Compass: 30 notes 53 sounding stops 3,018 pipes Great: 915 pipes Swell: 964 pipes Choir: 537 pipes Solo: 427 pipes Pedal: 175 pipes Original 1913 Accessories: 3 Interchangable Pistons to Gt. & Pedal organs 1 fixed piston giving full Gt. & Pedal organs 3 Interchangable Pistons to Swell organ 1 fixed piston giving full Swell organ 3 Interchangable Pistons to Choir organ 3 Interchangable Pistons to Solo organ 8 Combination Pedals duplicating Gt. & Sw, Pistons Double acting Pedal for “Great to Pedal” Double acting Pedal for “Swell to Great”
The organ is currently in the care of Andrew Carter (Organ Builder) and regular recitals are presented by Oldham, Rochdale & Tameside Organists' Association \| HOME \| ABOUT \| CONCERTS \| RECORDINGS \| VIDEOS \| GALLERY \| PRESS \| CONTACT \| EXTRAS \| © 2013 Scott Brothers Duo - All rights reserved