Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Organist hits right notes
Special concert by award-winning musician
Summerlee’s historic cinema organ is once again sounding spectacular after a major refurbishment – with an award-winning musician bringing it to life at a special concert.
The 82- year- old Compton instrument has recently had a restoration to allow its incredible range of sounds, from orchestral instruments to sirens and steamboats, to reverberate again through the Coatbridge museum. It was back in action this week as organist Aaron Howley gave a thrilling recital, organised by the Lanarkshire Society of Organists to launch their new session. He first began playing cinema organ after becoming fascinated by the Wurlitzer at Blackpool Tower on holiday as a teenager; he then became involved in playing the instrument at Summerlee and was among the supporters who helped museum operators Culture NL to bring about last year’s successful four-month restoration. Aaron told the Advertiser: “The Compton organ at the museum has quite a bit of history – it started life as a cinema organ in Liverpool and since coming here, became a favourite instrument on the circuit. “It wasn’t put in straight away when the museum reopened after refurbishment 10 years ago, and then wasn’t sounding too good – but Culture NL have had it restored by Balfour-Rowley organ builders and it’s made a huge difference. “The emphasis is on the fact that it’s not a church organ – it sounds like an orchestra and it requires a long history of getting to know how to play it as this type of instrument is very delicate and it’s a niche area. “In Scotland you could probably count on one hand the number who could play it, and in the UK you’d get a few handfuls. The organ sits on the museum floor and is played at special events when it’s busy and for people to hear it.” Summerlee manager Lu McNair told the Advertiser: “People love it – a lot didn’t know it could work, so it’s quite amazing to see it with the lights and ‘jelly mould’ glass, and then to hear it play. “Older people recognise it from cinemas and dance halls, while younger people think it’s fun; it was designed to support silent movies, so it’s pure entertainment. “It literally has bells and whistles; all the noises are made by hammers hitting xylophones, boxes and various percussion instruments in the ‘toy counter’ behind the scenes. It really is like nothing else.” The amazing instrumentation is contained behind the organ’s cream, gold and green chamber; and its look is completed by the colour-changing console case, also controlled by the organist. Music graduate Aaron won the American Theatre Organ Society’s young theatre organist competition held in New York in July. He said: “This was something a bit different to kick off the Lanarkshire society’s new session, and some in the audience wouldn’t have heard anything like it. “It’s so theatrical, and I play strong melodies like show tunes music from the 1930s-50s to show its versatility and have a bit of fun. “No recording does justice to the sound – it’s quite phenomenal and a pleasure to play.”