THE 'SALOMONS' WELTE PHILHARMONIC ORGAN - OPEN DAY
THE BRITISH INSTITUTE OF ORGAN STUDIES (In association with Canterbury Christ Church University and the Institute of British Organ Building) SATURDAY 27 OCTOBER 2007 Salomons, David Salomons Estate, Broomhill Road, SOUTHBOROUGH, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 0TG WELTE PHILARMONIC ORGAN FORUM One of the most magnificent organs ever built by Welte & Söhne of Freiburg was installed in the Science Theatre at Salomons in 1914. This unique organ consists of a Grand Organ and an Echo Organ placed far away in a corridor behind the gallery. The organ is playable from the 3 manual and pedal console or from the Philarmonic and Orchestrion roll-playing mechanisms. Following decades of silence, it has recently been fully restored by Mander Organs and A C Pilmer Automatic Music Ltd. The Inaugural Concert by Nigel Ogden was given on 21 September 2006. Outline Programme 10.30 Registration and Coffee 11.00 Welcome & Demonstration of the Organ from the Roll-Player 11.15 History of Salomons Estate and the origins of the Welte Organ; talk by Matthew Salomonson 11.55 The Restoration of the Welte Organ: John Mander 12.35 The Restoration of the Player Roll Mechanisms: Andrew Pilmer 13.15 Lunch break (with an opportunity to inspect the organ) 14.15 Residence Pipe Organs in the UK (Welte & Aeolian): Richard Cole 15.00 Demonstration Recital *Richard Hills 16.00 Tea and Close * The Recital will include demonstration of the organ from the conventional console by Richard Hills and further demonstration of the player roll mechanisms by Matthew Salomonson. Tickets for this event will be £20 per person (including refreshments and lunch). Accommodation Salomons has a limited number of en-suite bedrooms (with TV and tea/coffee facilities) available for the Friday and Saturday nights. A single room is £35 and a double or twin room £70. Prices are per night and include full English breakfast. To book either e-mail: reservations@salomons.org.uk or telephone 01892 515152.  BOOKING FORM FOR THE WELTE PHILARMONIC ORGAN FORUM Salomons, David Salomons Estate, Broomhill Road, SOUTHBOROUGH, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0TG on SATURDAY 27 OCTOBER 2007 (Please fill out a separate form for each person) Please reserve a place at for the BIOS/Salomons/IBO Welte Philarmonic Organ Forum at £20.00. Cheques should be payable to 'BIOS'. Name (including title)…………………………………………………………………………. Address………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………Post Code……………………………. Telephone……………………………………………………………(daytime and/or mobile) Telephone……………………..(evening) e-mail……………………………………………… Please note any dietary requirements……………………………………………………… Note: Acknowledgements will be sent by e-mail. If you do not have an e-mail address, and require an acknowledgement, please send a SAE with your booking form. Please return your completed booking form (or a photocopy or scan) to: Melvin Hughes (BIOS Meetings) Ashcroft, 10 Ridgegate Close, REIGATE, Surrey RH2 0HT Tel: 01737 241355 e-mail: biosmeetings@hotmail.co.uk

The 70 odd visitors had a very interesting day at Salomons on Saturday. Andrew Pilmer actually spoke on the rise and fall of the Welte empire as the previous speaker covered much of the restoration process. The whole history of David Salomons (there were 3 David Salomons) is very interesting and the practical capabilities of the final David are outstanding. The whole building has some of the early electrical installation in DC and AC very evident, and to have generated your own AC before electricity was widely avaialble is no mean feat. Well the organ and the echo organ we were able to see in detail and hear played on both types of roll and of course via the keyboard. To those of you interested, its well worth visiting.