From Cradley Heath to China (2)

The Cradley Heath organ is
now the centrepiece of the
Gulangyu Organ Museum,
Xiamen, South East China.


The installation of the organ in Gulangyu was completed in January 2005. The instrument went back-together well, the original tubular pneumatic action being retained, and is said to be "playing as new." Three concerts were given on 29th, 30th and 31st January by Rhys Boak and Ryoko Mori from Australia.  Both Rhys and Ian Wakeley have reported that the organ sounds fantastic in the four to five-second acoustic in the museum. In July 2005 recordings of the organ both at Cradley Heath (played by Paul and recorded by Keith Hearnshaw in April 2004) and at Gulangyu (played by Rhys Boak and Ryoko Mori) were broadcast on Australian Radio. Hearing the recordings together really proves just how important acoustics are to an instrument...

From the upper level of the dome.

More about the Organ Museum
and the island of Gulangyu

There are no vehicles on Gulangyu island, so the organ had to be transported from the coast on hand-pulled carts!