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April 27, 2005
Columbus' return to Europe
I am not very knowledgeable when it comes to (church) organs, but yesterday my eye caught a message describing 'pipe-rot' throughout Europe. From Italy to Northern Germany organ pipes are suffering from corrosion, causing the pipes to leak and not only weakening their tone, but also their strength. In the end the pipes will collapse.
What made this image come to live for me is organ music was played used while Columbus returned to the old world with his collection of Indians, parrots and strange plants. This particular organ is also effected.
In its time organs were the most complex and loud instruments people could think off. (Compare this to an average pop concert that makes your teeth rattle and solves your kidney stones in an instant.)
The European Union funds a group of researchers who investigate the problem and do something about it.
I hope this group find a better solution than their name suggests: COLLAPSE.
BTW Collapse stands for Corrosion of Lead and Lead-Tin Alloys of Organ Pipes in Europe.
Posted by Renske at 18:03 UTC | permanent link