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The Britannic Organ Vol. 1

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The organ, built for the ocean liner Britannic, sister ship of the Titanic
– Rare historic Welte rolls, heard once again on the Brittanic organ
– The first organ recordings in history: legendary organists on Welte rolls
– David Rumsey demonstrates the Britannic organ

A truly magnificent instrument exists in the Museum für Musikautomaten in Seewen, near the city of Basel: an example of the so-called “Welte Philharmonie Organ” from the famous Welte factory for automatic musical instruments. The history of this instrument is absolutely unique. Although it was one of the museum collection’s major exhibitions for many years, its true identity was not discovered until 2007. In the course of restoration, proof was found that this was the instrument built in 1913/14, originally for the “Britannic” ocean liner, the sister of the “Titanic”. But because the “Britannic” ended up being used as a hospital ship during World War I, the gigantic organ was probably never installed on the ship’s passenger deck. After discovery of the instrument’s history and completion of renovation, it was baptized the “Britannic Organ” and is now in outstanding condition, available to be seen as well as heard.

The uses of such an instrument are many. This first volume (the first of a longer series) presents various recordings of the Seewen Britannic Organ. Organist David Rumsey, who has known this instrument for years, makes the organ’s many diverse and characteristic registers resound. In addition, rolls from the historic Welte catalog, punched by hand, can be heard, as well as some of the oldest recordings of historic organists. The Welte Philharmonie Organ was used as a type of recording device. This made it possible to preserve interpretations from the beginning of the 20th century, before any acoustic or magnetic recording methods were available.