‘Get an organ bench with a back rest!’, ordered our priest, on the realisation that my back injury meant I couldn’t play. So I tried to do just that. A search of the Internet didn’t produce much, while an appeal to other organists brought answers saying much the same thing: you need a joiner to make a bespoke bench.
Then David, our organ builder, stepped in and came up with a really excellent device.
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He got a padded seat from somewhere and attached it to a wooden frame spanning the pedalboard. The seat has a lever which allows it to swivel, so I can get on and off without stepping on the pedals. Two wooden steps on the right allow me to climb easily into the seat.
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And the whole thing is quickly removed – you just pull it backwards – so that other organists can use the real bench. Our priest was delighted and even produced a cushion of suitable thickness to give more support at the back of the seat.
I have now played at two Sunday Masses and at a funeral, thus giving the whole invention a good workout.
Congratulations to our imaginative organ builder. Take a bow, David!
PS More details can be found HERE.
That’s an incredible achievement. What a clever man indeed! Enjoy!
Comment by Alison Kelly — October 4, 2017 @ 7:08 pm
i would like to buy one of these i play organ and have a bad back how do i do this thankyou
Comment by Joseph Digiacinto — June 4, 2018 @ 2:44 am
Thanks for your comment, Joseph. I know what this is like. See my most recent post (11 June 2018) for more information.
Comment by evelyn — June 11, 2018 @ 4:51 pm