Only those who are truly organ makers, not assemblers of parts, who understand about all aspects of making an organ from scratch, and are historically extremely well informed, in my book, can truly be called great organ makers/builders. To mention one random example: Like Flentrop, who was able to make a very amazing organ in the Catharinenkirche in Hamburg.
Take the harpsichord building world: you can have two Flemish style instruments from two different builders and they will sound very different. One sound extremely musical, and the other not so much. Why? A good builder knows how to listen to the wood he builds; has studied historical instruments thoroughly, and has learned from another master builder. He understands all the building principles and doesn't cut corners. Like Keith Hill or Max Doronin, who achieve amazing presence, sonority and resonance in their instruments, to mention just two examples I know about myself.
Likewise, if you are going to assemble an organ virtually from existing digital samples, and make a composite, can you truly say you understand deeply about organs and know all there is to know? Or are you only doing you best to melt the sounds together as best as you can? Is such an approach doomed to failure or at best mediocrity, or truly a pathway to success?
I know my personal answer.
I do not find composite sets very convincing; no, not at all.
(Neither poorly sampled organs; ditto for organs not really all that artistic to begin with)
I invite you to listen to the new fake Cologne sample set demos to hear for yourself.
If this sample set was a written piece, like a book, or article, wouldn't we label it as plagiarism?
What would Cavaille-Coll say?
Would he endorse or berate such efforts? Would he feel respected?
My hope is that we aim high, for the best quality, the highest musicality, the most inspiring original sample sets of truly worthy original instruments.
If you want my advise, just ask. My Ph.D. is in organology. I am here to help and assist in any way possible.
There are a few good organs in the world, and sadly, many bad ones. Let's aim high in this Hauptwerk virtual reality world.
By the way, this is what Jason Baruk writes on his website:
March 4, 2019Discipulus.Veritatis
Discontinuation
The owner of this website will no longer be producing any more samplesets. The remaining set will stay available.
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!