Sydney Opera House organ builder dies
Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2021 4:44 amRonald Sharp, arguably Australia's best known organ builder, has died aged 91.
Sharp's most famous organ is that in the Sydney Opera House. It might be the largest mechanical organ in the world. In HW speak it would be described as 131/5+P. Several of the 32' pipes weigh up to 6 tonnes.
Sharp is responsible for several other organs around Australia .... the Wollongong Town Hall (an organ I have had the pleasure of playing), Sydney St Mary's RC cathedral, Perth Music Hall and Sydney's Knox Grammar School (another organ I have played).
Sharp was self taught, a little eccentric and a perfectionist. Sharp didn't like organs which were designed only to lead congregational singing. He thought the organ of his childhood at Bexley Congregational church was good for hymns but sounded terrible on its own. Hence his search for organs which sounded good for solo performance. This explains why his best organs are mainly in non-church environments.
Ron Sharp was born in Kogarah, a southern suburb of Sydney, in August 1929. He died in Sydney on July 21. He is survived by his second wife Margaret, children Ronald, Alex, Hugo, Wendy and Sandra, and several of Australia's best organs.
Sharp's most famous organ is that in the Sydney Opera House. It might be the largest mechanical organ in the world. In HW speak it would be described as 131/5+P. Several of the 32' pipes weigh up to 6 tonnes.
Sharp is responsible for several other organs around Australia .... the Wollongong Town Hall (an organ I have had the pleasure of playing), Sydney St Mary's RC cathedral, Perth Music Hall and Sydney's Knox Grammar School (another organ I have played).
Sharp was self taught, a little eccentric and a perfectionist. Sharp didn't like organs which were designed only to lead congregational singing. He thought the organ of his childhood at Bexley Congregational church was good for hymns but sounded terrible on its own. Hence his search for organs which sounded good for solo performance. This explains why his best organs are mainly in non-church environments.
Ron Sharp was born in Kogarah, a southern suburb of Sydney, in August 1929. He died in Sydney on July 21. He is survived by his second wife Margaret, children Ronald, Alex, Hugo, Wendy and Sandra, and several of Australia's best organs.