>> [I do have something of a fascination with them though. Still, it's not 
>> something you can learn easily. They are rare instruments. And they're 
>> LOUD!]
> 
> Strangely they are not so loud unless you unleash the whole set of pipes. 
> They give a powerful impression because of the richness of the harmonics 
> combination and the reverberation of the hall/church but the level barely 
> reaches 100dB. I had to record together an organ and a bombard (kind of 
> Breton traditionnal oboe) played by a single (good) player with his own 
> lungs and the organ was sometimes overwhelmed by the bombard.

I recently visited the Royal Albert Hall. It's a large arena with a 
giant organ growing out of the back of it. They played some orchestral 
music where every now and then the organ would join in.

Several times, I felt like just walking over to the orchestra and saying 
"Hey guys, I'm sure you've practiced this endlessly, but seriously... Go 
home. There's a 4-tonne pipe organ behind you. I'm sure what you think 
you're playing sounds wonderful. But seriously. We. Can't. Hear. You. 
Hell, I can't here *myself* right now! And my mum's handbag has so far 
migrated about six feet across the floor due to the intense seismic 
vibrations! Go home. You're wasting your time..."

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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