Organ n. 33 | Buchmann-Mehta School of Music practice organ
This practicing instrument, which was originally a small accompaniment organ constructed by the German organ-builder Paul Ott, underwent extensive reworking under Gideon Shamir. The original layout of the instrument was as the following: (Unit system organ)
Manual 54 notes
Pedal 30 notes with no independant stops
Holzgedeckt 8′
Rohrflöte 4′
Principal 2′
Quinta 1 1/3′
Octava 1′
Holzregal 8′ (without resonators)
Gideon Shamir was asked by the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music to build a new 2 manual/pedal organ, and he decided to incorporate the Ott organ into the new project. A new soundboard was added for the second manual, another one for the pedal, and a new, larger case was constructed. This project made possible for Mr. Alexander Gorin, an organist who immigrated to Israel in 1991 to start teaching the organ.
In 1996. At the request of Prof. Ami Maayani, director of the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, Gideon Shamir brought new modifications to the instrument. The organ was relocated and moved away from the walls, which made its tone more open. A new Subbass 16′ and a Salicional 8′ were added, each of them linked to a separate sound board. G. Shamir covered the walls of the hall in oak, assuring better acoustics.