Blackpool High Tide Organ

The High Tide Organ is a tidal organ 15 metres (49 ft 3 in) tall constructed in 2002 as part of "The Great Promenade Show" series of sculptures situated along Blackpool's New Promenade[1] in the UK. The artwork, described as a "musical manifestation of the sea", is one of a few examples of a tidal organ; others include the San Francisco Wave Organ[2] and the Sea Organ in Croatia.

Blackpool's High Tide Organ viewed from its side

The sculpture was designed by the artists Liam Curtin[3] and John Gooding,[4] and was constructed in concrete, steel, zinc and copper sheet.[5] The harnessing of wave energy, and the sculpting of the concrete and metals, is said to produce a unique interpretation of Blackpool's natural and man-made environments.

The instrument is played by the sea at high tide through eight pipes attached to the sea wall. These are connected under the promenade to 18 organ pipes within the sculpture. The swell of seawater at high tide pushes air up the sea-wall pipes and causes the organ pipes to sound. The best time to hear the High Tide Organ is two to three hours before or after high tide. On very calm days the organ is silent for part of its cycle. The pitches of the pipes are based on the harmonic series in B flat.

The High Tide Organ is one of a small group of musical instruments that operate without further human intervention, among which the aeolian harp and the wind chime are the most notable.

See also

References
  1. "Art to listen out for". Blackpool Council. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2008.
  2. San Francisco's Wave Organ Archived 2 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Artist's page for Blackpool High Tide Organ". Liam Curtin. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  4. "Investee and Award Directory". NESTA. Retrieved 16 April 2008.
  5. Lancashire Evening Telegraph. (14 June 2002). New organ will be played by the sea Archived 5 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Newsquest Media Group. Retrieved 2008-06-05.

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