The ''High Tide Organ'' was a tidal
organ tall constructed in 2002 as part of "The Great Promenade Show" series of sculptures situated along
Blackpool's New Promenade in the UK. It was removed in early 2022.
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'' and the
Sea Organ
The Sea organ ( hr, Morske orgulje) is an architectural sound art object located in Zadar, Croatia and an experimental musical instrument, which plays music by way of sea waves and tubes located underneath a set of large marble steps.
History
C ...
in Croatia.
Design
The sculpture was designed by the artists Liam Curtin and John Gooding, and was constructed in concrete, steel, zinc and copper sheet. The harnessing of
wave energy
Wave power is the capture of energy of wind waves to do useful work – for example, electricity generation, water desalination, or pumping water. A machine that exploits wave power is a wave energy converter (WEC).
Waves are generated by wind ...
, 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
A seawall (or sea wall) is a form of coastal defense constructed where the sea, and associated coastal processes, impact directly upon the landforms of the coast. The purpose of a seawall is to protect areas of human habitation, conservatio ...
. These are connected under the
promenade
An esplanade or promenade is a long, open, level area, usually next to a river or large body of water, where people may walk. The historical definition of ''esplanade'' was a large, open, level area outside fortress or city walls to provide cl ...
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
Wind chimes are a type of percussion instrument constructed from suspended tubes, rods, bells or other objects that are often made of metal or wood. The tubes or rods are suspended along with some type of weight or surface which the tubes or rod ...
are the most notable.
History
In 2019, Curtin made an official complaint regarding the state of the instrument, alleging a lack of maintenance had caused safety concerns. After inspection, a health and safety surveyor determined that the instrument needed annual safety checks.
In 2021, Curtin called for the instrument to be demolished, stating that "For almost 20 years, I’ve been begging the council to maintain this and other works, in some cases for public safety reasons. I have even, at my own cost, done some maintenance on it myself."
[ ] The heavily corroded sculpture was removed on 15th December 2021.
See also
*
''Singing Ringing Tree''
* Chillida's
''Comb of the Wind'' (in San Sebastián / Donostia, Basque Country, Spain)
References
External links
The Great Promenade Show
{{Blackpool buildings
Buildings and structures in Blackpool
Organs (music)
Sound sculptures
Wind-activated musical instruments
2002 sculptures
Hydraulophones
Outdoor sculptures in England
2002 establishments in England
Buildings and structures demolished in 2021
Demolished buildings and structures in England