Blackpool High Tide Organ

The Blackpool High Tide Organ is a 15 metre tall tidal organ constructed in 2002 as part of "The Great Promenade Show" series of sculptures situated along Blackpool's New Promenade . [cite web
url=http://www.blackpool.gov.uk/News/2006/Feb/ArtToListenOutFor.htm
accessdate=2008-04-16
title=Art to listen out for
publisher=Blackpool Council] The artwork described as a "musical manifestation of the sea" is one of a few examples of a tidal organ, with others being the San Francisco Wave Organ [ [http://www.roadtripamerica.com/places/waveorg.htm San Francisco's Wave Organ ] ] and the Sea Organ in Croatia.

The sculpture was designed by the artists Liam Curtin and John Gooding, [cite web
url=http://www.nesta.org.uk/about/directory/index.aspx?a=C&p=4
title=Investee and Award Directory
accessdate=2008-04-16
publisher=NESTA] and was constructed in concrete, steel, zinc and copper sheet. [Lancashire Evening Telegraph. (2002-06-14). [http://archive.lancashireeveningtelegraph.co.uk/2002/6/14/611897.html New organ will be played by the sea] . Newsquest Media Group. Retrieved 2008-06-05.] 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 which are 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 2-3 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, a naturally occurring series of harmonics.

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

ee also

*Singing Ringing Tree

References

External links

* [http://www.greatpromenadeshow.co.uk/ The Great Promenade Show]
* [http://www.360spin.co.uk/artscouncil/high-tide-organ-2.htm UK Arts Council 360 degree view of the organ]