How about some good news? We certainly need good news. Allen Ginsberg’s old parlor organ. Last month we sent out an SOS – We urgently needed a new home for it. After a host of enquiries, and with the increasing fear that we would not succeed, we did finally succeed. With the inspired and visionary intercession of Camila Oliveira, trustee of the William Blake Society and the Blake Cottage Trust, and with the foresight and assistance of those two institutions, we are pleased to announce that the venerable instrument has not only been saved but has found its absolutely perfect new home, Felpham in Sussex and William Blake’s historic cottage.
A little background. Philip Ward writes:
“In 1999, Sotheby’s held an auction of the Allen Ginsberg estate. I was there to try to secure a piece of history, but was unsuccessful. Sometime later, in conversation with Peter Hale and Bob Rosenthal, I was able to purchase this parlor organ to gift to my partner at the time, Charles Barron, as a birthday gift. It was thrilling to share the musical wonder of this instrument, along with the essence of Ginsberg’s history in composing music to William Blake’s poetry on its keys. To me, it possessed a magical wonder, and it still does. Recently, Charles asked that I help find a new home for (it). Working with Peter Hale, Ginsberg’s estate executor, and additional people for nearly two weeks, we were (fortunately) able to secure a permanent home for this significant piece of Ginsberg history.”
The parlor organ has now left its previous home Mamaroneck, Westchester County, and is in transit.
The William Blake cottage, the ideal location. The cottage, earlier this year, was recently the grateful beneficiary of a major grant from the National Lottery – an influx of just under £244,000 (approximately $329,000), to address “urgent structural” concerns in the walls and chimneys and preserve and restore its roof and timbering. The funding will also be spent on developing a “long-term, viable plan” for the building, which the Blake Cottage Trust had previously warned was in “real danger of being lost forever”.
For more on the Blake cottage renovation (new thatch has been applied over the summer to complete a glorious new roof) and the various ways that you can support the continuing work (funds are still needed for full restoration). – see here