Gabriel Kney
Encyclopedia
Gabriel Kney is a renowned Canadian builder of pipe organs based in London, Ontario
.
Kney was born in Speyer-am-Rhein
, Germany. At the age of 15, he apprenticed to Paul Sattel of Speyer to become an organ builder, and concurrently studied organ and composition with Erhard Quack and Ludwig Doerrat at the Bishop’s Institute for Church Music in Speyer.
In 1951, he moved to Canada to work as a voicer with the Keates Organ Co.
In 1955 he formed with John Bright the Kney and Bright Organ Co to build tracker organs
. Blanton (1957) described their first instrument as "a handsome little organ with mechanical action, slider chests, 1-3/4" pressure".
They were at the vanguard of the tracker organ revival in Canada, so much so that they were then to build 30 electro-pneumatic
organs before customers caught on and started ordering instruments with mechanical action. In the early 1960s, they rebuilt the organs of Aeolian Hall
in London
and St Michael's Cathedral in Toronto.
In 1967, Kney formed Gabriel Kney Pipe Organ Builders, Ltd., and by 1990 he and his seven employees had built more than 110 organs, mostly for customers in the Great Lakes region. Some of the best examples of this company's designs are the organs of Roy Thomson Hall
in Toronto, Ontario
,
Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kansas City
,
Christ Church Parish in Pensacola, Florida
and the University of St. Thomas
in St. Paul, Minnesota
.
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
.
Kney was born in Speyer-am-Rhein
Speyer
Speyer is a city of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany with approximately 50,000 inhabitants. Located beside the river Rhine, Speyer is 25 km south of Ludwigshafen and Mannheim. Founded by the Romans, it is one of Germany's oldest cities...
, Germany. At the age of 15, he apprenticed to Paul Sattel of Speyer to become an organ builder, and concurrently studied organ and composition with Erhard Quack and Ludwig Doerrat at the Bishop’s Institute for Church Music in Speyer.
In 1951, he moved to Canada to work as a voicer with the Keates Organ Co.
In 1955 he formed with John Bright the Kney and Bright Organ Co to build tracker organs
Tracker action
Tracker action is a term used in reference to pipe organs and steam calliopes to indicate a mechanical linkage between keys or pedals pressed by the organist and the valve that allows air to flow into pipe of the corresponding note...
. Blanton (1957) described their first instrument as "a handsome little organ with mechanical action, slider chests, 1-3/4" pressure".
They were at the vanguard of the tracker organ revival in Canada, so much so that they were then to build 30 electro-pneumatic
Electro-pneumatic action
The electro-pneumatic action is a control system for pipe organs, whereby air pressure, controlled by an electric current and operated by the keys of an organ console, opens and closes valves within wind chests, allowing the pipes to speak. This system also allows the console to be physically...
organs before customers caught on and started ordering instruments with mechanical action. In the early 1960s, they rebuilt the organs of Aeolian Hall
Aeolian Hall (London, Ontario)
Aeolian Hall is a historic music venue in London, Ontario. The hall is currently located in a heritage building at 795 Dundas Street, at the corner of Dundas St. and Rectory St, just to the east of Adelaide St....
in London
and St Michael's Cathedral in Toronto.
In 1967, Kney formed Gabriel Kney Pipe Organ Builders, Ltd., and by 1990 he and his seven employees had built more than 110 organs, mostly for customers in the Great Lakes region. Some of the best examples of this company's designs are the organs of Roy Thomson Hall
Roy Thomson Hall
Roy Thomson Hall is a concert hall located at 60 Simcoe Street in Toronto, Ontario. It is the home of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Opened in 1982, its circular architectural design exhibits a sloping and curvilinear glass exterior. It was designed by Canadian...
in Toronto, Ontario
,
Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kansas City
,
Christ Church Parish in Pensacola, Florida
and the University of St. Thomas
University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)
The University of St. Thomas is a private, Catholic, liberal arts, and archdiocesan university located in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States...
in St. Paul, Minnesota
.