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Blackpool High Tide Organ

Blackpool High Tide Organ is a 15-metre-tall architectural sculpture in Blackpool, UK, created in 2002 as part of the Great Promenade Show series. Designed by artists Liam Curtin and John Gooding, it is made of concrete, steel, zinc, and copper. Described as a “musical manifestation of the sea,” it produces sound when waves force air through eight pipes attached to the seawall and connected to 18 organ pipes inside the structure. The best time to hear it is two to three hours before or after high tide. On very calm days, it may remain silent for part of its cycle.

The Blackpool High Tide Organ sculpture beside a blue building on a paved promenade.
The Blackpool High Tide Organ stands on the promenade next to a blue building with round windows.
November 2011 © · CC BY-SA 2.0
The Blackpool High Tide Organ silhouetted against a dramatic sunset sky on the promenade.
The Blackpool High Tide Organ stands in silhouette at sunset on Blackpool Promenade.
November 2008 © · CC BY-SA 2.0
Blackpool High Tide Organ, a tall rust-brown metal sculpture with horizontal vents and an abstract crest at the top.
The Blackpool High Tide Organ rises from the promenade in rust-brown metal, with vents and an abstract crest visible from below.
May 1998 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Interior detail of the Blackpool High Tide Organ showing upside-down metal pipes inside a reddish-brown structure.
Close-up of the Blackpool High Tide Organ’s interior, with metal pipes visible inside the sculptural structure.
December 2005 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Greenish-blue High Tide Organ information plaque set into brick pavement.
Information plaque for the Blackpool High Tide Organ set into the promenade pavement.
November 2008 © · CC BY-SA 2.0

Identification

TitleBlackpool High Tide Organ
Alternative nameHigh Tide Organ
Alternative name in RussianБлэкпульский приливной орган
Typetidal organ; architectural structure resembling an organ

Historical context

Year built2002
Part ofThe Great Promenade Show
Series typeseries of sculptures

Creator

Designed byLiam Curtin and John Gooding

Discovery and provenance

LocationNew Promenade, Blackpool, United Kingdom

Physical characteristics

Height15 meters
Materialsconcrete, steel, zinc, and copper sheet
Conditionheavily corroded

Technique

Silent conditionson very calm days the organ is silent for part of its cycle
Best time to hear ittwo to three hours before or after high tide
Pipe arrangementeight pipes attached outside to the seawall, connected under the promenade to 18 organ pipes within the sculpture
Pitch basispipe heights are based on the harmonic series in B-flat major
Sound mechanismincoming tidal waves push seawater through eight sea-wall pipes, forcing air up to 18 organ pipes inside the sculpture
Functionharnesses wave energy to produce sound; played by the sea at high tide

Appearance

Descriptiona "musical manifestation of the sea"

Iconography and meaning

Environmental interpretationsaid to produce a unique interpretation of Blackpool's natural and man-made environments

Significance

Contextone of several examples of a tidal or sea organ
Comparable instrumentsthe Sea Organ in Croatia; the San Francisco Wave Organ; the aeolian harp; the musical swing chimes

History and restoration

Official complaintIn 2019, Curtin made an official complaint about the state of the instrument
Safety concernsCurtin alleged that a lack of maintenance had caused safety concerns
Inspection outcomea health and safety surveyor determined that the instrument needed annual safety checks
Call for demolitionIn 2021, Curtin called for the instrument to be demolished
Reason for demolition callCurtin said he had been begging the council for almost 20 years to maintain the work and other works, in some cases for public safety reasons
Personal maintenanceCurtin said he had done some maintenance on it himself at his own cost
Removal dateDecember 2021