Malcolm Riley

I wish I could have some definite news on this topic. Alas, there is not a single reference to this piece in Whitlock's 1935 diary (which sits before me). Our best bet might be to contact F Austin's grandson, Martin Lee-Brown, to see whether he can shed some light for us.

Watched the service without commentary. How refreshing! A veritable musical feast, though ALW's contribution was lacking a certain something (such as anything melodically memorable), not helped by a rather crass attempt at a modulation. The Abbey organ sounded magnificent, ditto the playing.

There was Nicholson's on Parliament Street in Harrogate. A few pianos and school recorders at ground floor level and then the ascent to the nicotine-fugged first floor, where Joe N himself presided, going for the record for the longest fag-ash! Lots of sheet music, manuscript books, a huge range of everything, including the latest top 40 hits, instrument spares etc. For some time one of Francis Jackson's sons worked there, too. Long gone, but not forgotten.

Every aspect of the service (meticulously planned by Francis, even down to the metronome speeds for the hymns) was superb. From my position halfway down the nave, the organ to choir balance was perfect. To employ the Tuba mirabilis for just one line of the final hymn was a masterstroke. Heartfelt thanks to those who contributed their musical talents to such a magnificent send-off.

I have a nice, original copy of Jesu Olugbala going spare, Martin. Please email with contact details. Malcolm

With my Whitlock hat on I wonder whether MM would be interested in any of the Compton-related material which is in Whitlock’s diaries? There are a couple of letters also in Whitlock’s widow’s diaries (which she wrote after Percy’s death) from John Compton and Jimmy Taylor. Edna Whitlock gave most of Whitlock’s organ library to Taylor. I think some of this eventually ended up with Felton Rapley and Robert Munns. PW was a frequent visitor to the Compton ‘woiks’ In the ‘30s. I would be happy to share anything we have in the Whitlock Archive. I for one can’t wait to read the fruits of MM’s researches. Could it not be a BIOS publication? Malcolm Riley

I have several recordings of live performances of the Whitlock Symphony (Chatham, York Minster, London) in the archive as well as one of the Basil Harwood. Let me know if you'd like to hear them. As to the Lloyd, do the orchestral parts exist? The Quentin Maclean Concerto is extant. Best wishes, MKR

I am undertaking research into the life and work of Dr Philip Marshall, native of Brighouse and long-time resident of Lincolnshire, best-known for his long and fruitful association with Lincoln Cathedral. Through the good offices of Robert Gower I am collecting copies of his published and unpublished works. However, we would be pleased to trace other MSS or memorabilia related to this great musical character and would also be keen to receive any personal anecdotes which forum members might care to share. Malcolm Riley

Whitlock's To Phoebe isn't really about the sea, at all. The piece that is connected is his March for the 'Phoebe', that was HMS Phoebe, a Dido-class cruiser, which was active on the Malta convoys. Whitlock wrote it in July 1942 for the ship's band. The 2-stave, short score surfaced in a pile of music at a Bournemouth jumble sale (in 1978, I think), sent along by Byron Brooke, who had been leader of the Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra during the War. It's an excellent nautical march, very crisp and bouncy. Robert Gower's organ arrangment was published by Novellos, in an organ album - Processionals - which is probably out of print now. Whitlock's friend, Bernard Walker (dedicatee of the former's Fanfare) composed a chorale-prelude on Melita (For Those in Peril...) which he worked in counterpoint with The Sailor's Hornpipe. Although this is still in MS I recorded it on an organ CD - St Bride's, Fleet Street. Great fun. I've often wondered whether the Scherzo from RVW's A Sea Symphony might make a good organ piece, even without Whitman's words. Malcolm Riley

<h2> <span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">If it's of any interest to MM for his 'Great Work', Percy Whitlock's diaries are littered with occasional references to Comptons. I append a small selection to whet his appetite.</span></span></h2> <h2> <em>Wednesday 11 July 1934</em></h2> <p> </p> <p>... Jimmy Taylor turned up, came to the flat for Tea, & passed my St Stephen’s [bournemouth] scheme with one suggestion which I think is an improvement. Comptons are doing a £10,000 job at the new Southampton Town Hall (to seat 2,500) about 40 rks! Two consoles, one luminous, the other stop-keys – the latter to have about 270 Tabs!! We must have another 100 put on at the Pavilion!!! Mr Compton has gone through the wind screen of his Lanchester, taking the corner too fast; face & nose badly cut, suffering from shock. They are going to send a console hand down in Sept to put the new tabs etc. on the console.</p> <p> </p> <h2> <em>Friday 10 August 1934</em></h2> <p>...Tuners at Pavilion; went down and “helped”. John Compton (& boy friend) turned up – he was quite pleased with the organ I think.</p> <p> </p> <h2> <em>Tuesday 4 October 1934</em></h2> <p>... to the Compton factory tried 2 rk, 3 rk, & 14 rk (the completed shop organ). Tea at Shepherd’s Bush – called at the Pavilion – [Frederic] Curzon away. </p> <p> </p> <h2> <em>Friday 15 September 1944</em></h2> <p> </p> <p>3. To St. Francis [of Assisi Church, Bournemouth - Whitlock had opened the organ in 1938]. Jolly Frank Holden & keen Mr. Fair (of Compton’s) got on with the job. They came to the house about 8.30, & we drank Tea, & talked the rafters blue. Much discussion about the Church House – Westminster organ (now destroyed) which Ball designed to use electrophonic basses, & the manuals re-inforced with pipes to fill in what electrophonics can’t do. A good idea. Worked out some schemes on these lines during the next day or two.</p> <h2> <em>Saturday 16^th September 1944</em></h2> <p> </p> <p>3.15. Recital at St. Francis (Compton Electrotone) to the organists’ Assn: Overture ‘Otho’ – Handel; ‘Blessed Damozel’ – Debussy; the short G. minor (Bach). Tea in the Hall afterwards. [J D] Chandler [organist of St Peter's, Bournemouth] said (in a speech) that he looked forward to the day when this fine Church should have a <u>real</u> organ. Fair pulled rather a rye face, for he (and Bourne) are principally responsible for Compton’s electronics. However we all three visited the Pavilion at 9, after which Fair said he was going to look for a nice rope with a strong noose! They came up home again – two most enjoyable evenings.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Is this any help?</p> <p> </p> <p>best wishes,</p> <p> </p> <p>Malcolm Riley</p>

Further notes on James I Taylor: Leslie Barnard wrote to me in March 1984 with this impression of Jim Taylor, a 'great and well loved character... He was famous for his extraordinary powers at extemporary playing but he was also an excellent player from the dots, when he had time to get up a programme, and he broadcast several recitals from B[roadcasting] H[ouse] in the thirties, playing the standards - Bach, Franck, Karg-Elert, Guilmant etc. He was not one to boast but it WAS his harmless boast that he had played services for every denomination in the book, Anglican, Roman Catholic, Anglo-Catholic, Wesleyan, Presbyterian, Congregational, Baptist, Liberal Synagogues where they have organs, Town Halls and Crematoria. Apart from that he was the most able all-round organ builder ever, next to The Old Man John Compton himself, having done with his own hands every job there is to be done from sawing up hard-wood by hand when he was a boy to making pedal keys, to action and soundboard work, designs, setting out, voicing and finishing. He was also brilliant at organisation, staff management, dealing with Bishops, Deans, Vicars, Rectors, Organ Grinders, Moderators, Rabbis, Town Clerks, busybodies, consultants and organ nuts. He was short, stocky, genial, humorous and fatherly. He spoke standard English but for anecdotes where appropriate he could always drop in to a lovely Nottinghamshire. He was THE anecdotist. In the years I knew him he told me hundreds of droll stories connected with the craft of organ building and he seemed to have a card index brain and to know what he had told you because he never told one twice unless you asked him to go back to it. Sounds like he was one in a million! Malcolm Riley

Whitlock's Right Thumb At birth it was discovered that Whitlock's right thumb had bifurcated. The supernumerary digit was removed whilst he was a baby leaving him with a thumb which was longer and thinner than most, more akin to a middle finger, apparently. There are a couple of photos in the Whitlock Archive which show it quite clearly. He wasn't in the least self-conscious about it; indeed, he took full advantage of it as an organist (much to the discomfort of those of us with normal spans! Someone told me that he was also double-jointed. Incidentally two 'new' photographs of Whitlock have been posted recently on the 'net by the TopFoto agency (TopFoto.co.uk), showing 'Percy Whitlock, the boy organist, who has been elected Kent Scholar, Royal College of Music', taken on 8 April 1920, when PW was 16. They were taken at Minor Canon Row, Rochester. An interior shot shows the young maestro seated at Charles Hylton Stewart's upright piano with a rather impressive double page mansucript on the desk. It's difficult to establish what the piece is, apart from the fact that there are four staves per system. A student string quartet, perhaps? We shall probably never know!

JAMES ISAAC TAYLOR - COMPTON'S RIGHT HAND MAN I've gleaned a little further background inforrmation on JIT. He was born in Radford, Notts in 1892, the only child of Henry Taylor (a church caretaker - very useful for a son who's interested in organs, I should imagine!) and Clara Ann Taylor. By 1911 JIT had moved away from his parents' home (he's not listed with them on the Census), though I haven't managed to locate him - yet. JIT married Lilian D Skinner in Nottingham in 1919. Her brother, Roy Skinner, would later work for the John Compton Organ Co. According to Leslie Barnard the Taylors had two sons: "one became a market gardener and the other rose to heights in the insurance world". I've traced a birth of James L[aurence] Taylor in Nottingham in 1926. Laurie Taylor once entertained Leslie Barnard to lunch at the Farmers' Club, Whitehall, so I suppose he was the market gardener! After the above the trail has gone cold again! ...apart from a fascinating online reference to a wartime JIT patent concerning electric pre-selector gearboxes for motorcars. Malcolm Riley

Someone who knew everyone well at the pre-war Compton Works was Leslie Barnard, who died just about a year ago, aged 95. I have kept all of Leslie's letters over a 30 year period and they often mention J I Taylor. Leslie certainly kept in touch with one of JIT's sons into the 1980s. I shall have to go for a good rummage in the archives and will report back any relevant findings to the Forum. JIT could demonstrate any organ and in any style. He might just be recognizable on the ITN footage of the Queen's re-opening of St Bride's, Fleet Street. There is a VHS transfer of this somewhere, apparently. JIT died on 6 April 1958 in the Central Middlesex Hospital. He left an estate worth over £36,000. .

I agree that it was a bit uneven in places, but that's mostly down to the editing, surely? Any film which promotes Parry's music is going to be a Good Thing. The various Shulbrede Tunes played on the piano were a revelation to me, as was the movement from the Magnificat, filmed in Oxford. As an appetizer for a deeper investigation into Parry's music it must surely be ranked as a great success. The Westminster Abbey conversations were great fun, especially when James O'Donnell asked Robert Quinney to take a break from the pedalboard. They say that CHHP died in the Spanish 'flu epidemic, though I'd heard that he died from septicemia caused by a hernia which he ruptured whilst strenuously tricycling uphill. Is this true? I have in my possession a charming letter on RCM notepaper, dated 9 January 1911, to a recently-departed student, one 'Dodds', in which Parry hopes that 'you will get plenty to do and do it in grand style'. If only today's conservatoire administrators were so wholesome and encouraging in their parting remarks! Malcolm Riley