Arp Schnitger

…and his channel also features more on the flame-throwing organ.

The story has made the BBC website https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-kent-67380541

Sad news indeed. I first came across Banks as a schoolboy. My school’s stamp club would run an annual trip in January to the York Coin and Stamp fair but the coach was open to non-philatelists for a day in York, and it was on one of these that I discovered the Banks shop in Stonegate/ St Helen’s square, and remember the tiny rooms filled with boxes of scores, from where I began my collection of music. The staff were of course memorable- Nicholas, Malcolm, and a third gentleman whose name I never learned, but they did seem like the living embodiment of Grace Brothers’ menswear department! There was a refurbishment which led to a very pleasant church music room overlooking the square- though this removed some of the character of the former small rooms, I suspect the local fire H&S retail buildings inspector breathed a sigh of relief. I spent many a day here too during my university days, a pleasant trip down the east coast main line, to be concluded by Evensong in the Minster, in the early days (and my later schooldays) still under the tenure of FAJ and his rather quirky back row, and later as Philip Moore established himself, both in the Minster and on the shelves of Banks. I did like how the shop reflected the Minster music list and stocked many a slightly obscure anthem- my own collection kept on growing. it wasn’t the same when Banks moved to Lendal. Though the staff was initially the same and the browsing experience and range of scores etc on the first floor was more spacious, the character of Stonegate was lost, to become a Scottish Woollen mill or similar establishment. I was always impressed that, despite my visits becoming less frequent, maybe 2-3 times a year, Malcolm, the youngest and last “surviving” store assistant, always greeted me almost as a long-lost friend and would point me in the direction of some new and interesting choral or organ score. My last visit to the store was some 5-6 years ago, and just wasn’t the same. But I shall have very happy memories of how it introduced me in my formative years to a wealth of choral and organ repertoire!

I was rather taken with the music used by BBC TV to introduce its coverage and for the montages over the last ten days, which appears to be a specially written piece called ‘Elizabeth Remembered’ by composer Debbie Wiseman, a name new to me but upon researching, I’m somewhat embarrassed not to have come across her name before as a relatively prominent contemporary composer; I realise I have heard several of her film and TV scores. I venture to suggest that ‘Elizabeth Renembered’ would transfer very well to the organ. Wiseman seems to have a particular sense for a strong melody, an important element for the central theme in a Coronation March, and given Walton’s skills in writing music for films, and her track record in writing music for royal occasions, Debbie Wiseman OBE could be a suitable candidate. She was involved in the New Water Music Project in 2012, wrote a piece for the 2022 Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, was the musical director for the 2022 Royal Windsor Horse Show and featured this piece as part of an album on the Kings and Queens through history to celebrate the late Queen’s 95th birthday. https://youtu.be/3cV6GtunqvQ I have no doubt though that there will be plenty of new music written and commissioned by many of today’s most prominent composers for the coronation, but time will of course be the judge of which pieces endure. (Perhaps, though not strictly organ related, there’s also a market (albeit limited) for some more funeral marches- I don’t know how many times I heard the Walch Trauermarsch yesterday but it did seem to be on repeat loop at times - some newer alternatives which could be used on Remembrance Sunday might add variety (as long as they are at 75bpm!))

To add to this thread, a little information about the ‘temporary’ organ in the North Choir Aisle at Christ Church: from https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/alumni/e-matters-23rd-march-2021 Martin Renshaw writes: “The organ in the quire of Christ Church cathedral, which I set up in January 2019, on loan there for six months but now likely to be there for quite a while yet, also came from near Durham (where it was made), from one of two Methodist churches in Billy Row, a small mining village near Ushaw Moor. This organ had been offered to the English church in Menton, but was refused on the advice of a self-proclaimed Welsh expert in such matters. The organist of Durham cathedral was fortunately of a contrary opinion, so the organ found its way to Oxford, where its effectiveness and versatility can be heard in numerous YouTube filmed services and concerts.” details on NPOR: https://www.npor.org.uk/NPORView.html?RI=H01058

Forum members may be interested in this documentary which features the work of Martin Renshaw and others in rescuing redundant organs. Also featured is Dominic Gwynn and his team working on a restoration of Trinity College Dublin. You can rent or buy the video but to buy is only £5, well worth it IMO.

It looked as if Canterbury too was affected- the back row and David Newsholme were absent from their Advent service after several positive cases, so the service was very well sung by the Boys’ & Girls’ choirs directed by Adrian Bawtree and the ATB parts provided by discreet organ accompaniment, as I surmise the service booklets had already been printed so music couldn’t be changed. Ely choirs were also conducted by the Assistant DoM - not sure why but I’m guessing COVID has had led to Plan B being enacted at quite short notice in a few establishments. in addition to the Advent services above, YT has services from Trinity & Clare Colleges, Cambridge, Christ Church, Merton College and New College Oxford, and I also located Gloucester, Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum, Chichester, St Albans and Norwich, plus probably quite a few others, probably enough for a different one each day of Advent. Fully agreed the webcasting is a great development!

David Halls and John Challenger were interviewed live on BBC Breakfast a few days ago at 6.50am. Unfortunately the attempt to broadcast John playing Bach’s Air in D was of less than stellar audio quality. Of the witter suggestions I have heard, Paul Ayres’ Toccata on “All you need(le) is Love” and Fauré’s “Cantique de Jean Vaccine” are worth sharing!

It’s in the Mayhew Wedding collection “Music for a Bride” and probably in some of their other collections too.

Very sad to hear this- end of a long and illustrious period for one of the most respected names in British Organ building. Manders have also been very gracious and generous in hosting this forum, for which our thanks are due It does occurs to me that this forum might disappear rather suddenly as a result. Do we have a ‘Plan B’ as to where to relocate this valuable and interesting online community for those interested in the organ and its music?

Daniel Cook now has a YouTube Channel, with performances on the virtual Salisbury organ. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs6BL1uuNQMYdSWGJU7op_g/videos

A few virtual organ recitals, either live or recorded are starting to pop up during this time of lockdown. In the absence of real pipe organs available, the virtual ones are being used instead: Richard McVeigh played at the (virtual) Laurenskerk in Rotterdam: https://youtu.be/m1Y-LejzR5I

I’m not sure I can help you with Keates, but one of the instruments that I play regularly, a John Nicholson instrument of 1873, has an almost identical specification to the instrument that you have obtained. It has a Sesquialtera-like Mixture III on the Swell, and the NPOR page gives its composition, acting as a Tierce mixture as well as with Cornet-like properties. Another stop that I find very useful dates in fact from 1962, and is a Nazard on the Great. Its presence and name is perhaps a child of its time and historically rather unauthentic, but it has Twelfth-like properties in the bass and is more flute-like in the treble, and certainly adds a very useful extra solo colour, as well as helpful in the Great Chorus, which doesn’t have its own Mixture or reed, useful as either or both would be.

Martin Seymour, currently Director of Music at All Saints’ Church, Marlow, to be Director of Music at Romsey Abbey.

Titulaire Quintin Guérillot posted on Facebook “Chers amis, Suite à vos nombreux messages d’inquiétude et de sympathie que vous avez eu la gentillesse de m’adresser concernant les dégradations de l’orgue de la cathédrale-basilique de Saint-Denis, je tiens à vous rassurer : Plus de peur que de mal. Seuls quelques poids déposés sur les soufflets ont été dérobés. Heureusement : aucun dégât à signaler sur toute la partie instrumentale. On ne peut hélas pas en dire autant des portes d’accès à la tribune et d’un magnifique vitrail côté sud qui a été pulvérisé... Quoiqu’il en soit l’orgue sonnera pour le mieux pour le prochain concert de la nouvelle saison qui aura lieu le 7 avril ! A très bientôt pour de prochaines informations sur la saison 2019 !” Dear friends, Following your many messages of concern and sympathy that you had the kindness to address me regarding the deterioration of the organ of the Cathedral-Basilica of Saint-Denis, I would like to reassure you: More fear than evil. Only a few weights deposited on the bellows have been stolen. Fortunately: no damage to report on the whole instrumental part. Unfortunately, we can't say so much about the doors of access to the grandstand and a beautiful stained glass of south side that has been sprayed... Anyway, the organ will ring for the best for the next concert of the new season that will take place on April 7th! See you soon for next information about the 2019 season!