Jump to content
Mander Organ Builders Forum

PAUL GOODMAN

Members
  • Posts

    20
  • Joined

  • Last visited

PAUL GOODMAN's Achievements

Newbie

Newbie (1/3)

0

Reputation

  1. P.S. If anyone is worried that they can't play DVD's out of the UK PAL region, check your machine, and then if no good, look up multi region codes on google and you can reset your player to accept DVDs from anywhere. I did it with my Philips £39 DVD player and it plays USA DVDs perfectly.
  2. I agree with Vox Humana, although I don't think one CC has any bearing on what another CC might do, and they are totally different in what they do.
  3. I have heard this organ played live several times, and to my mind the only person who really uses it's mighty resources properly is Peter Conte. For many years the organ did not have a reliable combination action, but it now has this and many of the departments and stops which did not function for years now work properly. The acoustic of the building has also been improved radically in recent years, and the tuning has always been very good when I have heard it. The sound of many, many layers of shimmering strings being added is utterly magical and totally unique. Apparently there is some clause in place that whoever runs the store has to maintain the organ. The only drawback is that it is usually played during shopping hours when there is a high background noise. There are one or two special recitals in a closed building, and they must be something very special.
  4. When I was a cheeky young boy of about 12 I remember bouncing up to AW when he emerged from the organ screen steps at Canterbury, and asking if I could see the organ. I imagine he was thinking of getting away and having a nice quiet drink, but charmingly and enthusiastically invited me up to the (then 4 manual) console. Pressing a "full" general piston, he said "let's give the tourists a fright" and played a huge and horrific few chords of some Ridout work with a gleam in his eyes. He then jumped off and said - have a go then. I had nothing with me so proceeded to play the tune to Eternal Father strong to save. Allan stood on the screen singing in full voice. An experience I will never forget. He left me thinking that maybe Cathedral organists could be fun and were not all grumpy and dusty!
  5. Stephen Hicks, from Roros Norway (past pupil of Dupre, Marchal, and Boulanger) gives a recital at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church 4pm Saturday 27th February followed by a buffet tea. Free entry. Stephen has a stunning technique coupled with mature musicianship, and will include Variations on a Noel and Deux Esquisses by Dupre in his programme. Organ is the recently upgraded instrument featuring Binns pipework. Stephen will also give a recital at St Alphage Burnt Oak on March 2nd at 7.30pm Stephen rarely plays in the UK and so please come if you can.
  6. I have an Allen, so am biased towards them, but I think it depends on how much you are going to spend. If we are talking sub £10,000 then I would look at Allen Protege series - don't go for the Chapel series as they use inferior keyboards etc. Otherwise Viscount offer very good value for money. Also beware because the cheapest models of both use non standard size pedalboards etc. Personally I would go the secondhand route, as I do not think the latest small Allen Organs are nearly as the MDS range, which was in production until about 1998. Whilst the Hauptwerk option is a good one tonally, it always leaves very important factors to people who generally don't know about things such as speakers, amps, keyboards etc. At best they look like glorified Midi keyboards, and I like something tactice like a stop knob or tab, rather than a computer touch screen. Is there any company who custom build hauptwerk consoles/sound systems? Hope this helps
  7. The main reason is the instruments, and the restrictions they impose on what Cameron would like to do. When he has not seen or played a particular instrument he is reluctant to put down a set programme. There are other factors which would also cause him to change what he might play. Whatever he plays, be assured it will be an amazing experience for all who part with £15!
  8. Members of the forum may be interested to know that Stephen Hicks; who now lives and works in Norway - a well known name in the UK in the 70's and 80's is giving some recitals at the end of February in the UK. It is rare for him to play in the country now, and being in the winter I'm sure he could do with our support! Link to Stephen Smith's Organ recitals.com: http://www.organrecitals.com/1/recitals.php?organist=stehic
  9. I have tried Marshall & Ogletree digital organ in Middle Collegiate Church NYC where Cameron Carpenter designed the organ. It has stops at 128 and 64 pitch driven by Thigpen Rotary Subwoofers. These devices are like aircraft propellers and can deliver unlimited volume levels down to 2hz. The sound of Sine Wave stops is very strange thud, giving a feeling similar to being punched in the stomach....not entirely musical.
  10. Quick link of an example of Nathan's playing http://www.nathanlaube.com/index.php?p=aud...vid=RbcfsXsLD4U
  11. The tour for Nathan was an exercise in picking up the pieces left by Cameron not coming - so that determined the venues and dates. I'm sure Nathan would love to return to Durham (my favourite Cathedral organ) and give a concert. Paul
  12. There has been some discussion here about Cameron Carpenter and the UK tour which was planned for summer of 2009. I can speak with a little authority as I planned and arranged all the tour venues. There were 11 in all and it is true that the whole thing has been cancelled by Cameron and his new Manager Richard Torrence. This has caused me and a great number of people a great deal of stress and in some cases anger. While I can still see some reason for the cancellation - Cameron has the opportunity to make a second recording for Telarc, I can also agree with those who think it is very poor judgement by Cameron's management to break "contracts" with these important venues. I have got to know Cameron quite well over the past year and wish to keep him as a friend so will not damn him as others have. The GOOD NEWS OUT OF THIS IS THAT ANOTHER BRILLIANT AMERICAN ORGANIST CALLED NATHAN LAUBE IS TAKING OVER 7 OUT OF THE 11 VENUES ORIGINALLY BOOKED FOR CAMERON. I would ask members to have a look at Nathan's webisite at www.nathanlaube.com as this gives information about the tour and his playing - which is stunning, but the tour dates are as follows: Monday 17th August - All Souls Langham Place - 7.30pm Wednesday 19th August - Exeter Cathedral - 8pm Friday 21st August - Great Torrington Parish Church Devon - 7.30pm Saturday 22nd August - Truro Cathedral - 7.30pm Wednesday 26th August - Christchurch Priory - 7.30pm Saturday 29th August - Canterbury Cathedral - 7.30pm Saturday 5th September - Nichols Nymet House, North Tawton Devon - 7pm Further details also at organrecitals.com There may even be time to squeeze in one or two other engagements and if anyone is interested they should contact me here or at paulsgoodman@hotmail.com I do hope people will support Nathan and give him the recognition he deserves in the UK. Paul Goodman
  13. Anyone who has visited Blenheim Palace will know that there is a 4 manual Father Willis organ in the Grand Library with a tin front going part way down the 32' octave of the Pedal Contra Violone. The pipes are still very bright considering they have been there since the 1890's. I presume the atmosphere in the room is much cleaner tha RAH and that they may have been cleaned. I think they represent a good colour tone for what could be done at RAH, as they are not glaring in their effect, but look fresh and clean.
  14. The organ does not have a pipes/digital regulator, and I think they are of little use, because the problem is the pipes out of tune with themselves. I would love to have a pipes only organ (although I see little point in real flue 16' basses when space is short in a house) - and I do have space for an organ chamber behind the music room with a hole cut in the wall. The only problem is I don't have the money!!!! If I did it would be detached console electric action and some extension/duplication - would Mander build it??????????????
  15. I was upset to hear that the grand organ of Holy Trinity Hull has fallen into a bad state. I remember hearing it in the 1970's along with the City Hall being very impressed. This is not the only large Compton organ to be in trouble. There is a large instrument in Paddington that is only kept going by a dedicated organ builder and several helpers, and I am sure others. It is a great pity that there is not a central single fund other than the lottery where large amounts of money can be allocated to historic organs. I do not wish to pay more tax, but I think this corner of the arts is underfunded by central government compared with a great many European countries. I wonder what the situation in USA is?
×
×
  • Create New...