Geoff McMahon

Leaving aside any thoughts about his appearance, I thought his comments about the pipe organ being finished and that the future was electronic organs was nothing short of bizarre. The evidence is so much to the contrary, even if there is a place for an electronic in some instances, perhaps for his style of playing. But to say that he had spent six or seven hours practicing on the Opera House organ and still didn't feel at one with it (I don't remember exactly what he said) says more about him than the organ I suspect. I wonder what he would make of Mein Junges Leben or O Mensch Bewein on a sui

In case you don't notice it, there is a piece about pipe metal casting and direction to a video of it in Nuts and Bolts. John

I have now added a video of the metal planing as well. If the metal casting is not immediately visible, scroll down to the 24th of July. John

For those of you with access to facebook, you may like to see a video I uploaded earlier this week of pipe metal casting here at the works. Not everybody has seen this process and I still find it fascinating to watch after all these years. You can see it here: http://www.facebook.com/john.p.mander John

Thank you Andrew, for clearing up this misconception about the Royal Trumpets. John

There is also a list of the recitals on the concert pages of our website. John

July sees the first recital tour in the UK by the acclaimed Canadian organist, Isabelle Demers, who is rapidly becoming recognised as one of North America's most significant young virtuosic organists. Michael Barone, presenter of Pipedreams, described her during a broadcast as "definitely a talent to watch and hear". She is playing five recitals during this tour. The first recital is at Ripon Cathedral on 3 July 2012. The programme for all the recitals can be downloaded here. http://www.mander-organs.com/downloads/2012-july-recitals-isabelle-demers.pdf http://isabelledemers.org

Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, Atlanta,Georgia 11 July 2012 7.30pm Organ recital given by Dr Jonathan Biggers, Professor of Organ, State University of New York / Binghamton University Programme details on the Concerts page. RMM

A rather bad translation can, of course, be obtained through google. John

For those members of the discussion board who speak German, here is an article which may amuse: http://www.europeonline-magazine.eu/klangwelten-des-genusses_213530.html John

I am sorry to be a bit slow in responding to this. When we first looked at the organ, long before we did any work on it, the wind pressure for the Swell fluework was measured at 4 3/8". We had assumed it would be 3 1/2", so were somewhat surprised. So the pressure was raised by somebody before we got to it. We stuck with this pressure, on the assumption it had been raised for a reason and it certainly seems about right for the building. The Vox Humana is (of course) on the same flue pressure. John

Noel Mander, founder of Mander Organs and my father, would have been 100 years old today.

I too was at the recital by Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin at St Paul's and was also a little disappointed by the themes. However, my disappointment was soon dispersed by her masterly handling of the themes and the improvisation itself. She started of gently and quietly, exploring the themes using just the Chancel Organ and (unlike so many improvisations) the themes were recognisable time and again and I think she played with them in an interesting way. Only at the end did she let the organ rip and I thought this was one of the best improvisations I have heard in a long time. It was th

Posted on behalf of John Mander http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Birch_%28musician%29

How very right that good music needs no apology! High art is all too often sacrificed on the altar of accessibility these days

Dear Discussion Board Members, one and all, You may have noticed the facebook logo on the web page in a couple of places. This is to direct you to the Mander facebook page, in case you should be interested in seeing progress in the works. If you have a facebook presence, you don't need to be a "friend" in order to see what is posted as most of it is public. Little snippets of news ranging from progress on the Beckenham organ to marmalade can be seen. Either click the facebook logo on this site, or go to your own facebook page and search for "John Pike Mander". There won't be too many of th

Wonderful recital by Olivier Latry at Wimbledon. Was anybody else there? The church was full

Olivier Latry is playing a celebrity recital on the newly restored 1920 J W Walker organ at The Sacred Heart Wimbledon this coming Friday. His programme is as follows: Reger: Introduction & Passacaglia in D minor Tournemire: Petite Rapsodie improvisée Franck: Choral no. 2 in B minor Dupré: Cortège et Litanie Vierne: Three 'Pièces de Fantaisie' (Feux follets, Clair de Lune, Carillon de Westminster) Latry: Improvisation The recital starts at 7:45pm and tickets are £10, £5 for students and pupils This is a rare opportunity to hear Olivier Latry in England and the recital prom

Cranleigh School Chapel, Surrey Tuesday 31 January 2012 7.30pm Resident organist, Philip Scriven, plays a selection of Bach on the new Mander organ BWV 582 Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor BWV 230 Motet: Lobet den Herrn BWV 659 Chorale Prelude: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland BWV 244 Aria: Ich will bei meinen Jesu wachen (from 'St Matthew Passion') BWV 564 Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C Major INTERVAL BWV542 Fantasia and Fugue in G Minor (The 'Great') BWV147 "Jesu, Joy of man's desiring" from Cantata 147 BWV622 Chorale Prelude: O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß BWV244 Chor

Very sad and sudden. I well remember his concert on the St Agnes organ in New York which he gave alongside (I think I am right in saying) Kent Tritle. He had such energy and his playing was inspirational, particularly his improvisation. RIP

I have just heard of the passing of Gustav Leonhardt after a long fight against cancer. But he was till performing right up till the end. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/9021331/Gustav-Leonhardt.html John

This famous and almost unaltered J W Walker organ was restored, retaining its original pneumatic action. See Portfolio > UK > Sacred Heart Wimbledon RMM

Tomorrow sees the launch of a new CD made by William Whitehead on the 1723 Abraham Jordan organ at St George's Southall which we restored a couple of years ago. It is on the Regent label, number REGCD366. This organ was restored very authentically. It has regained its original key compasses and it has no pedals. Hand blowing has been provided. More information about the organ can be found on this web site under "Portfolio". It is an interesting and well made CD. John

Thanks - still finding my way around the "control panel" of the updated forum. The Portfolio part of the Mander Organs web site will be updated soon with an entry for the Sacred Heart Wimbledon. Rachel

Paging forum member "PJB" - you have opted to have the "daily new topics digest" The Organ and its Music automatically e-mailed to you by the forum software but it looks as if the e-mail address you have in your profile is no longer working. So the notification has bounced back. Please e-mail me with your current e-mail address if you want me to change this in your profile. Thanks. Rachel rachel@longitude0.co.uk