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DaveHarries

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Everything posted by DaveHarries

  1. Here's an organ I would very much like to spend some time playing if the chance ever arose. St. Elizabeth, Wroclaw (Poland), built by Klais (Bonn, DE) / Thomas (Stavelot, BE) / Zych (Wolomin, PL) 2019-2022 as a replica, in all ways except the blowing mechanism, of the Michael Engler organ (1752-1760) which was worked on and somewhat altered before being entirely destroyed by fire on 09-Jul-1976 leaving absolutely nothing. This photo, taken after the fire of 1976, shows just how complete the destruction of the previous organ was: https://polska-org.pl/9069037,foto.html?idEntity=546812 This video is an improvisation (of what piece I don't know) played by Hubert Trojanek. Dave
  2. A good appointment for Wells by the sound of it and hot on the heals of the appointment of a new Dean of Wells too (Rev. Toby Wright who is Team Vicar of Witney, Oxfordshire & Hon. Canon of Christ Church, Oxford) - but I am surprised that TIm Parsons is moving on quite so soon as it sounds like he has done well at St. Edmundsbury. One clue as to what might have lured TP's return to the west country perhaps comes from the website of SEC which quotes the Dean of St. Edmundsbury as saying that "it will be lovely for them to be closer to their families". The website of SEC says that TIm Parsons will be there until Sunday 01st September so Wells will have to wait a few months yet. Dave
  3. Each to their own: not all of these honours, such as the RVO (which can only be given by the monarch so is non-political: it is given for distinguished personal service to the monarch) have anything to do with politics and wealth whatsoever. The Dean of Westminster had a huge role in the organisation of the events in the Abbey. I remember David Hoyle from his time as Dean of Bristol and always reckoned that he would make a good job of handling the coronation. However I agree that some awards should have been dished out to those who composed, and were in charge of, the music for the service and its direction. Dave
  4. Various appointments starting to become public knowledge. Among them is the organist Anna Lapwood who is made MBE. Congratulations to her. Dave
  5. I have never heard of the Aliquot and I will be interested to hear this one when I get a chance. Dave
  6. As someone who doesn't know the layout of the old organ (as I never saw a cross-section of it) whereabouts was that? In the main case or hidden in the triforium somewhere? Dave
  7. I will also wait until I have heard it before I judge: it certainly sounds interesting. Dave
  8. Thanks Paul. Someone (Andrew Kirk) has also told me that on a FB group where I posted the same information. Although I am well aware that the work is needed it will be a pity to have to endure that electronic: when the blower packed up earlier in the year I heard the Viscount and I didn't think much of it. It takes me back to the time when I was a pupil (1990-1995) of Clifton College: when H&H restored the chapel organ in 1994 we had a 3-manual Allen in use and I thought that was, by comparison to the Viscount, a good electronic. Roll on August 2025. Dave
  9. Some updates on this. Firstly It is planned, as I understand it, that the organ will come down in January 2024, probably during the first half thereof. It is not scheduled to be back in use until August 2025. If that is correct then its final service before restoration, all being well, will be Sunday 31st December. Secondly, in terms of alterations to the stoplist I have the following information. The info was supplied by somebody in the know (not from H&H, whose website doesn't yet mention the project AFAICT) by email this morning: Great: Possible work to the Fourniture III-IV - replacement / revoicing. Choir: Clarinet (8ft?) replaced (as per 1907) Sesquialtera II (addded 1970s) to be split into separate ranks. I don't know what they will be and haven't been told. Pedal: Addition of Dulciana 8' (as per 1907) and Double Trumpet 16' (from Great) (presumably the rank will be on both divisions) Quint 5 1/3 to become Quint 10 2/3 (as per 1907) Great reeds to be available on other manuals. And that, I am told, is about it. There certainly one other alteration planned but that is very much TBC so I have been asked not to mention it here at present. HTIOI, Dave
  10. Thanks for sharing that quote from HMC. Yes it was the Dean (Andrew Braddock) alongside the Bishop of Norwich during that Evensong: before coming to Norwich he served in the DIocese of Gloucester after spending seven years before that as rector of two parishes and also as a rural dean in the Diocese of Norwich. A relative of mine who is a member of the congregation of Gloucester spoke very well of him when I mentioned the appointment in an email. Dave
  11. Other than those in ordained ministry I think there are quite a few who believe in the Holy Ghost: one Sunday morning I was told by the Head Server of Bristol Cathedral that there was a former server who, if he was the one to unlock the sacristy on a Sunday morning, would knock quietly three times before entering in case he disturbed the Holy Ghost! I am not that superstitious though! I once asked on Twitter why a Bishop knocks three times with his crozier on the door of a Cathedral at the start of the enthronement service. The first reply I got simply said: "See Revelation 3:20" which reads: "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." Dave
  12. As the advert says, the DoM reports to the Dean of St. Albans whom I once had the pleasure of meeting when she was Archdeacon of Canterbury and was in Bristol Cathedral (which she had to be as the ADoC gives the Archbishop's mandate to the Dean) for the enthronement of the Bishop. We talked about Bristol Cathedral and she took interest in what my Dad (who was one of the guides of Bristol Cathedral at the time) was telling her about the history of the building. A good sort IMO. Dave
  13. I will add my regret on hearing this news and I thank Tony both for his work on the NPOR - a valuable resource which I hope will continue - and for his contributions on this forum. RIP Tony. Dave
  14. I have heard that Gloucester have acquired a cathedral cat and this will result in the addition of an Open Diapawson..... Dave
  15. She is given as director of RSCM Voices South which she took up in September 2023 - www.rscm.org.uk%2fa-new-director-for-rscm-voices-south%2f/RK=2/RS=XqerZHO3HvmRapt_d1uGW9u2TTA- - and is also DoM of The Cathedral Singers of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford - https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/people/hilary-punnett Dave
  16. I always pronounce "Hele" as if you were giving a command to a dog (ie. "Heel!") Dave
  17. Wells Cathedral have put out an advertisement for a new ADoM: applications close 18th October. https://www.wellscathedral.org.uk/your-cathedral/vacancies Dave
  18. Greetings all, I started this as a separate thread as it doesn't really come under the recital theme. I thought members of this forum might be interested in the forthcoming Bristol Cathedral Festival of Evensong which runs from Monday 09th to Sunday 15th October. It sounds like wit might be quite a good week of music. The Evensong services will each feature music from a different century starting with modern composers on Monday 09th and then from the next few days will see music from previous centuries back to Medieval times. Details: https://bristol-cathedral.co.uk/whats-on/festival-of-evensong.html HTIOI, Dave
  19. Between September and November this year the regular lunchtime recital series at Bristol Cathedral continues to take place. This will be the final season of recitals before the organ is dismantled and departs for more than a year of restoration work. The remaining lunchtime organ recitals for this term are: 10th October: Christian Gautsci (Reformed Church, Zurich-Oerlikon, Switzerland) 17th October: Alison Howell (Organ) & Tilly Chester (Violin) 7th November: Farewell recital by the organists of the cathedral (Mark Lee (Organist & Master of Choristers) and Paul Walton (Assistant Organist) will feature in this along with, I would imagine, William Forrest who is the cathedral's Music Assistant and has organ playing duties as part of that role). All concerts start at 1:15pm. A full list of recitals, including ones not featuring the organ, can be found at https://bristol-cathedral.co.uk/whats-on/lunchtime-recital-series.html Dave
  20. "Großer Gott, wir loben dich" ("Holy God We Praise Thy Name") - a paraphrase (?) of the Te Deum - is probably my favourite German hymn: I recall singing it when on a school exchange in Germany once about 25 years ago. Dave
  21. Sorry - I misread the topic and thought it was Evensong not Eucharist.
  22. Bristol Cathedral do sing the Gloria Patri at the end of the psalms and Canticles used at Evensong. Dave
  23. An appointment from Bristol: I have just come across this on Facebook: - - - - - - - - - - We’re delighted to announce that from September, William Forrest will take up the new post of Music Assistant in the Cathedral Music Department. William will be playing the organ, assisting with chorister rehearsals, and helping with choral outreach. William joins us from Cardiff, where he was Assisting Organist at the St Martin in Roath Church, Cardiff while studying for an MA in Arts Management at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. [Facebook, Bristol Cathedral] Source: https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fbristolcathedral%2Fposts%2Fpfbid025g3MwSMjjMy3CYZKfznEVf5agUV1beacRtiEWq9zJV5XEUdRnxJbVa5DA4mbbUrXl - - - - - - - - - - Not a name I know of but welcome to Bristol William. Dave
  24. The electronic was in use at Bristol a few weeks ago following a problem with the pipe organ's air supply which was rectified a day or two later. As for other cathedrals planning work on their organs we can add Wells to that list. https://www.wellsgrandorganappeal.org.uk/ Dave
  25. Ah I see where you are coming from. If you watch the video of the announcement in the cathedral Dr. Plyming says at one point: "I know Durham Cathedral as a place of worship and as a former chorister whose faith came alive in services of Choral Evensong I look forward to seeing its worshipping tradition flourish." I may have made a slight error in assuming that he meant Choral Evensong at Durham: I have just found a bit in which he says that he "went to church as a child but came to a personal faith in Christ while at university." His entry on Wikipedia says that he studied Russian and German at Robinson College, Cambridge where he gained a BA in 1996. ANyway if he was a chorister, regardless of wherever, then there is the church music connection.
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