DaveHarries
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Posts posted by DaveHarries
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Greetings all.
Back in 2009 I made a post ("Interesting Organ Project in Poland - https://mander-organs-forum.invisionzone.com/topic/2384-interesting-organ-project-in-poland/ ) where I referred to the destruction by fire on 9th June 1979 of the organ (1752-61) by Michael Engler in the church of St. Elizabeth, Wroclaw, Poland. At the time I made that post there was a fundraising effort in progress with the aim of building a direct replica of Engler's organ for the church in question. I thought I would post here, for the benefit of anyone interested, an update which I noticed online this afternoon.
In December 2017 a tender was issued for the work - http://www.opusorgani.pl/more.php?ch=3&subch=3&article=9 - in which photos are included showing that work to reconstruct the organ balcony (which was also lost in the fire of June 1979 along with the organ). In May 2018 it was announced by Fundacji Opus Organi - http://www.opusorgani.pl/more.php?ch=3&subch=3&article=10 - that a contract for the work on the organ has been won by a consortium. The consortium doing the work will be lead by Orgelbau Klais (Bonn, Germany) and the partners in the consortium will be Manufacture d'Orgues Thomas (Stevelot, Belgium) and Zych Zaklady Organowe (Wolomin, Poland). The contract was signed on 24-Apr-2018 and is effective until 28-Feb-2022 with the price being PLN15,996,120.00 (net) but, with VAT, that becomes PLN19,675,227.60 (around £4,000,000).
I should think, and hope, that with a consortium like that, the long process of the work will result in what should be a first-class reconstruction of the lost Engler organ which, among other things, will no doubt include pipes built with metal specifications similar to other Engler instruments. It should be well worth hearing and I look forward to seeing the outcome.
Hope this has been of interest.
Dave
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A member of this forum put a picture of this organ on their Facebook page a couple of days back. Lovely looking instrument but what a pity (IMO) that someone had to go and jazz it up to the extent that it starts (to my ear anyway) to sound more like a fairground organ: a look at some other clips on YouTube reveal that, aside from the Cymbelstern (no objection) the statues and some other parts also move: see the clip called "Święta Lipka - Polonez - Pożegnanie Ojczyzny organy (HD)".
The organ is in the church of the Dear Lady, located in Święta Lipka (Poland) and was built by Jan Mosengel (1721) with more work by B. Goebel (1905) and by Klepacki & Sauer (2010). Sounds great in these clips but I wonder how much of the organ as it is now is original material.
Nice instrument though and lovely colours.
Dave
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2 hours ago, Shropshire Lad said:
I'm presuming that Christopher Allsop is moving on to pastures new from Worcester Cathedral? Anybody know where yet?
He'll be very much missed, the choir speak very highly of him. He's also a very underrated organist and hopefully we'll get to hear more of his playing in the future to show off his talents.
Worcester will still have the talents of Mr. Allsop: he isn't moving too far. Just across the College Green in fact.
http://rscmworcester.com/moving-to-pastures-new-across-college-green/
Dave
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The May/June 2018 issue of Choir & Organ magazine says that "Matthew Owens (Organist & Master of the Choristers, Wells Cathedral) has been made a Prebendary (Canon) of Wells Cathedral by the Bishop of Bath and Wells, in recognition of 'outstanding service to the Church in the Diocese and particularly to the Cathedral'.
Dave
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Two clips from Cologne Cathedral.
Most YouTube clips from Cologne Cathedral seem to feature the main 4-manual organ at the crossing of the cathedral but, in view of it being lit up, I assume this is the cathedral's main organ which was built by Klais of Bonn in 1998: it looks to me in the clip as if someone is at the console of it. Lovely building but I think the sound quality of this clip is not perhaps as great as the piece sounds. Speaking of which does anyone recognise the piece?
Sticking with the main organ at the crossing in the Cathedral (Klais of Bonn, built 1947 and restored with alterations in 2000) here we have what sounds to me like an absolutely splendid improvisation of Hymn 642 from the hymnbook of the same cathedral. It sounds as if this one is done in the French style - my Dad always says to "expect fireworks from the French" - but whether it is intended to sound French or not it is fabulous anyway.
Enjoy!
Dave
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On 3/21/2018 at 13:30, SomeChap said:
I will make sure I
stuff my face withassess the pork pies next time I'm in Beverley.Same thing as far as you are concerned, I am guessing?
Dave
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Yes, there really is one!
This afternoon I drove past the entrance to the Hampton Court Castle which is at Hope-under-Dinmore, a few miles south of Hereford. A look at the website this evening - https://www.hamptoncourtcastle.co.uk/ - reveals an extremely grand building, the website of which says that the oldest parts - including the chapel - date from 1427.
I looked up this location on the National Pipe Organ Register (NPOR) and there is an entry, dated 2002, for the chapel. The organ is reported as being unusable and "in pieces" in 2001. No builder is given but I should think, going by the specification, it is / was an instrument from the Victorian period or perhaps earlier. Does anyone know anything of the instrument's history? I can find nothing online.
http://npor.org.uk/NPORView.html?RI=R00347 (or, in case the link doesn't work, NPOR Number: R00347)
Cheers,
Dave
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14 hours ago, ross cobb said:
Hi Dave, erm, I would have just said yes!
Are you Brizzle-based?
RossHi Ross. Yes I am and I was thinking of Christ Church, Clifton but I have just noticed that Peter Allison mentioned that in his post. I remember the organ at Christ Church as being a nice instrument and I also remember Wayne Marshall's recital on it some years back (can't recall when!) which included a round of variations on the theme from "The Flintstones". Hope you are enjoying life in Aus.
Dave
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13 hours ago, ross cobb said:
Some news from the Antipodes as we bask in the heat of a Sydney summer.
Simon Niemiński, has this week taken up the post of ADOM at St Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral, Sydney.
Simon has been previously organist of St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Edinburgh and Director of Music at The Robin Chapel. He was also previously assistant at London's St Bartholomew the Great.
Happy New Year from a very sultry Sydney!
Cheers,
Ross Cobb (DOM, St Andrew's Anglican Cathedral, Sydney)Greetings Ross. You weren't previously organist of a church here in Bristol, Uk were you? Your name rings a bell.
Dave
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Just gone browsing Canterbury Cathedral's website. The correct link is https://www.canterbury-cathedral.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/CC_QO-spec_Dec-2017.pdf
That link, together with other info, can be found at https://www.canterbury-cathedral.org/support-us/supporting-us/the-canterbury-voice/the-cathedral-organ-project/
Dave
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Nor me.
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Here's something for a bit of fun. Insides and sounds of the organ at Esztergom Basilica, Hungary.
Dave
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2 hours ago, John Robinson said:
Using Google Translate, I see that the author is 'not completely in favour' of the use of a toaster in St Peter's!
That is how I put the petition into English as well John. Frankly I don't blame him either: a place such as St. Peter's, Rome is the last place I would expect to find an electronic organ.
Dave
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Through a link on the "Organs of Paris" group on Facebook I have been made aware of this. Sounds like the organ at this most sacred of places of worship is not in good condition but, either way, I hope that this installation, if it has already been done, is not a permanent thing. Either way a petition has been set up which is written in Italian so you will need a translator to read it.
It appears that St. Peter's Basilica, Rome has acquired an electronic organ!!
Out of itnerest what is the history behind the pipe organ there?
Dave
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I love this. And so, clearly, does the audience.
Dave
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On 12/19/2017 at 19:01, hackjo said:
Thank God they're not chucking it out and replacing it with a brand new one!
Absolutely! The instrument sounded fab during the concert on Monday evening (18th December) which was the yearly run of Messaien's "La Nativité" after which a retiring collection toward the organ appeal was taken and it raised quite a bit from the 100+ (reckoned by one of the stewards) members of the audience.
Dave
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Evening all,
Just a post to say that Bristol Cathedral is attempting to raise money for the restoration of the organ (IV/66, Harris 1685 / Seede 1786 / WG Vowles 1861 / JW Walker 1907) which, from a figure given at a recent concert, is likely to cost in the order of £1.5m. Pages have been added to the cathedral's website: https://bristol-cathedral.co.uk/music/organ-and-sound/
Dave
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Thank you SL. I will miss some of the Sunday afternoon bit due to being in Bristol Cathedral for a service but I will have the radio back on as soon as I can after the service is over. Glad you can get BBC Radio 3 over there online: if you want to watch BBC TV over the internet you need to be in England and have an English TV licence.
A very Merry Christmas to you as well.
Dave
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Greetings all,
It is nearly the time of year again and, on Sunday, BBC Radio 3 will - as always - broadcast their offering of festive music from numerous locations around Europe that they collectively refer to as "Christmas Around Europe". This year the date for it will be Sunday 17th December. For me is one of my favourite broadcasts, not only of Christmas but also of the year, and I always listen to as much of it as I possibly can.
This year's music will come from Finland, Austria, Germany, Bulgaria, Denmark, Czech Republic and Portugal (Basilica, Mafra). Details now on the BBC Radio 3 website as follows:
Part 1 (Finland, Austria): http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09jc2gg
Part 2 (Nuremburg, Sofia, Copenhagen, Frankfurt): http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09jc2gj
Part 3 (Brno, Mafra): http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09jc2gl
I will, as ever, look forward to this. For anyone wondering there will be organ in the segment from Finland. As an aside the section from Vienna includes music by James MacMillan while the Vienna and Mafra segments contain English carols. Should be good.
Dave
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A great shame. to loose something as nice as that. Looks a write off sadly.
Dave
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On 11/2/2017 at 08:58, David Cynan Jones said:
From this can we assume that Stephen Darlington is retiring having been in post since 1985.
Certainly looks that way.
Dave
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Interesting although the NPOR entry referred to says "Organ Maintained" and gives no information as to the redundancy of the church or the sale, impending or otherwise, of the organ. Saying that the site https://www.achurchnearyou.com/bedford-st-thomas/ does indeed give the church as being closed and also has the correct postcode. It is good that the organ is to be preserved if the instrument mentioned earlier in this thread is this one I am glad it will be saved and not end up on the scrapheap.
As an aside the NPOR entry G00085 states that the organ was opened 27-Apr-2921 by Edward Bairstow.
Dave
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At Bristol Cathedral on Sunday 1st October the music of FJ very much dominated the service and understandably so:
Before the service: Adagio, Sonata No.1 in G, op. 35
Gospel fanfare: Fanfare, op.18
Communion Setting: Communion Service in G
During Communion: Prelude on 'East Acklam', op. 60 No.4
Communion Music: 'For The Fruits Of His Creation' (Tune: East Acklam)
Voluntary: Allegro deciso, Sonata No.1 in G, op.35
For Choral Evensong that afternoon the voluntary at the end was Moderato (Sonata no.1 in G minor)
I was unfamiliar with most, if not all, of that music and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing it.
On 10/2/2017 at 01:18, David Drinkell said:There were pictures of Francis on Facebook yesterday attending a special Evensong of his music at York, entering through a guard of honour of ex-choristers and looking a good deal less than 100. So many people, myself included, have been the recipients of his kindness and have been inspired by him. I wish him a very happy birthday.
A guard of honour well deserved! Just gone on York Minster's FB page but couldn't find anything. Do you have a link?
Dave
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On 9/26/2017 at 14:36, michaelwilson said:
Not an appointment exactly but I couldn't help but notice that Stephen Cleobury for the first time has put a date on his retirement in an interview, saying it will be in "two to three years". There goes my theory he'd resign on his 70th conveniently-dated birthday after Christmas next year.
He will be a hard act to follow.
Dave
St. Elizabeth, Wroclaw | Historical reconstruction
in The Organ
Posted
Indeed that is a lot of money but there will be research such as analyzing existing Engler pipework in other instruments of his to get the right metal alloys. The case of the original Engler organ was well decorated - see image below - so the work on that case will cost quite a bit in itself. This image below is, I believe, an idea of how the reconstruction is intended to look. Pictures elsewhere in a book I purchased in Wroclaw suggest that this is how the organ looked after Engler finished it in 1761.
Dave