DaveHarries

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

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.

Yep, with pleasure. It was only announced on Friday 16th June 2023. Video of announcement (from Durham Cathedral's Facebook Page): https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=277615614814080 Announcement from Diocese of Durham Website: https://www.durhamdiocese.org/diocesan-news/-philip-plyming-appointed-as-new-dean-of-durham.php Installation, according to the announcement by Bishop Paul, is set for Saturday 16th September. Dave

A snippet related, albeit slightly, to church music as well as clergy matters. On Friday morning it was announced by the Bishop of Durham that the next Dean of Durham Cathedral; is to be Rev. Canon Dr. Philip Plyming who trained for ordination at, and is currently warden of, Cranmer Hall and a member of the college of canons of Durham Cathedral. The connection with church music is that Dr. Plyming is, as he himself said at his announcing, also a former chorister of Durham Cathedral. HTIOI, Dave

Quick update on this. I was in Bristol Cathedral yesterday (Sunday 11th) and the electronic substitute was in use because an air reservoir failure (albeit fortunately not in mid-service) on Saturday 10th. I understand that H&H are to have a look at it during the coming week but was told on Sunday that there is hope of a temporary repair to get the pipe organ functioning again. When the choristers for the service on Sunday 11th were practicing in the cathedral one of the reeds on the electronic was played and the sound seemed to cause some amusement among the choir. Dave

Greetings all, An obituary appeared in the Daily Telegraph newspaper here in the UK today (22nd May) for Daniel Chorzempa who has left this life at the age of 78. Dave

I notice this thread hasn't had anything since 24th March but I decided to bump it to pass on this date for your diaries. It should be good! ROYAL ALBERT HALL Sunday 04th June, 7:30pm Concert featuring David Brggs, Wayne Marshall, Thomas Trotter, Anna Lapwood & Isabelle Demers as part of the RAH 150 celebrations. Details & programme: https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/events/2023/organ-celebration/ I don't know how many tickets remain for this concert which has been rescheduled from Thursday 20th May 2021: the RAH website says tickets for the original date are valid for the new one. It would be good if BBC Radio 3 aired this for the benefit of those who can't get to London easily. Dave

It was indeed a superb service, musically and religiously. I also enjoyed the Panufnik and hearing Veni Creator Spiritus (I think it was) sung in English, Welsh, Scots Gaelic and Irish Gaelic before finishing in English was an interesting experience. I mentioned to my parents, with whom I watched the service, that the ALW had come in for some criticism on here: they don't share in that criticism. Each to their own though. Dave

Nicholsons' website merely says the work will be "refurbishment and renewal": the Catghedral's website confirms this and says that it is planned to have the pipe organ back up and running for the Three Choirs Festival in 2026. I guess the "HNB / Downes scheme" means the stoplist (or parts thereof) but what exactly is being scrapped? I can't find any details. Dave

Sorry to bump this thread but it is relevant for those of you who get the magazine in music shops rather than by subscription. As a subscriber, with only one lapse since 1993 (!), to Choir & Organ I note that the issue for June 2023 is to feature an article on this organ in Wroclaw. I look forward to reading it. Dave

Oh dear oh dear. I guess it makes sense to implement the results of the Bishop's visitation first though. Dave

Wells Cathedral are seeking a new Director of Music following the departure of Jeremy Coles at Christmas 2022. https://www.wellscathedral.org.uk/your-cathedral/vacancies/ Dave

One newly announced today (only 3hrs old when I saw it on Facebook this evening), 07th March, is that Nicholson & Co (Malvern) have been awarded the contract for an organ, scheduled for completion 2026/2027 in time for the cathedral's planned re-opening, of 4 manuals and 70 stops for Christchurch Cathedral, New Zealand whose previous instrument (Hill & Son 1882 / HN&B 1929) was substantially damaged in the earthquake of 2011. Details: http://www.nicholsonorgans.co.uk/pf/christchurch-nz/ Given the instrument they built for Holy Trinity, Auckland I am not surprised they got the contract for this one too. Dave

Two from St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna. Choir Organ: Rieger Orgelbau (1991) - 4 manuals, 55 stops Main organ: Rieger Orgelbau (2017-2020) - 5 manuals, 130 stops Both playable from one console (Rieger, 2017-2020) - 5 manuals, 185 stops Olivier Latry (09th October 2020): Ernst Wally (organist at the time if I understand the clip's description correctly) with Widor's Toccata after the dedication mass of 04th October 2020: Sounds really good! Dave

I thought this might be of interest. It is the organ of Holy Trinity Cathedral, Lepāja, Latvia (IVP / 131) and was once the largest organ in the world up until 1912. Original organ by Heinrich Contius (1779, from which the original action and windchests survive) with further work in 1885 by Barnim Grüneburg. The organ was under restoration when this was recorded so it doesn't sound entirely right but some interesting stuff here as shown by Jonathan Scott. It remains "the largest fully mechanical pipe organ in the operation of all aspects of the instrument including all actions and the operation of all stops." (YouTube description). I like the harmonium bit....! HTIOI, Dave

This just came up on my YouTube suggestions. A young man, 11 years of age, playing part of a JS Bach trio sonata on the organ of St. Stephen, Wurzburg. Another young musician of whom I think we will hear more in the future. Dave

Would be good if one of them came to Bristol Cathedral: if I got wind (pun not intended) of either instrument being in situ here I would be along to hear it at the first chance I got. Dave

And Stephen Darlington MBE as interim DoM for the Lent Term 2023. https://www.joh.cam.ac.uk/interim-director-music-lead-choir-st-johns Dave

One from Buckfast Abbey. Earlier this year it was announced that Philip Arkwright, previous Master of the Music, had been appointed as the abbey's new CEO. His place was taken as MoM by Matthew Searles who had previously been AMoM which, of course, thereby left the latter position vacant. However the "Music at Buckfast Abbey" page on Facebook comes this announcement which was posted there on Friday 11th November: HTIOI, Dave

As someone who is both a volunteer and a member of the Cathedral's congregation the last that I heard on this, IIRC, was that H&H will do the work: it will start in January 2024 and is expected to take in excess of a year to complete. The speakers are not yet in situ for the electronic. Dave

Regrettable news from Courtefontaine, which I found on Facebook this morning which read simply: "Bernard Aubertin will cease his business on December 31 2022" [Source: Facebook post on "Bernard Aubertin , Facteur d'Orgues, Maître d'Art", posted 24/10/2022] I don't know if M. Aubertin has a website which confirms or denies this but it is unfortunate news. Presumably he is retiring: his monument will be the organs he has built both in the UK (Aberdeen University and the church at Dorchester-on-Thames, Oxfordshire to name but two) and alsewhere which will serve as a lasting tribute to him. Dave

I thought the service at St. Paul's was excellent from start to finish, especially when you consider that there had not been a great deal of time to put it all together. My parents and I watched it on TV and we all enjoyed the music despite the sadness of the occasion. Will Fox, the organist, was indeed excellent. Although the choir's term hadn't begun it is also worth noting that one of the clergy present isn't due to take up his duties for another week or two: I refer to Very Rev. Andrew Termlett, until recently Dean of Durham and now Dean-Designate of St. Paul's, who gave the welcome and also prayers later in the service: I believe he is being installed at the end of this month. I think the choir have certainly earned their weekend off considering the amount of rehearsing that will have taken place. Dave

Heard this done by Olivier Latry on the organ of Worcester Cathedral a few years back: he played it without the music and very good it was too. Dave

Robbie Carroll (ADoM, St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork (Ireland)) to be Assistant Organist, Norwich Cathedral. https://www.cathedral.org.uk/about/news/detail/2022/08/30/new-assistant-organist-appointed Dave

Further to the above post that I made last month a Facebook post on the "Music at Buckfast Abbey" page advises that applications are now open for a replacement Assistant Master of the Music. It is also mentioned here: https://www.buckfast.org.uk/careers It is mentioned in the job description for the AMoM post that Philip Arkwright was promoted to the CEO position: he is also referred to as Master of the Music Emeritus. Dave