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DaveHarries

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Posts posted by DaveHarries

    Gloucester rebuild

    in The Organ

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Martin Cooke said:

    Welcome, Nick. There are some genuine experts who visit this site from time to time and it will be interesting to see what they say. My own view is that the sudden demise of a pipe organ depends entirely upon what has actually gone wrong and how costly, feasible and appropriate it would be to put that single matter right without attending to other issues. I guess that apart from the blower, the main issue is to do with electric action failing. How frequently an instrument needs cleaning and major attention must depend greatly on the amount of use, the quality of the original work and any subsequent rebuilding, and the local environment. If you're not 'in amongst it', as it were, at a major cathedral, church, chapel etc, it is all too easy to underestimate just how much an instrument might be used. At the moment Gloucester is awaiting a new organ and it is not the first to be out of action for a considerable period. Chichester had to be mothballed between 1973-1986 when it became too unreliable for daily use. Bristol have made provision for this eventuality by having a Viscount instrument installed a year or so ago, 'just in case'. Something similar is going on at the Former Royal Chapel, Greenwich where the pipe organ appears to be silent at the moment and a Viscount is in operation. There must be some major instruments coming up for work - Chichester might be on that list, Truro, too, perhaps. Organ builders are very good at 'keeping things going' and doing piecemeal work - Westminster Abbey is one such example - Liverpool Anglican is another... and I suppose those are large enough instruments to allow for whole sections to be out of action from time to time - it's hard to imagine a digital organ 'doing time' in Westminster Abbey or St Paul's. In fact, I know that it was a stipulation at St Paul's during the 1972-1977 Mander rebuild, that enough of the organ always had to be available at any one time for daily use. I believe that there were just three days' silence, as it were, when the new console was connected. Sometimes, of course, it isn't the organ that fails but something else that causes the organ grief. I saw pictures not all that long ago of Lance Foy and his family working on parts of the Truro cathedral organ where a leaking roof had caused trouble. And there was storm damage at Worcester a couple of years ago. 

    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

    Appointments 2

    in General discussion

    Posted

    8 hours ago, petergunstone said:

    Sorry, I should have been more specific. My question was about your comment: "The connection with church music is that Dr. Plyming is, as he himself said at his announcing, also a former chorister of Durham Cathedral." The formal announcement, nor the Q&A included any reference to this, as far as I can see. Could you give a reference for this?

    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.

    Appointments 2

    in General discussion

    Posted

    1 hour ago, petergunstone said:

    Really? I trained at Cramner with Philip as warden and he never mentioned this. Could you provide a reference for this, please?

    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

    Appointments 2

    in General discussion

    Posted

    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

    Bristol Cathedral

    in The Organ

    Posted

    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

    Recitals

    in General discussion

    Posted

    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

    ORDER OF SERVICE FOR THE CORONATION OF KING CHARLES III

    in General discussion

    Posted

    4 hours ago, S_L said:

    Of the music by contemporary composers I thought Roxana Panufnik's Sanctus to be the most inspired. The Debbie Wiseman 'Alleluyas' and Paul Mealor's 'Kyries' left me cold.

    To use the word 'drivel' for the ALW anthem is too kind! I cannot understand why anyone would have asked him to set the words 'Make a joyful noise ......' 

    All wonderfully performed though!!!

    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

    Gloucester rebuild

    in The Organ

    Posted

    13 hours ago, OwenTurner said:

    I don't think this group has given a lot of attention to the rebuild at Gloucester and the apparent scrapping of the HNB / Downes scheme. The last Nicholson rebuild respected the Downes scheme and added to it under the influence of David Briggs and Denis Thurlow. This time it looks to be replaced.

    I've heard some very moving performances there by Sanders, Briggs and Mark Lee. More so than in other places I've frequented but perhaps that's the challenge, better for recital than accompaniment? 

    I feel it is a shame to throw the existing away and I'm struggling to understand why they would.

    Thoughts please?

    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

    St. Elizabeth, Wroclaw (PL) :: Update

    in The Organ

    Posted

    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

    On-going and newly announced major organ works

    in General discussion

    Posted

    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

    Youtube

    in General discussion

    Posted

    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

    Youtube

    in General discussion

    Posted

    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

    Youtube

    in General discussion

    Posted

    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

     

    Appointments 2

    in General discussion

    Posted

    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:

    Quote

    We are delighted to announce the appointment of Robert Pecksmith as Assistant Master of the Music at Buckfast Abbey. Robert has previously held appointments at St. James Cathedral, Toronto, Wakefield Cathedral, and the York Oratory, where he was Assistant Director of Music between 2015 and 2020."

    HTIOI,
    Dave

    Starting afresh - on-going organ works

    in General discussion

    Posted

    19 hours ago, Martin Cooke said:

    Bristol Cathedral - nothing new to report as at 25.10.22. Three manual viscount has been installed on a 'stand by' basis in case of breakdown.

    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

    Orgues Aubertin

    in The Organ

    Posted

    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

    Memorial Service for HM the Queen in St Paul’s Cathedral

    in General discussion

    Posted

    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

    Youtube

    in General discussion

    Posted

    On 31/08/2022 at 20:17, peterdoughty said:

     

    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

    Appointments 2

    in General discussion

    Posted

    On 24/07/2022 at 15:28, DaveHarries said:

    Changes at Buckfast Abbey:

    - Philip Arkwright (Organist and Master of the Music) to be Chief Executive Officer, Buckfast Abbey
    - Matthew Searles (Assistant Master of the Music) to be Organist and Master of the Music, Buckfast Abbey

    (Source: Facebook post from the "Music at Buckfast Abbey" page)

    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

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