DaveHarries
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Posts posted by DaveHarries
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yes, that's the one... i can just imagine sitting at the console at York on a Friday evening wondering which principals I'll use ... "Today I think I will mostly be using the Great principals 3, 5 & 8 today..." The Winchester organ looks decidedly down at heel. (or is that Vox Humana who looks down at Hele?)
I'm sorry, I shouldn't get down at Hele. I wish them well in Hungary. Just think - at the very least, the specification is tailor made for the music of Olivier Messiaen!!
(sorry about all the dreadful puns - seeing Nigel's post whetted my appetite but I don't think any mine come anywhere close to matching his... quite right to mention Waterford seconds too)
Hmm, Colin. I think we will be calling you Colin Hahaharvey next! On the subject if how many stops of one sort to have in one division of an organ I think it is a matter of principal.
Bizarrely, I had thought of ten possible puns that might fit into this post. I had hoped that they might all get into this message but, in the end, no pun in ten did.
Dave
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Good morning all!
I'm just picking up on the suggestion that we plan a Board day-out here at Worcester sometime after Christmas. Looking in the Cathedral Diary, I am going to suggest Saturday 31st January 2009 (......)
Adrian,
Great suggestion: count me in! Would be great to get a closer look at the organ and also to meet some other members of this board.
If anyone from the Bristol / Bath axis would be interested in coming I will probably end up hiring a car for the trip so may consider taking anyone from the Bristol / Bath axis if we can arange a meeting point within Central Bristol as I live in Bristol. I will confirm this idea later once we know definately wether the day is going ahead or not.
Dave
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Hello,
my first post
In 1988 Nigel Allcoat played at Freiburg Münster. I was one of those sitting on the floor and listening to the player. The Improvisation was over Regina coeli and Salve Regina. A really nice reminiscence.
Cheers
tiratutti
PS: My native language is german, so please excuse the errors.
Dein English ist sehr gut, Tiratutti. Kein probleme!
Mein erste sprach ist English. Entschuldigen Sie mich wo mein Deutsh ist nicht zu gut, bitte!
Dave
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Adrian,
I already have mine: purchased it after the Eucharist on 05th October. Meant to get you to sign it but will do that next time. Great disc.
Dave
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The 10:30am Eucharist at Worcester today, 05th October, was this:
Hymns: 332, 161, 131, 203
Setting: St. Wulfstan Mass (Lucas) - première
Motet: O sacrum convivium (Messiaen)
Preacher: The Dean
Psalm: 80, vs. 8-16
Organ Voluntary: Symphonie VI, 1st movement (CM Widor)
A very good service with some excellent music (thanks Adrian!) and an interesting sermon from the Dean on organs, which started with an amusing list of "reasons not to build a new organ"! The Dean also made reference to St. Wulfstan and the old saxon cathedral of St. Oswald as well as Wulfstan's remark, when the old saxon cathedral was being demolished, that "we are tearing down the work of saints, thinking pompously that we can do better".
It was noticeable that the electronic (which is still in situ) was used during the service but it wasn't hard to work out which sounds were coming from which organ. After the Widor (superb) I had a wonder around the cathedral (which I hadn't been to in more than a decade) and then went to the Chapter House for some refreshment and managed to chat with Adrian Lucas and John Norman (learnt from the former that Thomas Trotter had been in the congregation this morning) and congratulated Adrian on his composing. Copies of the CD were on sale (purchased one). Have it on now and it sounds great.
Overall verdict: 10/10 all round.
Dave
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My second submission today. War March of the Priests (GF Handel) being played on the restored organ of Manilla Cathedral, Phillipines which is, according to the info provided, the largest organ in S.E Asia.
Sounds good.
Dave
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Hi,
I believe I am right in thinking that the organ in Passau Cathedral, Bavaria is the largest cathedral organ in Germany. But I believe that the organ at Passau would be not quite the largest organ in Germany overall as it is only 5 manuals and, on that grounding alone, would play second fiddle to this instrument.
The organ is that of Waldsassen Basilica, Germany and has 6 manuals. A great clip is on YouTube of Maxime Patel playing the Te Deum by Jeanne Demssieux:
Fairly old looking case (at a guess) but a fairly new looking console with marble surrounds. I am wondering wether anyone knows anything of the history of this insturment. Any information (or links to where I can find some) would be gladly received.
Probably the largest church organ in Germany? Or am I wrong on that?
Dave
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Here is a great clip. It is the Te Deum by Jeanne Demessieux and is played by Maxime Patel on the 6-manual organ in the Basilica at Waldsassen, Germany. A grand-sounding organ here and now how Mr. patel manages to get his left hand up to the 6th manual during the piece.
I have made a separate post ion this organ as well elsewhere in the messageboard.
Dave
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DRD, and Mrs DRD, Saturday Evensnog, and recital.
Is that an intentional typo?
Dave
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Hi,
As many of us on here may know, the weekend of 04th & 05th October sees the dedication of the new organ at Worcester Cathedral with services under the direction of Adrian Lucas (O&MoC and member of this forum). As this will be next weekend I thought I would do a roll-call out of curiosity and see:
a. who is going
B. where from
c. what parts of the weekend you are going to
It would be nice if a few members were to go and we could then make a small gathering after the service. Anyway, I will start.
Dave
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Roll Call
01. Dave Harries, Bristol (Saturday Evensong, Sunday Eucharist)
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Here is one of Léonce de St Martin at Notre Dame.
Interesting to note the appearence of the old photographs at 1 minute (which shows the organ seemingly with shutters on it?) and the other at 1m 15 secs. In respect of the second photo that picture must be from before 1868. The Positif was put there in 1730 by François Thierry but Aristide C-C didn't keep it when he rebuilt the instrument.
I tend to find that a lot of cathedral organs look nice with the Positif and quite a few of the ones I have seen still have them.
Dave
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I used to play at the Bristol church from time to time under Ross, a good friend from university. I can happily confirm
(i) the organ was exceedingly loud;
(ii) the church was regularly filled for Sunday services and therefore every decibel from said organ counted;
(iii) the congregation appreciated the eclectic range of music that contributed to the worship.
I had hoped the same would be true of his new position - Amen to those tubas Pierre!
So Mr. Cobb has moved on elsewhere, has he? If so:
1. Where has he gone to?
2. Who has taken his place?
I remnember Wayne Marshall's recital on the occasion of the re-dedication of the organ in that Bristol church after its rebuild. Superb playing by WM but the last item on the programme was, IIRC, described as "Improvisations on a theme set by the church's organist": the theme turned out to be the music from 'The Flintstones'. WM did it very well and really got quite into it with this part going on for about 20 minutes or so.
Dave
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Hi,
In late August I took a ride from Bristol to Exeter and then on the line from Exeter to Barnstaple, stopping overnight somewhere along the latter stretch. Went onward to Barnstaple the following day and had an enjoyable 3 or 4 hours there.
I took a look in the church of St. Peter & St. Mary Magdalene and observed the fine Crang case facing the nave from the choir and also noted the decorated pipes. Here,. for anyone who hasn't seen it, is the Crang case:
And a view from a different angle showing some of the pipes in the case facing the nave and some of the pipes facing the chancel:
Going back to that first photo, I am wondering if anyone has looked closer at the panels in the middle at the bottom of the case? I did so and found that they came open to reveal this:
The NPOR attributes the console in the photo above as being by Vowles but it isn't in the Vowles style when compared to the numerous other instruments by him that I have looked at. What si the age of the above console? It isn't the one in use: that is located in the choir.
Dave
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It would very possibly have been a Bourdon, but not on the pedal. I played the pipe organ at Dore Abbey in 2002, and the Bourdon was a couple-down from the manual.
Interesting. I was supprised that the church had an organ as small as that anyway
Why and when did they get rid of the pipes though? It is a pity they couldn't have come up with some sort of casing in the style of the Dallam organ at Tewkesbury Abbey.
Dave
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The church at Abbey Dore, Herefordshire contains an electronic organ which is a pity for such a nice building. One or two of the speakers are housed in the organ case on the other side of the choir from the toaster's console but if you look round the back you can see that some pipes of what would, I assume, have been the Bourdon on the pedal have been left in place.
There are also case pipes (not working, of course) and the console of the pipe instrument is also there. Nice church but a pipe organ would look better in it. The church is, nonetheless, worth a visit: the village of Abbey Dore (the church is called Dore Abbey) is on the B4347 which can be followed from the A465. On joining the B4347 at Pontrillas you should head North / NorthWest.
Dave
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Read more about it here.
Just found this useful website which, if you can read Polish, confirms the information as well as providing data on the other organs mentioned in my post. For info on Wroclaw Cathedral: http://www.organy.art.pl/instrumenty.php?instr_id=12
Or, for the parent site which seems to cover much of Poland: http://www.organy.art.pl/instrumenty.php (click on the location you want to look up).
I can't see how they squeeze 13,000+ pipes into the space on the balcony in the Cathedral: leads me to think that some pipes are in other parts of the cathedral.
Dave
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The applause was longer than most get after the recital.
Good. It should be. I heard a recording of him playing Cocker's "Tuba Tune" on the organ of York. Great sounding instrument.
I think the thing to say was that he got through the programme which considering he had only returned to the organ stool a fortnight before is in itself an achievement.[........]
The years are certainly telling and he looks quite frail - but having come down from the loft console before the last piece and played the St Anne Fugue on the Nave console, which as it should thundered away at its conclusion, then declined to use his stick and with great dignity walked unaided into the Quire to take his bow.
Good to know he is back on his feet so quickly.
Prelude in Eb BWV 552 - BachChorale Prelude "Ach bleib bei uns, Herr Jesu ... JSB
Impromptu for FJ on his 70th - Moore
Sonata Giocosa - Op. 42 - Jackson
Prel & Fuge on the name of Alain Op. 7 - Durufle
Pavane pour une infante - Ravel
Fugue in Eb BWV 552 (St Anne) - Bach
There were over two hundred people present.
An amazing recovery - An amazing Gentleman, very moving – well at least I thought so!
Some thoughts on that programme:
- I am supprised that the St. Anne (BWV552) was split into two like that.
- The Ravel must have been interesting. I am also into electronic music and have a version of that piece on vinyl.
- Also a good choice, by the sound of it, to hear something by FJ himself and also the person who succeeded him.
Sounds like a great turnout as well.
Dave
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Hi,
I have just come back from a long weekend in the lovely Polish city of Wroclaw. The city is packed with nice churches but many date from 1945 or later, at least as far as the interior of them is concerned, because the city was heavily bombed in Wrold War 2. This was my second visit to the city: I had been in the third week of June. The visit this time was to meet my nephew who is 6 weeks old: I hadn't seen him yet as his parents, and hence him as well, live over there. It is undoubtedly one of the nicest cities in Europe, IMO.
Here are some organ photos from the city taken during my two visits there.
First up is the cathedral of St. John the Baptist. The cathedral was 70-80% destroyed in World War 2 with only the walls left standing. The restoration of the cathedral after the war was meticulous and very thorough. The organ here is, from what I understand, the largest in Poland. I went to the 10:30am service on Sunday 10th August and the sound from the instrument was superb. It should be noted that the pulpit escaped the devastation caused by the bombs in the war.
Photo: http://churchorgans.fotopic.net/p52657247.html
Not very far from the cathedral is the church of St. Elizabeth. This church is a real mixed bag. The main part of it was wrecked in World War 2 (as was much of the city). But again, instead of the modern "architecture" that has been seen in some English cities, the restoration / rebuilding of the church after the war has been excellently done. I took this picture on the Sunday. I would have taken it before but I forgot my camera. The organist and a trumpet player were practising in advance of a wedding booked for that afternoon. They played Clarke's "Trumpet Voluntary" (aka. Prince of Denmark's March) and JS Bach's "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring". The combination of the two was superb.
Photo: http://churchorgans.fotopic.net/p52657089.html
Not far from the apartment where I was staying with my parents is the small University Church. This was founded as a Jesuit church. This church is worth a visit even if organs are not your interest: the cieling is richly decorated, there are 6 side chapels. The church was hit by two bombs in World War 2 but this did not destroy the church and the interior, where restoration wasn't needed, is entirely original.
The organ here is the only Wroclaw organ on which I have any information. The original organ was built by I. Mentzel in 1700 when the Jesuits still had the church. It had 1 manual, Pedals and 15 stops. Since the church became part of the University (not sure when that was) the organ was rebuilt by W. Sauer & O. Walcker in 1926 as Opus 1317. It now has 3 manuals, Pedals and 50 speaking stops. There was an organ festival on in the church and a recital was given on Sunday 10th August by Boguslaw Raba (organ) & Bolette Roed (flute). Info on builders taken from the festival programme. Quite a loud instrument.
Photo: http://churchorgans.fotopic.net/p52658247.html
As an aside, if the paintings tempt anyone to find more photos of the church, I have some at http://davespix.fotopic.net/c1529295.html - go to the second page.
For my last organ we go back to the church of St. Elizabeth. The main part of the church, as previously mentioned, was wrecked in World War 2. However the side chapel somehow escaped any form of damage in the bombing and survives intact. The chapel houses a small instrument.
Photo: http://churchorgans.fotopic.net/p52657090.html
I am guessing that this small organ would be of Italian / German origin and probably dates from about the 1700s.
I am hoping that someone out there can give me more info on those organs for which I have no dates or builders: info much appreciated. I would be especially gad for any more info on the small organ at St. Elizabeth's or any ideas as to its origins. In the meantime, enjoy the photos.
Dave
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Hi,
Would anyone happen to know wether the front pipes seen here would likely to be duds? Judging by the fact they are all the same height I would have said that they are.
http://churchorgans.fotopic.net/p52198243.html
NPOR: N12238
Dave
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It can be frustrating. Working in Cheltenham there is the risk of choristers winning scholarships into Dean Close School, Cheltenham Colledge, and into the Gloucester Cathedral Choir/King's School. I've lost choristers to all three. (.....)
Which church do you play in? Only interested as I know one or two of the churches in Cheltenham.
Dave
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I see from the inside front cover of the Organists' Review that's just arrived on my desk, that Nicholson's are about to start work on a brand new organ for Llandaff Cathedral which should be ready for Easter 2010. The ad also says that none of the present organ will be re-used, making this the largest wholly new organ to be built for a British cathedral in 40 years. Should be very interesting - alas that it's in the South of Cymru and I'm in the North!
Yes I heard that Nicholson's had been given the contract for this organ when I paid a visit to Llandaff Cathedral last year.
The previous organ - which, when I went there, was still in place - was busted by a lightning strike which fused all the electrics in the organ thereby rendering them unuseable. I had a look at the plans for the new instrument and it looks like it will be a good one.
Dave
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Hiya,
Look forward to seeing the book. What will be the title? Or is that currently unknown?
Dave
Esztergom Basilica
in The Organ
Posted
I wish there were some other clips of this organ besides the ones whose links have already been posted. After watching these clips I am getting "Hungary" for more.....
* gets coat *
Dave