DaveHarries

Hi, Has anyone here on this board been to services where the normal choir has combined with the choir of another church to sing the services? I only wonder because the Choral Evensong at Bristol Cathedral today, 22nd June, featured the choir of Bristol Cathedral and the choir of St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol and the music for the service was this: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Responses: Shephard Psalm: 46 Setting: Stanford in B-flat Anthem: Let All The World (Vaughan Williams) Hymns: 431, 392, 458 Organist: Graham Alsop (Asst. organist, St. Mary Redcliffe) Master of the Choristers: Mark Lee (Bristol Cathedral) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - A superb conbination and one which, I heard from the organist, takes place yearly: the cathedral choir goes to Redcliffe on alternate years and the Redcliffe choir comes to the cathedral on alternate years. I then suggested that it should happen each way on a yearly basis. I did employ the video mode on my camera to record part of the Anthem (didn't get the first verse and tried sucessfully not to make to too obvious). I had the camera on me to try and record the Voluntary at the end (Final Movement from Vierne's 3rd). I will put the links here later when they turn up in the obvious location (ie. YouTube). Dave

Adrian, As I recall from a visit to Worcester some years ago there was a freestanding organ not far from the choir which had painted (green?) pipes. I don't know if you know the one I am thinking of (South Transept, i think), but what has happened to it? I would have thought it would be best left as a monument to history andl, more specifically, to Hope-Jones... Dave

An article on the school's webpage says that Nicholsons of Worcester are doing the work, which is costing £220,000. The project has been designed and lead by Paul Hale (rector chori, Southwell Minster) who is a former pupil of the school. The article states that Paul Hale isn't the only renowned organist to have trained on the instrument at Solihull: others include David Briggs, John Butt and Ian Simcock. The article is dated 26th February 2008: http://www.solsch.org.uk/news/26_feb_2008.aspx Dave

Yes please. I anticipate to get myself a new car in December so this would be a great opportunity to give it a run. Dave

Hi mate, Apparently the organ hadn't been cleaned in some years (since 1989, I think? I forget what one of the Wood crew told me but it was something like that) so it was a cleaning and renovation job. I think a couple of the pipes needed fixing and were sent back to Huddersfield. But no alterations were made. Dave

Hi, On Saturday evening, 10th May, I went to a recital on the 1973 Reiger organ at Clifton Cathedral Bristol. The organ has just undergone a renovation by Wood of Huddersfield and this concert was the first one following completion of that work. Here are my thoughts on the concert. Firstly, the lowdown: The Time: 730pm The Date: Saturday 10th May 2008 The Place: Clifton RC Cathedral, Bristol The Theme: Music for the Feast of Pentecost The Organist: James O'Donnell (Organist & Master of the Choristers, Westminster Abbey) and now my thoughts: The Programme: JS Bach - Fantasia super Komm heiliger Geist (BWV 651) A grand opening for the concert. Sounded great on this instrument and, to my ear anyway, a fraction apocalyptic. N. de Grigny - Veni Creator Spiritus (En taille a 5 -> Fugue a 5 -> Duo -> Recit de Cromorne -> Dialogue sur les grands Jeux) de Grigny is a composer who, as far as I can recall, I had never heard of until this concert. This suite of 5 pieces was a wonderful introduction of his music for me and I hope to hear more in the future. James O'Donnell had no problems balancing the Cromorne in the 4th part of the suite with the sounds underneath and the Dialogue at the end was superb. Just a pity, in my opinion, that the individual parts were as brief as they were. Olivier Messiaen - from Messe de la Pentecote: - Communion (Les oiseaux et les sources) - Sortie (Le vent de l'Esprit) Unlike de Grigny I have heard Messiaen's music many times. However I hd never heard of his Messe de la Pentecote until this concert. The two movements were excellently played. The communion employed solely the flues on keyboard three, along with some of the higher pitch stops on the first keyboard to give the effects of the birds. Sounded cheeky in one part near the beginning and made me laugh quietly to myself. This was a sharp contrast to the Sortie which was a grand affair but it reminded me of fire, rather than wind. Jean Alain - Intermezo - Litanies This was interesting stuff. Mr. O'Donnell mentioned at the start of the concert that one of these parts had been transcribed from bassoon to organ by Alain. This referred, I think, to the Litanies which I had heard somewhere before and I am not sure if that was on an organ. No matter though as the Litanies sounded great on the organ. M Durufle - Variations on Veni Creator Spiritus I can't recall having heard the original of Veni Creator Spiritus (which I think I have seen used somewhere as a hymn tune?). The original, which I think was played first, sounded great and the brief improvisations - of which I counted 5 or 6 - were equally good. JS Bach - Prelude & Fuge in E-flat (St. Anne, BWV 552 This is one of my favourite pieces and one of which I can never get enough. A good choice to end with although I have two things to say which are a touch negative. Firstly I found the opening notes of the Prelude were a touch quick for my likening. Secondly the bass wasn't quite loud enough to carry the St. Anne tune. No matter though as I still enjoyed the piece and the playing. Overall: A superb concert which was much appreciated by the audience of 60-70 who came to hear it. The remaining concerts are: - Music for the Feast of the Holy Trinity (Stephen Bryant, organist of Clifton Cathedral) on 17th May 2008 @ 7:30pm - Music for the Feast of the Corpus Christi (John Gibbons, choral director of Clifton Cathedral) on 24th May 2008 @ 7:30pm and they will, I reckon, be worth hearing. Well done to Mr. O'Donnell on a great concert. HTIOI, Dave

A couple more from me: Firstly, as has been posted elsewhere on this messageboard, the Demessieux "Te Deum" forms part of this year's Proms. For anyone who has never heard the piece, here is a sound recording (from Cologne Cathedral, 1980, played by Josef Zimmermann) and some pictures of the cathedral as well: Next up, probably the oldest footage on YouTube? This video contains a short clip of Louis Vierne playing the organ of Notre Dame, Paris where he was organist for 37 years. The clip was made in 1934 as part of a newsreel in French: Pity about the sound quality on that 1934 clip but probably the best that was available back then. Dave

Yes. Let me liven it up a fraction (or, at least, try to)! For anyone who, like me, has never heard the Demessieux "Te Deum" then this is worth a listen. The sound is taken from an LP recorded in the 1980s on the Cologne Cathedral crossing organ (Klais 1948). Sounds great! Dave

So would I! What would be the cost of the trip? I would probably bring my camera which has a YouTube mode on it as I am quite certain that a video (with sound) of this organ would get plenty of viewing. Dave

Perhaps they....err....clashed with the other stops on the division? Sorry. Dave

Hi, Having never heard an organ by Forster & Andrews, I was slightly saddened to see that one of their organs has now been obliterated: the church at Radford Semele, Warwickshire was destroyed (except for the tower) by fire in the earliy hours on 16th March 2008. The church is to be rebuilt, however. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventr...ire/7299456.stm Organ: Forster & Andrews, 1891 [NPOR N05891] 2 manuals, 9 stops, 478 pipes Also gone, back in December 2007, went the church - and organ - at St. Thomas, Newhey, Greater Manchester. This was an arson, however, and someone is likely to get a custodial sentence for it: he has been found guilty of the offence. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7301018.stm Organ: Wordsworth & Maskell, 1876 [NPOR R00610] 2 manuals, 17 stops, 926 pipes Aren't Wordsworth & Maskell a rare maker nowadays? Dave

LOL. Where did you get that from?

I think you said that when it was a bit early for April Fools jokes? Dave

From what you guys are saying, it should be worth hearing. Pity that we have a visiting choir doing it (the cathedral choristers having their holidays at the moment) called "Cantores Literati" (never heard them but they might well prove to be good: we had the "Cantus" choir doing the Darke in E on the Sunday just gone: superb!). Dave

Hi, On the music list at Bristol Cathedral for Sunday 6th April is "Opus 36" by Widor. Has anyone heard this and, if so, what is it like? I have never even heard of the setting. Dave

Not an organ story, but funny enough, IMO. A friend of mine once attended service at his local church. It was Easter Sunday, though, and so the building was very full. My friend took two seats: one for his Dad and one for himself. However, his Dad was not yet in the church. An elderly gentleman asked my mate if he could take one of the seats for himself. My friend, in reply, said: "I'm afraid not, sir: my Father is not yet here and I always keep a seat for him". "I admire your commitment to religion, sir" replied the old man before he sat two rows further back. Two minutes later, my mate's Dad turns up - and takes the other seat. My friend looked back at the old gentleman - to see him merely roll his eyes. Dave

In what capacity? Dave

Tony, Very interesting. Do we know which three? I suppose the remains of Daniels and Cawstons (I didn't know Cawston had been taken over) are mixed up in it? Dave

Good suggestion, but no. Wrong postcode for a start. COG: WN14 4NQ Nicholsons: WN14 1NU Dave

Hi, Earlier today I took a look at the organ of St. James the Great, Westerleigh, South Gloucestershire and found a nice 16-stop organ by JG Haskins from 1910. However, upon looking at the front of the tuner logbook that was on the console I found the address label on the front read as follows: --------------------- Clevedon Organs (Tuning) Ltd. Clevedon Organs (UK) Ltd. Clevedon Organ Group, 156 West Malvern Road, Malvern, WR14 4NQ --------------------- Underneath this label could be seen the address of Percy Daniel. But I had never heard of Clevedon Organ group until today. Has anyone? I wondered if they were an offshoot of Percy Daniel in cosideration of their name. Info welcome. Dave

Yes they are superb. I remember shortly after the newer (nave) Klais was installed. I was on my third school exchange to Cologne and by the occasion of this trip the organ had been finished and was in use. I remember standing right below it and I was looking up at it. Someone struck up on it with a chord of such power that I jumped about 1ft. in the air! I seem to recall hearing that both the 1948 crossing organ and the 1997 Klais in the nave can be worked form the same console? Either way, enjoy! I am very envious as I haven't been to Cologne in 10 years. I have plans to go back there later this year though and catch up with some old friends who I knew from those exchange trips. Two YouTube clips of the organs at the Cathedral if you are interested: Firstly, Winfried Bönig playing the Toccata from Widor's 5th: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWYDo36huLU Secondly, a clip taken after morning mass: what is that piece? I know someone told me on here but I can't remember. Dave

Here are a few clips I have come across recently. Firstly, as some might know on this board, Cologne Cathedral has two organs inside it: the 1948 Klais which is located at the crossing and the 1998/1999 Klais in the nave. In recent times the 1948 organ has been restored and enlarged from 86 stops to around 110 and two tubas installed down by the west door. Also it is now possible to sit at the 4-manual console near the crossing organ and play both the crossing and nave organs at once. The effect is stunning as is seen here where the cathedral organist, Mr. Winfried Bönig plays - without a copy of the music - the Toccata from Widor's 5th Symphony. Superb! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWYDo36huLU More music from the same location: what is the piece in this one? I remember when I went to Cologne after the nave organ has been completed and opened. I was walking around the cathedral and, for a few seconds, stood right under that nave organ. Whilst I was standing there, someone started playing it. I don't know who the organist at the console was, but the sound was so loud I jumped! I am looking forward to going back to Cologne later in the year and hearing the organs in the cathedral is high on my priority list: I haven't been to Cologne in nearly 10 years. Meanwhile, the organ of Passau Cathedral in Bavaria (which is, according to the person who put the video up, the 5th largest organ in the world) sounds in fine voice: And lastly, I thought that Rick Wakeman was better known for other genres of music (rock / pop?) but either way he obviously didn't mind an excuse to play the organ when this video was taken: in this clip he is playing "Soul Morality" on the Willis organ of Lincoln Cathedral and, TBH, I don't think it sounds too bad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCAvpxkIBIs Dave

I know he is a foreigner but, speaking of services to organ building: Bernard AUBERTAIN Dave

Solihull School is NPOR reference K00739. The only entry here suggests that Nicholson rebuilt it in 1966 with tonal alterations, including the addition of the Cornopean from the Henry Jones organ at St. Mary, Moseley as the Great Trumpet. No other details of the organ are given and there is nothing on the school's website about it either. Dave

You are right. It is a pity. I have several of these threads going, although one was not started under the alias I use now. I started one on a Canadian Public Transport Forum which, at the time of writing this, has had 1417 replies and is 71 pages long. However the one I started on an Australian Transport Forum has had 1676 replies over 68 pages. It would have been fun to see how long the one here would have gone on for. I wonder.... Thanks to those who joined in the one I started on this board though. Dave