DaveHarries

Came across this set by chance whilst browsing the website of the church in question. History of the organ: St. Laurenskerk, Rotterdam, NL There are pictures of this organ as early as 1645 when an organ was in situ. This had been built by Hans Goltfusz. This lasted until around 1790 when a new organ was built by Wolfferts: this was worked on by Meere in 1828. The Wolfferts / Mere organ was lost, along with almost all of the rest of the cathedral on 14th May 1940 when Rotterdam was heavily bombed by the Germans. The current organ contains 4 manuals, 84 stops, 150 ranks and around 7600 pipes: it was built by Marcussen of Denmark in 1973. There are several clips on YouTube and it sounds fantastic: Firstly, someone trying to play Handel's "Water Music" on the instrument. Sounds OK. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNJy1KJLOXg Next up is an improvisation on Psalm 54. Anyone know the composer? And another improvisation on 'Holy Holy Holy': Lastly, this piece makes great use of the organ's chamade ranks. Anyone know the title & composer of the piece? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmPYSlolSVw Anyway, sounds fantastic: I shall make every effort to hear this organ next time I find myself in Holland. As an aside, this church has three other organs: Transept organ: Marcussen of Denmark, 1959. 3 manuals, 31 stops, 52 ranks Choir Organ: Unknown builder, 1725. Came from a catholic church in Amsterdam. Moved to Bunschoten but was later moved to Rotterdam by Marcussen of Denmark. 1 manual, 8 stops, 12 ranks and a tremulant. Borrowed pedals with no independant stops. Manual - Pedal coupler. Positive Organ: Built for a church in Rotterdam, 1963. Moved to St. Laurenskerk in 1990. Dave

Apologies for this very funny (in my opinion) but slightly rude and certainly non-musical joke but here is one gem which someone told me in the pub on Wednesday evening: Q: What is the difference between a magician's wand and a police truncheon? A: One is for cunning stunts...... (Sorry: I will get my coat now. If yu want this reply deleted then please ask and I shall oblige). Dave

I've just looked at that site. Some interesting points from the photos on that site. Firstly, why does this organ remind me of the organ at Hereford Cathedral? http://www.cathedralorgan.nl/images/gallery/orgel5_gr.jpg This one reminds me of Durham: http://www.cathedralorgan.nl/images/gallery/orgel2_gr.jpg Dave

Change of career then, Ian? I am suprised as you were always a good organist. Anyway: 1. Have you been playing at Stoke Bishop then? 2. If you think you have seen my name before, you have: you used to teach me the organ on the 1973 Rieger at Clifton Cathedral..... Dave

Hi all, Sometime back there was a thread in which the name of David Bednall as sub-organist of Bristol Cathedral came up. It may be of interest to know that, following a search by my local church - that of St. Mary's, Stoke Bishop, Bristol - to replace the previous organist (John Gadsden, who died in October 2005 IIRC), David Bednall has got the job as Organist and Director of Music at St. Mary's. I believe he has had the job just over 2 weeks. Dave

Hi mate, Not sure. Also, see PM I sent you in respect of the Wills organ. Dave

Hi, When leaving my German language class this evening (Tuesday 28th November) I came across this most interestingly decorated vehicle in the car park. I got my camera out and used the headlights of my Dad's car to provide extra lighting when taking these shots. Just as I was finishing, the vehicle's owner turned up. She informed me that because of the vehicle she gets stopped quite often and gets quite a few people photographing it. She got it in 1990 opn the cheap and enjoys having it. The man featured on the side of the vehicle was also in attendance but he had obviously had a day off as he was not in uniform......... The lady told me she uses the vehicle to get to work and the vehicle gets a lot of attention whilst she is at work. Her job? Primary school teacher! Good choice of vehicle livery. Only around 12,000 of these particular vehicles were ever made but this is the only one in the UK with the featured character on the sides and back of it. Made me laugh when I saw it though. More pictures: View of vehicle interior: http://davespix.fotopic.net/p46929350.html Overall view of driver side: http://davespix.fotopic.net/p46929349.html Enjoy. Dave

A pity. A glance on the webpage http://www.orgels-en-kerken.nl/index/rotte...urens-hoofd.htm gives pictures of the main organ as it is now (a nice looking piece by Marcussen & Sons - 4 manuals, 85 stops (not including 3 tremulants) 5575 pipes - which dates from 1973) as well as the organ as it was in around 1645 - 1792 and also a picture of the organ that was lost in 1940. There are also links to parts about the church's choir organ (case of 1725 - wonder where that came from if the church was lost in the war? Organ in 1725 case is by Marcussen), the transept organ (3 manuals, 31 stops and some large mixtures!) and, last but not least, the small positive organ (van Vulpen, 1963. Moved to Laurenskirk in 1990). Nice looking church: next time I go to Amsterdam I shall take time to go and visit Rotterdam. I shall include that church in my itinery. Dave Edit: I looked up the church on Google Earth. The newer version of this remarkable piece of software contains three good pictures of the Laurenskerk in Rotterdam as it was left after the bombs of 1940: 1: http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/1258743.jpg 2: http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/1258742.jpg 3: http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/1258723.jpg If you want to try and look at the church on Google Earth, the best thing to type in is "Grotekerkplein Rotteram NL" (without the speech marks) and it should go straight in on the church. But if you want access to the pictures, you will need the latest version of GE. Dave

Heard this at Bristol Cathedral this morning. First time I ever heard it: sounded fantastic. Dave

Probably the one idea, but how about Speller - "Mass of St. Louis"? Dave

An update on the Wills Hall situation. 1. Installation was to have taken place in the summer of 2007: I understand that this has had to be delayed as alterations are required to the gallery (or more specifically, I believe, to the structure thereof) so I don't now know when installation will happen. 2. There will be three new stops added to the organ: a tierce, a mixture (not sure as to composition of it) and, I think, a Saliconal. I am not suprised about the addition of the mixture. 3. The work is being done by Peter Collins, who built the instrument in 1983 in the First Church of Christ Scientist, Clifton. However a new case is to be built for the instrument. IIRC, I was told that the organ, plus removal and re-installation costs, come to about £12,000. Dave

The Oldroyd setting was used at Bristol Cathedral on 28th October: pity I missed it as I had never heard this one. Dave

Thanks Tony, Just out of interest, what is the address of that site? Dave

Yes, please. Dave

Yes, IIRC the cathedral at Cologne has two tubas above the west door. Not heard them but I should think they are very effective. Dave

Hi all, Went to church at Cloford (between Nunney and Bruton, Somerset) on 14th October for the morning service and noticed a quaint reed organ in the church there. However, the reed organ is for sale as it has been superceeded by an electronic. The instrument was built by Burdett of Chicago, USA in 1860 but their operation was destroyed in the Great Fire of Chicago in 1871. The vicar accepted my offer to advertise this organ online and I have done so. Details can be found at this address, along with a photo: http://www.btinternet.com/~dcharries/clofordorgan.htm Lovely looking instrument: would suit small chapel or perhaps a house with enough space. The parish want it to go to a good home though. Dave

Thanks Pierre. Merci beaucoup! If the info on the NPOR is anything to go by, Worcester Cathedral must, at one time, have had three organs. Sounds difficult to imagine but the NPOR says that, in 1550, the Dean took down the "organ in chapel of St. Edmund and ‘great pair’ in chapel of St. George" and then the organ in the choir was taken down in 1551. A new pair of organs was set up on the north side of the Choir in 1556. Dallam's organ of 1613 presumably superceeded the organ of 1556. But the location of the organs taken down in 1550/51 gives no clue as to the age of those instruments but we know that, in 1503, one Robert Alchurch was given 6s 8d for buying organs for the cathedral. The last thing we don't know is wether Dallam's organ of 1613 survived the troubles of 1642-1660. We can onnly assume it must have done: in 1666 an Open Diapason of wood was added to the chaire division. Dave

Two good ideas there. I have an additional one, which would be to set up a website dedicated either: i) solely to the construction of the new organs or ii) the history of Wrocester Cathedral's organs, plus the new ones. I can design websites and it would be great fun for me. If Adrian took the photos and put them on the site he currently uses (I live in Bristol so getting to Worcester ain't easy) then I shall incorporate them by linking in to them. I can also construct the site. The blog, plus a donation facility, could also be included. There you go: a joint effort! Dave

Muso, Thanks for that Dracula story: almost cried with laughgter upon reading it. Dave

Good question. To be fair, the organists have time off each year and have to deputise for each other. Mark Lee is the main organist and so Paul Walton is usually in the organ loft during the Sunday Eucharist. So I suppose that D.B would stand in for P.W if P.W wasn't around to play during the Sunday services, for example. Dave

David Bednall's title is Sub organist, and Paul Walton is Assistant Organist. Slightly confusing, I agree. Dave

After the Eucharist at Bristol Cathedral last Sunday (not the Sunday just gone, but the one before) I had a conversation with Paul Walton who is the cathedral's assistant organist. I gather that the cathedral's website is currently being redone (long overdue, IMO) and there will be some more detail on the organ when the new site is up. Paul told me he is aware of this thread and the new site will, I gather, give details as to the age of the pipework in the organ. HTH, Dave

Hi all, Please can I take this opportunity to draw attention to the next recital in Bristol Cathedral's lunchtime series? Details as follows: The Date: Tuesday 25th September 2007 The Time: 1:15pm, lasting about 40-45 minutes The Organist: Paul Walton (Assistant Organist, Bristol Cathedral) I've heard him play nuerous times and I think this will certainly be one not to miss. Dave

Hi, I went to the lunchtime recital in Bristol Cathedral yesterday (18th September). The recitalist was the new sub-organist, David Bednall. The program was this: 1. Suite Médévale en forme de Messe Basse (Jean Langlais, 1907 - 1991) i. Prélude (Entrée) ii. Tiento (Offertoire) iii. Improvisation (Elévation) iv. Méditation (Communion) v. Acclamations (sur le texte des Acclamations Carolingiennes) 2. Cathédrales (Louis Vierne, 1870 - 1937) "Pièces de Fantasie IV 3. Te Deum (Naji Hakim, 1955 -) The first piece was quite a mix. Sadly I missed the first movement (I arrived late as I had trouble parking). Movements 2, 3 and 4 were quiet and included plenty of use of the strings. I have nothing against the use of those strings but he was using another stop as well (I don't know which one) which gave quite an odd sound to the music. On the other hand, the Acclamations were played loudly so as to sound almost apocalyptic with plenty of reeds. The organ sounded in fine form there. The Vierne was a nice piece. Also quite a bit of volume on this one but not as loud as the Acclamations from the Langlais. The Te Deum was superb. First time I have heard Hakim's arrangement of this piece anywhere but I sure can't wait to hear it again. Again plenty of reeds and plenty of volume! Overall score: 4.5 out of 5. Pity about the registration in the 2nd, 3rd & 4th movements of the Langlais else it would have been 5 out of 5. The preformance was very well received by the audience who had gathered. Dave

An interesting post. A book I have here - "Making Music on the Organ" (by Peter Williams, pub. Oxford University Press, 1994) gives an almost identical specification for Weimar Castle Chapel to the one you give but with a couple of alterations. I have put the specification again below but the alterations which make up the specification as my book gives it are in bold type: PEDAL ORGAN Gross-Untersatz 32 Sub-Bass 16 Violon-Bass 16 Principal-Bass 8 Posaun-Bass 16 Trompetten-Bass 8 Cornett-Bass 4 Hauptwerk - Pedal HAUPTWERK ('Upper clavier') Quintathön 16 Principal 8 Gemshorn 8 Gedackt 8 Octava 4 Quintathön 4 Mixtur VI Cymbel III Glockenspiel Positiv - Hauptwerk Positiv Principal 8 Viol di Gamba 8 Gedackt 8 Octava 4 Klein Gedackt 4 Waldflöt 2 Sesquialtera II Trompette 8 Tremulant Cymbelstern According to the book, "The organ was situated in the highest gallery of this very tall chapel. The entire castle was burned down in the nineteenth century." HTIOI, Dave