DaveHarries

Hi Nige, The information that I have on the organ in Santa Maria sopra Minerva is sourced from one of the information panels iin the church that was sited below the right-hand case: it merely mentioned Ennio Bonifazi's 1630 organ and nothing else so perhaps it was a rebuild but with some older work? I will digitise that track later. Dave

Hi Nigel, The organ is by Ennio Bonifazi and was built in 1630. The CD was released in 1999 and is played by Czech organist Jiri Lecian who, from what I can read of the Italian on the inside front cover, was at one time a pupil of Fernando Germani at the "Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia di Roma". The other thing with those photos I psoted earlier is that they don't give away the somewhat nice decoration on the case. I think that the one track that gives this organ at its best is ths first track (which is CM Widor's "Marcia Pontificalis" from his "Sinfonia no. 1 in D minor, Op. 13"). If you want I will digitise that track and send you a link by PM for your benefit only: I somehow think that if I made that track open to all then I might find myself in breach of the forum rules. But it is great to listen to. Dave

Hi all, I have no doubt that the Italians try and look after the organs in their churches - especially the much older ones - the best they can. So on a recent visit to Rome I looked into the Basilica of S. Maria sopra Minerva. The camera shots didn't come out 100% perfect, especially the shot of the right-hand case when I tried to photo the organ. Anyway, here was the result: Basilica di S. Maria sopra Minerva, Rome Organ by Ennio Bonifazi, 1630, commissioned by Cardinal S. Borghese Photo above: Left-hand case, in very good condition. Photo below: Right-hand case, in bad good condition. Whilst the left-hand case is in good condition, the right-hand case (bottom photo) is not: - there are two pipes missing from the left-hand part of the case - the large pipe in the centre of the middle part of the case is bent - there are also two pipes missing from the right-hand part of the case In fact, from what I could see, the right-hand case appeared to be devoid of any interior pipework at all but I might be wrong. Anyway, I purchased a CD of the organ from this church (includes music by Widor, Liszt, Capocci, Bellini and Franck. Cost: 13.00 Euros) and the organ sounds fantastic. However, I have to say that it is a pity that the right-hand case in the bottom photo is in such bad condition and I hope they will restore it sometime in the future although I am not aware of any plans to do so. I shouldn't think there are too many (if any) more organs in Rome - or in Italy - as a whole that are in a similar condition to that right-hand case at S. Maria. I could be wrong there, but I hope I am not. If you get the chance to visit the church - which is not far from the Pantheon, about 5 minutes walk I think - then do so. The church is splendid and the CD comes recommended. But I would have thought that the right-hand case at S. Maria would have been slightly better maintained and in better condition. Regards, Dave

I was listening on my hi-fi's DAB radio at home (only due to a late lunch otherwise I would have been there without fail) and I didn't notice any either. Thought the music was generally good and the anthem was interesting. I had never heard of Philip Wilby (the composer of the anthem "The Earth is the Lord's) but I think he is the husband of the precentor. Sounded good to me. RiverDance are comming to Bristol in June: my Mother and I already have our tickets (£33.50 each) so if I hear the Scherzo from Vierne's 6th before I go to the performance of RD then I will have a chance for comparison! LOL. Dave

Anyone know if this case will survive the replacement of the older organ? I remember seeing this transept case when I went to Worcester some years ago and I thought it looked great in the cathedral. I think it should be kept as a monument. Dave

Wow! Some Swell box!! Dave

Hi all, Anyone here ever come across a strange gadget on an organ? Perhaps a stop that does something unexpected? I once did some practice on a Saturday afternoon on the organ of St. Paul, Newcastle-under-Lyme and pulled a stop called the "Tibia Liquida". It isn't a playable stop though: it opens a cocktail cabinet above the stop jamb. Would love to know whose idea that was. Anyone came across something similar???! Dave

Presumably Cologne took that into account when they had their newer organ put up in the nave as well? Mind you, perhaps they can't decide at Cologne: since that newer organ went up the 1949 organ on the nave crossing has been rebuilt and enlarged so who knows.... Dave

Never knew it used to be as bad as that. Was at bristol Cathedral on Sunday 4th Feb for the morning Eucharist and the organ - which is located above one side of the choir in a divided case - sounded as good as ever despite the fact that I wasn't sitting that far from the back. Dave

I remember once visiting the church at Belstone, Devon and finding a cat inside the building. Lovely cat but a little shy. Dave

Good choice about the Walton but I don't think I've ever heard that Dorian Toccata. Well said, Barry. Also if he is playing the Grand Organ then dare I suggest using either the Dome Tubas or the West Trumpets? I guess I would prefer the Tubas though if the ones in Bristol Cathedral are anything to go by: really is a cracking sound. Cheers, Dave

Hi all, According to the college website, an appeal for funds to replace the 1960 Rushworth & Dreaper organ in the Princess Hall at Cheltenham Ladies College raised £304,732.39 from 302 donors and a new organ by Kenneth Tickell (3 manuals, 33 stops, 2342 pipes and mechanical action) has now been installed. The opening recital is Saturday 10th March by Dame Gillian Wier (according to an announcement in "The Times" on 15th January). A variety of information on - and some good pictures of - what looks like a very nice instrument can be found on the college website at http://www.clcguild.org/neworgan.html Dave

What a shame. So who was the firm originally asked to do the 1979 work and how much (if any) of the pipework was by Smith, etc before 1979? Dave

Hi all, After hearing the archive edition of Radio 3's Choral Evensong which was a 1974 broadcast from Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford I must say that the organ sounded in fine voice as did the choir. What, then, was the reason for the work undertaken by Reiger in 1979? Also must say that organ & choir sounded in fine voice after the end of the 1974 broadcast when Radio 3 played Forbes' arrangement of the Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis - which was comissioned for Christ Church, Oxford - followed by "Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day" as arranged by John Gardner who did my favourite version of that song. Dave

Good move. Guess it must have been a wooden pipe then as if it was metal you would have had a nice dent in it. Heeheeheehee. Great reply. What was the answer to your comment? Dave

Bristol Cathedral has a CCTV camera overlooking the choir from the organ cosole. The monitor is above the stops on the left-hand side of the console. Dave

Seeing as the house where I live is not very big I would like a box organ with a stoplist somewhere along the lines of: Manual I (Fixed): Flute 8' Chimney Flute 4' Octave 2' Tierce 1 3/5' Quint 1 1/3 Manual II: (Detachable): Regal 8' Pedal: Principal 8' (outside of main case) Manual II -> Pedal (if Manual II is attached) Stops divided bass / treble at Middle C Transposible pitches (not sure what I would choose here) Would like the Tierce in as I find that an 8' + 4' + 2' + 1 3/5' combination is good for playing Bach (well, it works on by local church organ so it might work here) Dave

Who? Robin Wynn? He did the organ at Corston, near Bath, back in 1989. I took a look at it once and, upon finding the way up to the organ loft to be behind a curtain, went up. Didn't have a play but it looked a nice instrument. If you aren't referring to Wynn then who were you referring to? Dave

Yes, perhaps that by-line is a bit of a giveaway. I had lessons both on Clifton College Chapel (where by permission I had a nice two mornings with the H&H crew who did it up in 1994) and on CLifton RC Cathedral's organ as well. The organs I have used for lessons in Bristol (plus the tutors as far as I can remember): - Clifton College Pre. Hall (Robert Fielding, who branded this organ "a squeezebox") - Clifton College Chapel (Robert Fielding again, much nicer instrument than the one in the Pre. Hall) - St. Mary's, Stoke Bishop, Bristol (only twice, whilst Clifton College was in recess) - Clifton Cathedral (first Richard Jeffery-Gray, then Ian Ball) - Great Hall, University of Bristol (nice organ behind that grille. Three manuals.) Sometime ago, someone within the University of Bristol expressed a desire to replace the pipe organ in that hall with an electronic instrument which, IMO, would have been a travesty. My Dad managed to persuade the university that an electronic organ would be a very bad idea. I also remember that after the restoration of Clifton College Chapel's H&H organ, my number on the General piston system was number 13. Dave

Having followed the http://www.tickell-organs.co.uk/specInfo/Worcesterspec.htm link I notice the idea of putting the organ in the triforium. That is an idea which reminds me of the fantastically loud organ in Cologne Cathedral, Germany (Klais 1998). Accoustically the triforium could be a very good position for it: I remember seeing the 1998 Klais ini Cologne Cathedral for the first time but when I was standing right below it I had no idea that someone was about to strike up (ie. start playing). The first note I heard was so loud I almost jumped out of my skin although once I had calmed down a bit I was quite awe-struck by the volume. As a side to this, I gather that Cologne Cathedral have taken a leaf from the book of St. Paul's Cathedral, London and have had two Tuba stops fitted above Cologne's west door. They are named as the "Tuba Episcopalis" (Bischöfliche Tuba / Bishop's Tuba) and "Tuba Capitularis" (Tuba des Domkapitels / Chapter Tuba). Can't wait until I hear those. Anyway, sorry for going off-topic: normal service - ie. on-topic chatter - resumed henceforth, I hope. Dave

Hi all, Bristol Cathedral vs St. Mary Redcliffe? In your opinion, which sounds better when you hear it played? Historywise, according to NPOR: Cathdedral: 1515: Abbott Newland was "buried in the South side of our Lady Chapell (....) by the dore going into the loft going to the organs" 1629: Dallam 1685: Renatus Harris 1786: Brice and / or Richard Seede 1821: John Smith 1861: WG Vowles 1905: JW Walker 1970: JW Walker 1989/90: NP Mander 2005: Unknown (but I understand this to be NP Mander. Will double-check) Redcliffe: 1726: Harris & Byfield 1867: WG Vowles 1912, 1932, 1947, 1974, 1990: all Harrison & Harrison I know which one my favourite in Bristol is out of those two. But for those who have heard one or both of those instruments then which did you prefer? Dave

Would be all right for the Buxteheude as well as the Karg Elert then by the sound of it. Dave

Can't wait! Dave

I would use the "Crown Imperial" as well as it is one of my favourite pieces. But I would also recommend Buxteheude's "Prelude & Fuge in A minor" which I have an MP3 of K.B Kropf playing on the Schnitger organ at Neuenfelde, Hamburg. Very nice piece and comes with my recommendation. Also, how big is the organ? If we are talking a large (IV manual) one then you could try Karg Elert's prelude on "Nan Danket Alle Gott" as a finale. Dave

Bristol Cathedral's service of Choral Evenson is alway 3:30pm on a Sunday. Dave