DaveHarries

Very entertaining affair mate. However, if - as I believe - you are talking back to Clifton here, was the organist Gwillam Isaac? Sounds a bit like him to shove people around a bit because I seem to remember he could be a bit tempremental. Dave

Hi John. That is extremely good to know. Thanks for passing the info on. He gave me a tour of those Clevedon works when I was a young lad (about 8 or 9 y.o?) and let me have a pipe for a souvenir. I still have that pipe and it still plays. Regards to Chris, Dave

Dave

There isn't a total lack: Chancel Organ, Stavanger Cathedral, Norway NP Mander, London, 1995 Dave

Yes, it is isn't it. I wasn't around to see this one: I was in the pre. 1990 - 1995. Oh dear! Ah yes. I know the balcony you mean. North Town (house) used that one when I was there. (I started of in Taits house then went into North Town myself.) Yep, definately. Dave

I hazard a guess, but is that by some chance the organ of West Point Military Academy? Dave

Oh please? Could I have the story by PM? BTW, my nomination for the worst organ in the country is that of my old school hall. Here is the specification. Note that the letter before each stop indicates which rank (seeing as this is an extension rank afair) the stop relates to: ==================== Clifton College Preparatory School, Clifton, Bristol School Hall || 2 manuals, 17 stops, extension ranks Pedal: A Bourdon 16 A Bass Flute 8 B Open Diapason 8 Manual 1 B Double Diapason 16 B Open Diapason 8 C Saliconal 8 A Lieblich Gedackt 8 B Principal 4 B Fifteenth 2 (top 12 notes from A) Manual 2 C Contra Saliconal 16 A Lieblich Gedackt 8 C Saliconal 8 A Flute 4 A Piccolo 2 D Double Trumpet 16 D Trumpet 8 D Clarion 4 No visible pipes (unless you open the case). Ranks are: A - Flute (in left case) B - Diapason (in right case) C - String (in left case) D - Reed (in right case) Builder unknown. Installed in hall 1986 by Percy Daniel, Clevedon and probably came from somewhere in SouthEast England. ==================== It was as a pupil of the school that I started learning to play the organ and I started on this instrument. My organ teacher at the time was a man by the name of Robert Fielding (who was, I think, organist of Romsey Abbey, Hampshire for a time: I dunno if he is still there). It was he who described this organ as being "a squeezebox" which I thought was about right. Anyway, after a year or so of learning on the "squeezebox" I took to using the excellent (by all accounts) 4 manual, 46 stop organ (Harrison & Harrison 1911 & 1976, restored 1994) in the school chapel. I did my Grade 2 exam on the chapel organ and it was a good instrument. I believe it still is although I left Clifton College in 1995 and have not been in the chapel since then. So it is the organ in the school hall (not the chapel!) that I nominate as my least favourite organ. Dave

Not the kindest timing at all, as you say. This announcement has turned up on Percy Daniel's website: Dave

I agree entirely. Percy Daniels had care of the organ in my local church (St. Mary Magdalene, Stoke Bishop, Bristol) which they had rebuilt in 1979. A very nice instrument which is still in existence. I don't know if Chris Manners is still around. It is possible that he isn't because I did hear some time back that he was in ill health. I well remember Chris Manners: as a lad of about 11 or 12 years old I had an interest in Organ Building and I did write and ask wether it would be possible for me to have a tour of their works in Beach Avenue because such was my interest in organ building at the time. I wrote the letter and sent it off. About a week later, back came a nice letter from Chris Manners himself saying that he would be happy to show me round. They were working on a organ for a church (I can't remember which one) in Surrey at the time. That interest led onto other things: in 1994, the organ of the school I was in - Clifton College, Bristol - came up for restoration: a fine instrument largely from 1911. Harrison & Harrison were doing the works and so I wrote back wondering if I could help out for a couple of mornings in one week. That request was successful and I spent a happy couple of mornings lifting the PD Opheclide 16' and other pipes out of the organ under the supervision of Nigel & the team. If he is still around, Chris Manners will be truly saddened by the liquidation of the company. If he has passed on - which, as I say, is possible - he will be turning in his grave. But back to Percy Daniel & Co. Their purchase by Cawston Organs marks, almost certainly, the end of an era in West Country organ building. 70 years of organ building from Clevedon have gone at a stroke and are no more. The liquidation of PD&co. somewhat desecrates the hopes of Mr. Daniel and his memory, IMO. What a waste. I can't think of another way to put it and will finish by saying: Dercy Daniel & Co. RIP. + Dave

The passing of Noel Mander is, without doubt, the end of an era. I sincerely hope that the firm of Mander Organs and the instruments they have built will live on for many years to come. Noel's greatest monument will, of course, be the beast in St. Paul's Cathedral, London My condolences to John Mander and other friends & family of Noel. Dave Harries

Correct. Dave

So the NPOR have moved their website to http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/. What do you think? Good or bad? Personally, the new NPOR is summarised for me as being describable with one word. That word starts with a C and ends in RAP. Dave

I hear this with a degree of dismay. I have aproached Daniels on a few occasions trying to find an organ for a small chapel and have always had a friendly reply from Chris Manners. I wish him well in his retirement and wish him a full recovery. I remember him as the man who, at a time wwhen I was young and had an interest in Organ Building (when I was about 7 y.o, I think), gave me a tour around the Clevedon workshop. You confess to what you like, mate. I confess to the direct opposite! That will be Brecon Cathedral. Choir & Organ did an article after the work on that organ had been done. Dave

Richard, Nice site. I like the Karg-Elert piece in the download section: ages since I had heard that. Dave

Hi. An interesting sounding scenario. I am not sure what I would do for a case and pipe layout, but the specification I would use would be the same as, if not similar to, the organ of Clifton College Chapel, Bristol. The organ was originally built by Harrison & Harrison in 1911, incorporating pipework by Father Willis. H&H rebuilt it in 1976-8 and restored it in 1994. Here it is: Photo from BDOA (Bristol & District Organists Association) website Web Address: http://www.bdoa.fsnet.co.uk Whilst a pupil of Clifton College preparatory School (1989 - 1995), I had lessons on this organ and was, by permission of H&H themselves, also allowed to put a couple of mornings work in during the 1994 restoration. A nice organ to play. Specification (after 1994 restoration) consists of 4 manuals, 46 stops and about 2768 pipes and is as follows: Pedal: Open Wood 16 Open Diapason 16 Geigen 16 Subbass 16 Octave Wood 8 Octave Geigen 8 Flute 8 Fifteenth 4 Mixture 15-19-22 Ophicleide 16 Choir: Double Salicional 16 12 bass from C Stopped Diapason 8 Principal 4 Flageolet 2 Nasard 1 1/3 Mixture 22-26-29 Great: Gross Geigen 16 Large Open Diapason 8 Small Open Diapason 8 Hohl Flote 8 Octave 4 Wald Flote 4 Octave Quint 2 2/3 Superoctave 2 Tierce 1 3/5 Mixture 19-22-26-29 Tromba 8 Octave Tromba 4 Swell: Open Diapason 8 Salicional 8 Vox Angelica 8 Full compass Lieblich Gedeckt 8 Gemshorn 4 Lieblich Flote 4 Fifteenth 2 Mixture 12-19-22 Double Trumpet 16 Trumpet 8 Oboe 8 Clarion 4 Tremulant (Flues & Oboe only) Solo: Viole d'Orchestre 8 Harmonic Flute 8 Concert Flute 4 Orchestral Bassoon 16 Clarinet 8 Tuba 8 (unenclosed) Tremulant (not to tuba) The speakers either side of the case on the gallery are nothing to do with the organ. It might, for the benefit of people with no earshot of the organ, be possible to amplify it through the cathedral's speaker system? I am not much good at thinking up specifications without some kind of influence. Dave

I have got this organ on tape and it does state that CC did some work there. However, the NPOR (National Pipe Organ Register) gives the history of the organ of N.D-de-F as being: 1868: August Gern 2 manuals, 24 stops 1938: JW Walker 3 manuals, 34 stops, 2131 pipes 1940: Church bombed, organ largely undammaged. 1955: Organ built using only seven stops from 1868 organ with much of the pipework being second hand. 1987: BC Shepherd & Son 3 manuals, 61 stops, 3533 pipes No mention of CC. Dave

Yeah, right mate. We all believe you. Pratt by name, pratt by nature. Dave

How about Thomas Thamar's 1674 organ in Framlingham, Suffolk? -------------------------------------------- History: 1674: Pembroke College, Oxford. Built by Thomas Thamar (Peterborough). 1 manual, 8 stops, approx. 510 pipes. 1708: St. Michael's, Framlingham, Suffolk. Organ aquired from Pembroke College, Oxford. Installed in Framlingham by Charles Quarles (organist of Trinity College), Oxford. Specification unaltered. 1896: Alfred Hunter Organ rebuilt. New Swell & Pedal divisions. Used most of Thamar's pipework on the Great except for the Cornet and Trumpet which he replaced with a Harmonic Flute and Gamba; the Cornet went missing and the Trumpet was lost; the Swell incorporated at least 3 18th century stops. 1970: Bishop & Son Organ restored. the Cornet was rediscovered in the Rectory attic and repaired, restored and reconstructed; a very old rank of Trumpet pipes was found to replace the lost set; the Swell was matched up to complement the Great and based on its 18th century content; the Pedal was likewise treated; the Cromorne was introduced by John Budgen of Bishop's; a Pedal reed was also added. Casework date: pre-1630, located in West gallery. -------------------------------------------- Could this organ represent us? The Great division is all Thamar pipework except for the Trumpet 8'. Dave

Are the Ally Pally dispensing of their Willis in favour of GD&B? Or is that a misinterpretation? I have not personally heard any rumours regarding that Willis so if anyone can clarify then I would be glad for it. Ta. Dave

75% ??!! I suppose you didn't get any of it back. Bad luck though. I used to do organ practive in my local church until someone stole the speakers (three times) and the drumkit (twice). Now the church is largely kept closed and I was forced to give up. Pity. Dave

The accoustic 64' is, according to the stoplist on Kails' website, called a "Vox Balenae". Never heard of it. What does it sound like? Dave

One more thing. For anyone who is interested, Klais are selling a book regarding the new (1998) organ of Cologne Cathedral. It is called "Ein Hauch, Ein Ton" (A Breath, A note) and retails for 40.00 Euros. http://www.klais.de/m.php?art=125 Dave

I am not sure what is happening to the crossing organ. How interesting, though, that an organ of 3 manuals and 53 stops (the 1998 Klais) can do a better job than an organ of 3 manuals, 89 stops (the 1948 Klais). In Choir & Organ magazine for May/June 2000, Philipp Klais wrote: "The cathedral suffered severely during the war too, and it became necessary to build a wall separating the nave from the choir so that services could continue in the less damaged and already repaired choir and transept. In this situation, my grandfather built the crossing organ in 1948, an instrument which, with its 89 registers, was never intended to cope with the demands of the entire nave, as this area was not in use. Despite this, the crossing organ has, over 50 years, fought for its place in the history of church music in the cathedral, becomming something of a monument; it will be restored in the near future." A couple of links that might be of use to you if you were to go there for a concert in the future: Cologne Cathedral website: http://www.koelnerdom.de/ Cologne Cathedral Organ Concerts List: http://www.koelnerdommusik.de/index.php?id=48 BTW: Clemens Ganz finished his tenure as organist of Cologne Cathedral on 30.09.2001. His sucessor is Prof. Dr. Winfried Bönig. Dave

Mike, I suspect that when you last visited Christ Church, Clifton the side (ie. facing the nave) facade was comprised of wooden pipes. The wooden pipes in question are no longer visible and what is there now is a reed battery plus cimbelstern (with rotating star) with metal pipes as well. Go the the NPOR - http://lehuray2.csi.cam.ac.uk/ - and access record R00089. There is a picture there of the nave-side facade as it now is. An improvement if you ask me. Note that, when the picture was taken, the rotating star (8 notes in C-major) was not there pending a repair on its mechanism inside the case. Dave

Another builder I would have suggested is Klais of Bonn. I went to Cologne three times (1996/7/8) when I was in my last school. In 1997 they were still in the process of installing the case and pipes of the three-manual beast in the nave that was to replace the 1948 crossing organ. When I went back in 1998 the organ had been finished and looked spendid. Whilst I was looking at it, someone struck up and I jumped about a foot in the air. The organ that is now in use in Cologne Cathedral may be only three manuals but it does a fantastic job and, having heard Cologne's Klais in use for a sunday morning service (full house), I can well imagine an organ similar to Kais' organ in Cologne Cathedral being installed in Worcester Cathedral. Köln Dom's organ, which is installed in the nave, has this specification: Pd: 32, 16, 16, 10 2/3, 8, 8, 4, 2, 16, 8, 4 Rp: 16, 8, 8, 4, 4, 2 2/3, 2, 1 3/5, 1 1/3, V, 16, 8, 8, Trem Hw: 16, 8, 8, 8, 4, 4, 2 2/3, 2, V, IV, V, 16, 8, 8 Sw: 16, 8, 8, 8, 8, 4, 4, 2 2/3, 2, 1 3/5, IV, 16, 8, 8, Trem 3 manuals, 53 stops, 76 ranks If you wonder how something like that might sound in Worcester, go and hear Cologne's. Has anyone else on here heard it other than me? If so, what was your assessment, and how might that sound in Worcester? Dave