[Anybody Heard Marlborough College Yet?]

I went to hear it and was very impressed. For the recital I was sitting at the front of the chapel with my back to the organ and about 10 feet from it. I found it a very impressive instrument and Simon Preston put it through its paces quite thoroughly. The nearest thing I heard to a cipher was a note on a reed stop which came on at the beginning of a movement and was quickly silenced. This happened a couple of times. During the service of dedication and blessing of the organ , the instrument was heard to fine effect in the voluntaries played beforehand and in the accompaniments and final voluntary. I would certainly like to attend the open day on 24th February but am booked in for the BIOS day conference.

 

Thank you for your comments. I am the organist of Marlborough College and played for the service. It is true that there was a cipher and I greatly regret that we were unable to do anything between service and recital about this. This particular problem decided to manifest itself for the first time immediately before I started the voluntaries for the service. Not having sufficient time to deal with the problem, I removed the offending stop (the Pedal Fagott) from all pistons, and carried on. Not having used this stop for the service, the problem seemed to go away and I was unable to get the problem to repeat itself between service and recital, so we could do nothing before Simon Preston started his recital. Inevitably, the problem reappeared during his first piece, but I am pleased to say that Simon quickly identified and corrected the problem himself and dealt with it with minimal fuss. I hope the problem did not spoil the enjoyment of the recital for those present but I am glad that he carried on regardless rather than stopping and causing general embarrassment.

 

We remain delighted with the instrument, which is a real pleasure to play - but I would say that of course! It has certainly revived my interest in going to do some practice! I am now greatly looking forward to welcoming members of this board to Marlborough on 24 February so that they can make up their own minds.

 

Ian Crabbe

[Unintended Humour]

Nothing to do with the start of this topic, but at the place where I work, an enquiry to a music shop for a piece called Could I But Express In Song? drew the eventual reply that they were unable to find the Kodaly Buttocks Pressing Song.

[Good Choir, Or Just Good Acoustic?]

I didn't listen to the radio broadcast on Christmas Eve from Kings; my comments which started this thread were made only after listening to the televised Carols from Kings which was on BBC2 at 5.15 pm. My feeling is that an obviously recorded and edited television programme cannot really conjure up the magic of this service - an opening shot of someone punting down the Cam didn't really do it for me. When was this service recorded - July?

 

I think it would be far better if they televised the 3.00 pm service - live, then we might get some real atmosphere. We might also be treated to more than one voluntary after the service if the service underruns.

 

 

PS: I don't think the choir librarian exactly needed to strain himself this year. Torches, The Three Kings and The First Nowell (arr. Willcocks) are all in Carols for Choirs Book 1.

[Good Choir, Or Just Good Acoustic?]

I wasn't at all impressed with the hymn playing though. It's all very well taking no prisoners, but it just wasn't together a lot of the time.

I can't understand why the hymn playing was so poorly coordinated. I've heard it said that that organ's a devil to play but it didn't seem a problem when accompanying the choir.

Incidentally, did you mean Martindale Sidwell? Don't know a Marmaduke.

I did mean Martindale Sidwell - sorry. I must have been thinking of Marmaduke Conway - author of that fine tome Playing a church organ. Obviously been having too many vinos.

[Good Choir, Or Just Good Acoustic?]

I don't know whether it's true or not, but it is said that Marmaduke Sidwell and John Dykes Bower used to have frequent arguments about who had the best choir. One day, Marmaduke suggested that in St Paul's Cathedral, all one needed to do was stand underneath the dome, break wind and you got a seven-fold amen.

 

The question which arises is this: is Kings College Choir really good, or do they get away with murder with their superb acoustic? I am prompted to start this topic having endured 30 minutes of 'Carols from Kings' on BBC2. Is it a repeat from last year? I accept that the BBC have broadcasted the afternoon service since 1928 and tradition probably states that they should continue to do so. But in the evening, is is not time to let another choir have a go for a change? Any nominations?

[The Invisible Organist]

Last night I played for one of the local schol's annual carol concert/service which was held at St Peter's in Cardiff. The standard of the school choir was fairly high, and music by Wilcox and Chilcott was feautured along with the traditional carols, ending with O Come All Ye (minus the last verse, I am glad to say). Before the final blessing and the recessional voluntary (In Dulce Jubilo leading into Sleigh Ride!) the hasdmaster gave a vote of thanks. The choir was thanked, the music teacher was thanked, other teachers were thanked, the parish priest was thanked, the people wh arranged the chairs were thanked, the parents were thanked...... but can anybody out there guess who wasn't mentioned in this litany of gratitude? Answers on a five pound note, please.

 

Best wishes

 

Peter

 

Usually I find that such ignorance can be cushioned by a fat fee (which will be even fatter next year). Having said this, I'm in no position to shout. A few years ago I conducted a performance of Britten's Rejoice in the Lamb. At the end of the performance I duly acknowledged the the four soloists, the choir and anybody else I could see and left the organist - who had done a magnificent job and the majority of the hard work work - gently fuming at his console.

[Vanity Or Practicality?]

I believe the difference between the best digital instruments and the also-rans is enormous - and I think this is not just due to the technology used. The number of channels deployed, and the quality of the speakers is a big factor - and those things don't come cheap.

 

JJK

 

You are right about the quality of the speakers. We have had a three-manual Makin organ on hire where I play for the past 12 months. Previously it had been in Peterborough Cathedral I think. It came with 24 loudspeakers, including an enormous woofer for the 32 ft stops and about 3KW of power. I think the amplification itself was worth about £12,000. The building has a good acoustic (3 - 4 secs when the building is empty) and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed playing this instrument. Whether I would want one permanently is another matter, but I do think that they have their place.