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Tony Newnham

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Posts posted by Tony Newnham

  1. Regarding mixtures & mutations drawn from parent 8ft ranks, the 5th sounding pitches (2 2/3 etc) are usually tolerable, the difference between ET & the true harmonic pitch being very small.  Tierces and other pitches are a different matter, and probably best used for solo lines, if at all.

    One solution I have come across is where the builder has used an independent mild string rank to derive both a Tierce & a Celeste.  The tuning again is a compromise, but it works well enough for the situation.

    Sometimes in extension organs, mixtures etc are derived from true-tuned ranks used just for that purpose.  All very interesting solutions to the twin problems of small organs, and large organs in small spaces.

    Every Blessing

    Tony

  2. The missing derivations on NPOR are because no-one has told us what they are!!!

    As to there being more letters than ranks of the alphabet, as an NPOR editor I have dealt with both SOuthampton Guildhall & the Dome, Brighton organs, where there's a similar problem.  I solved it by numbering the chambers, so derivations became A1, etc.  The "Further Information" section contains a rank listing (and even some detail on the mixture derivations).  The Dome, Brighton has more straight ranks, and I managed with letters - but I did reach Y! (Missing I & O for obvious reasons).

    Every Blessing

    Tony

  3. I certainly agree about Facebook and the like.  Fine for short-term discussions, but far from friendly if you want to find something from even the recent past.  I do hope "organ matters" will grow & thrive.  Sadly, I've little to post at present as I've been shielding because of the virus.

    Every Blessing

    Tony

  4. Hi

    I'm not sure where the Drane collection is - I thought it was in the BOA.  The NPOR office had a photocopy of it.  It's a series of notebooks containing organ specifications, often with abbreviated stop names, and usually with no mention of the source of his information, so very much a secondary source, but useful non-the-less.  I know nothing about the Hoar collection other than its existence!  Sorry not to be of more help.

    Every Blessing

    Tony

  5. 20 hours ago, Colin Pykett said:

     

    When you consider this against the similar ranges of small pipe organs available from other contemporaneous builders as mentioned by Tony, the prospective customer was pretty much spoilt for choice in the mid-20th century when it came to house organs.

    If anyone wants to investigate the 1960's small pipe organ scene, then I can recommend Alan Kitley's book "The Big Problem of Small Organs" (Colchester, 1966, self published) provides a pretty good overview of what was around up until that time.

    Every Blessing

    Tony 

  6. Hi

    There have been plenty of 2 rank extension organs built over the years.  The Compton Miniatura range started with a 2 rank, as did Walkers "Positive" range, and I came across a single manual 2 rank organ by Osmonds a few years back.  No doubt there were several by other builders too.  I remember seeing adverts in the music magazine many years ago (probably 1970's or '80's) for a 2 rank theatre - style organ for home installation (1 rank a flute & the other a string IIRC) - I wonder if they ever sold any?

    Obviously, I can't comment on the instruments mentioned by Niccolo, but it's not too different in concept to the older examples - except possibly for the action.

    Every Blessing

    Tony

  7. On 16/07/2020 at 09:14, P DeVile said:

    A small amount of Methylated spirits on a cloth is sufficient to wipe over keys and stop knobs but never soak them.

    Peter

    Hi

    That's what all the organ tuners I've dealt with (including Peter!) have used - apart from the one who never cleaned the console at all!  

    Every Blessing

    Tony

  8. 5 minutes ago, bam said:

    To return to the original subject of this thread, it's good to know the two BBC Comptons are maintained and in regular use, but it would be great to hear a broadcast of them in solo use.

    Hi

    Strange you should mention that bam, last Thursdays edition of "The Organist Encores" podcast does just that - albeit with archive tracks and very much in the lighter style.  It also includes tracks of the BBC's theatre organs.  https://organistencores.co.uk/episode-361

    Every Blessing

    Tony

  9. On 29/01/2015 at 19:27, Philip J Wells said:

    Anyone know anything about proposals to replace the current Guildford Chancel Positive division with a brand new 2 manual and pedal organ?

    Hi

    The Coventry & Warwickshire Organists' Association had a visit to Guildford last year.  The idea of a 2m organ in the choir was mentioned - but I gather it's a very long way down the list of things to find finance for.  I have memories of seeing the Cathedral being built - from across the valley, when visiting relatives as a child, and had visited a couple of times over the years but not heard the organ before.  I was particularly interested as the Guildford organ had started life in a Shipley Baptist Church - just down the road from my last pastorate.

    Every Blessing

    Tony

  10. Hi

    I've not listened to David's clips - I don't see the point when the audio will have been mangled by You Tube.  However, I am a little surprised at Colin's comments on dynamic mics having poor bass response - it's certainly not true of D202's.  I've used a pair of (borrowed) D202's many times for organ recording with no issues regarding bass response.  Yes, decent capacitor mics might have been slightly better for the top end, but I didn't have ready access to any at the time.

    Every Blessing

    Tony

  11. Hi

    I don't know the reason for curtains hiding the organist - I suspect it's to reduce distractions.  When I was director of music at Rye Baptist Church, many years ago, the decision was taken to re-order the platform area, removing the fixed central pulpit, and as part of that I suggested they removed the curtain hiding the organist (organ was centre front as in many free churches).  Several of the congregation commented the following Sunday that they'd founds it fascinating - especiallyas, for the first time, they could see the pedals.

    Every Blessing

    Tony

  12. Hi

    I don't have a choir, so no problems there (and no opportunities either) but I've probably been busier during the lockdown recording hymns & songs for church & producing them on You Tube videos (plus the occasional voluntary - I managed the Karg-Elart "Nun Danket" for the church anniversary a couple of weeks back.  It's amazing how long this can take (especially with my health issues & medication which mean I get very tired quite quickly).  I'll be glad to get back to playing in church as usual!  My efforts are on my You Tube channel, including a basic piano & organ duet arrangement of Woodlands, both parts played by me.

    Every Blessing

    Tony

  13. Hi

    I don't know how the Dutch builder deal with the action, but I used to play a nearly all tracker organ which had a separate Nave division on (very heavy) tracker action.  The horizontal right hand change of direction to get the action out of the side of the case was simply a set of squares on a rail at 45 degrees over the top of the reservoir.  The rest of the action had squares set at 90 degrees to change direction (3 sets of those).  It ran from conventional coupler backfall beams on Choir & Great manuals, and terminated on a rollerboard below the Nave division chest.

    Every Blessing

    Tony

  14. Hi

    I don't actually remember the thumbing down exercise in the Alcock tutor, but I must have at least looked at it in the past, as Alcock was one of two tutors I had when I was learning (1960's).

    A real challenge for thumbing down - until you try it and find it's not quite as tricky as it looks - is found in Lemare's infamous "Andantino in Db"  There's one whole page - written on 4 staves - where the right hand is playing the melody (at 16ft pitch IIRC) whilst the right thumb is playing at counter melody (at 4ft).  The left hand is one a third manual playing the accompaniment figure, and the bass line is on the pedals.  Great fun (and I have played it in concert a couple of times).

    Every Blessing

    Tony

  15. Hi

    I can add one more - a small (2 rank IIRC) 2 manual organ built by our hosts here for Rick Wakeman.  I understand that he still has the instrument but that it's currently out of use.

    I'd be interested in links to the info on the various instruments you list, Niccolo. Compact at church - 2mp, and Viscount also sell a 2m with optional stand & pedals in their Cantorum range (not to mention the single manual keyboard style organs by Viscount & others)

    In the realm of electronic "organs" a couple of firms are building portable versions of some of their small organs.  I have a Content 224

    Every Blessing

    Tony

    1002781482_WakemanPortable2lo.jpg.b59287df0d343090e51d7812018f18ab.jpg

  16. I know the feeling Paul.  I couldn't find some music I wanted yesterday - very annoying.  I shall be sorting my music out (again) before long - but thankfully, I don't have as much as you!

    Every Blessing

    Tony

  17. Hi

    Regarding Cathedral entrance charges (which I personally disagree with - must be my Yorkshire heritage), Coventry announced last year that admission charges were going to be abolished.  I can't remember the timing, and obviously I don't know what effect the current situation will have on that.  The only times I've been there recently has been for Organist Association events starting at a relatively early hour, and there was no charge - nor any sign of anyone collection money when we left (also, these visits were Feb/March, so hardly the height of the tourist season!)

    Every Blessing

    Tony

  18. Hi

    I've been watching streamed organ & organ plus concerts by a couple of Dutch performers.  I notice that it seems to be common for some of the stops to be positioned above the console - just wondering about the logic of such a design.  

    Every Blessing

    Tony

  19. Hi Colin

    Sorry, I know nothing more of the Barcheston reed organ.  From what I heard on the CWOA visit, it was in very poor condition and I suspect it was probably scrapped.  Through my Reed Organ Society membership (& as a former council member of that organisation) I do sometimes hear of available reed organs.  Is your interest because you want one, or is it academic?  I'm a reed organ enthusiast, but my main interest is the foot-blown variety, especially French-style Harmoniums, which with a lot of practice, are very expressive instruments.  I own 2 Harmoniums.  The ROS web site has a lot of information, and for English instruments (in the main) there's a pretty comprehensive web site put together by ROS member Rob Allen.  See http://tardis.dl.ac.uk/FreeReed/organ_book/node2.html

    In my opinion, the 2mp (& larger - at least one firm offered a 4mp) fill the market segment now dominated by digital organs and small pipe organs.

    Hope you & your wife are well.  

    Every Blessing

    Tony

  20. Hi

    Interesting comments Colin.  There's just such an organ that's recently been built in a church not too far from here.  The organ at St Martin, Barcheston is based on a former house organ, and has a fair amount of extension to provide more versatility.  It's been built by Henry Groves & Son of Nottingham, who has undertaken a few broadly similar projects in recent years.  The consultant was Paul Hale.  Details at NPOR E02110.  There are some pictures on the NPOR page.  The Coventry & Warwickshire Organists' Association visited last year, when the organ was approaching completion, so it was possible to hear a little of the sounds.  We were due to revisit this Spring, but we all know why that's been postponed.

    Every Blessing

    TonyIMG_2328-lo.jpg.08f30da788443df5ee043fbf394dab62.jpgIMG_2329-lo.jpg.5810d0372f0662f5fdf25568480b7660.jpg

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