Tony Newnham
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Posts posted by Tony Newnham
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13 hours ago, Contrabombarde said:
6. The church's primary obligation is to bear witness to Jesus Christ, not to glorify and worship the organ. Where the organ and its music supports its primary function it must be embraced; if or where the church's witness is hindered by its reliance on the organ then the church must move on and other means of supporting the continuation of the organ must be found to keep our music tradition going. Having recently directed a Christmas lessons and carols service that included orchestral instruments, choir, organ and rock group and music that ranged from Bach to a Freddie Mercury pastiche, I am personally very comfortable promoting the organ alongside other musical styles in the service of God. I recognise not all will be so comfortable, but in my experience the organ can thrive in its own right and in combination with other instruments both "traditional" and "contemporary" if it's allowed to. However, the Christian church cannot allow the organ to become worshipped in its own right and must part company if that particular idolatry creeps in.
I thoroughly agree. I would also add that the church isn't in the museum business.
Every Blessing
Tony
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Hi
The music group I used to run at Rye Baptist Church did play for a couple of weddings of church members (usually with some organ music as well). I can't recall it being requested by non-members, but then we didn't do many non church member weddings anyway!
Every Blessing
Tony
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Nothing. I ended up in hospital on Christmas Eve with complications due to gastroenteritis, and only got hom yesterday evening.
Every Blessing
Tony
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Hi
Definitely tracker action. In my opinion, detached consoles are a mixed blessing, and putting the console at the far end of the building means a lag in the sound reaching the player (plus any lag due to the action) - I discovered this as a teenager when the church where I was learning organ - quite a small building, perhaps seating 80 or so - put a 4 rank extension organ in, replacing a 1mp tracker. The pipework of the new organ was in the North West corner, elevated over an area that was used as a choir vestry, console at the East end of the Nave. The first time I played it I found the lag noticeable.
With a West End organ, I would also have the choir at the West End. There's no way a west end organ & east end choir are going to sound properly balanced other than at one point somewhere down the Nave.
Another factor that I've found problematic is trying to play quietly when people are moving about & talking (pre-service etc.). There have been times when I've not been able to hear the organ at all.
Every Blessing
Tony
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Hi John
I no longer live in Yorkshire either. Will go into EMS when we visit the area, although quite when that will be with my wife's illness is anyone's guess.
Every Blessing
Tony
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I've often used it before our main carol service - but not really thought if it's appropriate anywhen else.
Every Blessing
Tony
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I've taken a fair number of Remembrance services in my days as a Baptist Minister. Timing is an issue - especially in one church where the service was held at the war memorial and a clock on the village school across the road chimed the hours - and wasn't always right! As to the 2 minutes silence, a watch with a second hand works well enough - or possible a stop watch discreetly placed on a lacturn. More recently, when our Remembrance services were in church, I used a countdown timer I downloaded from the web on a netbook computer.
Personally, I don't think an odd few minutes error is that important, especially on Remembrance Sunday, but at Ashdon for a few years I lead a short service at the war memorial actually on the 11th, mainly for the benefit of the upper classes in the school (the vicar refused to do it!). For that I did make sure I was dead on time. I then had a complaint that I was a few seconds adrift on the Sunday - it happened to be my turn to lead the village service - I just pointed out that I'd made sure we were dead on time on the 11th, which really is the more significant time IMHO.
Every Blessing
Tony
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Hi
I came across Mathias Rehfeldt's You Tube channel recently - I find it well worth a listen.
Every Blessing
Tony
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22 hours ago, Colin Pykett said:
This information was also turned up on the internet, together with a picture of his grave where he had been buried with full military honours. Its beautiful headstone still looks as new as the day it was made, all wonderfully maintained to this day. I am not sure who does this - it might be his former regiment, the Royal Artillery, or the British Legion - but I am grateful to them, and to a lady I've never met who keeps it tidy especially at Remembrance tide.
War Graves (the standard ones with a white headstone) are maintained by the War Graves Commission - we had 6 in our graveyard at Heaton. Private graves are the responsibility of the family. I'm not sure if the WGC do anything with them.
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I'd not worry about the key, just find a reasonably reedy sound (a 12th might do the job if you have one). Trumpet is perfectly acceptable - my youngest son will be playing Last Post etc. on his Trumpet tomorrow morning, and I've also seen a trumpet used by an army musician, so no problems there.
Every Blessing
Tony
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A friend arranged a session for me on the Lancing College Chapel Walker back in the '60's when the Walker had been erected on a temporary gallery - in 1914! Not managed to get back since.
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Yes, EMS was on North Parade above Woods music shop. When they sold out to the Williams group, who shortly after went bankrupt, EMS has moved to Salts Mill in Saltaire and is still going strong. And to keep things on topic they often have a couple of Positive organs on display.
Every Blessing
Tony
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Hi
Further to Inate's comment about the Clavichord, which I also have read was a common practice instrument in Bach's time, there have been Pedal Clavichords (and Pedal Harpsichords). I saw a pedal Clavichord for sale in the Early Music Shop in Bradford a good few years ago now. Sadly, it was beyond my means.
Every Blessing
Tony
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Compton made a version of the Polypohone (bass cube) for 16ft as well - common on the Miniatura range of organs.
Every Blessing
Tony
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Hi
I'd not want to lose a Stopped Diapason - but then, I play a lot of early English repertoire, and the combination of Open & Stopped Diapason is one of the core sounds, called for when the composer asks for "Diapasons". As to the Dulciana, it depends on how it fits with the other stops. It can be useful to accompany soft solo registrations on the Choir, or by itself - but if, as on one of my previous organs, it's nigh on inaudible, it really isn't worthwhile. At Heaton Baptist I had the interesting situation that the Stopped Diapason was the quietest stop on the small chamber organ, yet it seemed to "grow" if used in combination, even working under Principal & Fifteenth for a mf-f bright combination. There was a Dulciana, which we retained (it was a historic instrument after all) and it was useful either on its own for soft voluntaries, or to colour the St Diap.
Every Blessing
Tony
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Hi
Facebook groups and fora are very different beasts. I use both (and incidentally I see this morning that Yahoo Groups are effectively being discontinued in a matter of days, and the archives & files deleted in December. So much for being able to go back & find information!). I agree though, that this and other fora (including David's own forum "Organ Matters" need to be used. It's a case of "Use it or lose it".
Every Blessing
Tony
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I agree with you Colin - I've only heard a very small handful of early music pieces played on piano that I've found somewhat acceptable. I'd much rather hear original instruments.
Every Blessing
Tony
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Hi
A lot of Radio 3 programmes have been either stopped or moved - irritating.
Every Blessing
Tony
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Very sorry to hear this. Prayers for his family & others affected by his passing.
Every Blessing
Tony
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23 hours ago, Peter Allison said:
Did John Scott Whiteley not make a recording for Priory on the Sheffield organ, seem to remember a GEO one
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Yes he did. Great European Organs no 56, dating from early 2000's. I have a copy in my CD collection, but I've not played it recently so can't comment on the sound, but I don't recall any significant issues when I did listen.
Every Blessing
Tony
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Hi
Some of the devices are already used for stop control, etc. by users of Hauptwerk & other pipe organ simulators, and since they output (or can be persuaded to output) the relevant MIDI commands it should be possible to interface them with a pipe organ that has MIDI facilities including MIDI inputs, but I see little point. Why would I want to play an organ from a piano keyboard when the proper console is there. I can think of a couple of possible scenarios, but it's not something I'd want to do regularly. It's a strange feeling playing organ sounds from a weighted piano keyboard!
Just because something CAN be done doesn't mean that it's a good idea to actually do it!
Every Blessing
Tony
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Hi
Somewhere in my music collection I have an organ duet (2 organs) arrangement of something (possibly Battle Hymn of the Republic) by Porter Heaps. I've never played it - can't remember now why I bought it many years ago.
Every Blessing
Tony
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Try MCPS (Mechanical Copyright Protection Society) (or whatever they call themselves these days). In most cases they have the answer to copyright issues for recordings, and can tell you what to do if they don't have the info. They will also deal with all the licensing (on payment of a fee of course!).
PRS (Performing Rights Society) deal with public performance licensing.
I've found MCPS to be very helpful, they'd rather not have to chase those who infringe copyrights. It's been a few years since I've had to deal with them though - I've produced a handful of recordings on cassette & CD over the years, but nothing recently aside from my own (simple) arrangements of hymn tunes that are in the public domain.
Every Blessing
Tony
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Very pleased to see a Mustel being used.
As to Colin's original post, Cambridge Reed Organs when I last heard were concentrating on hire work, as is Phil Fluke, but as Phil still retains a large collection, it would be worth asking him about surplus parts (https://harmoniumhire.co.uk/). Karl Heslop who has recently started out on his own account as an organ builder (and is currently restoring a small reed organ for me) might just be interested (https://www.facebook.com/carl.heslop). I also noticed recently that David Shuker at Sign of the Pipe is advertising reed organ restoration (http://www.signofthepipe.com/index.html). I think there's also another set-up in the UK hiring & restoring reed organs, but I've not heard of them recently and don't have contact with them. There are a few enthusiasts around too, some of whom do their own repairs & restorations (and some are members of the Reed Organ Society). Their council member for the UK (currently me, but not for much longer) has an e-mail list, so anything particularly interesting can be circulated - but rehoming reed organs is difficult because of a lack of appreciation in general for their musical qualities, plus the issue of restoring something that will be between c.50 & c.150 years old! Much the same problems as pipe organs really!
Every Blessing
Tony
Piano concertos with organ transcriptions of orchestral parts?
in Organ Music
Posted
Hi
This post has reminded me of a couple of broadcasts on BBC radio 3, in the days when there were regular organ broadcasts. I recorded a couple of programmes off air - first on 27th Feb 1984, a broadcast from Leeds Town Hall with Simon Lindley & Keith Swallow - music for piano & organ by Flor Peters. Included his Suite Modale Op 43, Aria Op51 & Concerto for organ & piano Op 74.
The 2nd recording dates from 29/1/99 and was part of a short series "Organ & Friends" with David Hill & Stephen Coombes. I didn't note the programme on the cassette insert for this one.
I also have a CD which I bought several years ago of organ & piano repertoire. My CD's are upstairs, and currently inaccessible as I have breathing problems (2nd chest infection of the season) and I can't remember any details.
On a slightly broader front, there is a body of repertoire for Harmonium & Piano, including works by Cesar Frank, Kerg-Elart & Leferrbe-Wely IIRC. The Scott brothers and others have recorded some of this - but once again, my CD's are currently inaccessible.
For those so inclined, there's also a body of works from the Evangelical church tradition - mainly hymn arrangements for piano & organ, and the 2 instruments are often used together to accompany hymns & choral works.
Every Blessing
Tony