biggestelk

Speaking of the book by Charles Padgham, does anyone have a copy of the (then tape) examples used for the tests on a modern format (CD or MP3)? I have (had) the cassette but can't locate it now, but have no tape deck to use.... Oliver.

All now available from iTunes for £7.99. I kid you not!

Looked rather crowded in the organ loft, it's not really that large and a big drop into the nave too!

Love the 50's clipped RP narration! http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=1377

At the risk of going seriously off topic, here's a video I did at the RHDR a year or so ago..... www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zvd_vBYERiM

For a free score writting program, Musecore is briliant... Useful for transposong when arranging for my Tenor Horn.

I don't have an iPad, but.... http://www.forscoreapp.com/ Oliver.

Mine arrived today after reading about it here. Very good it is too! Oliver.

Thanks for that. That program's made my Christmas! Oliver.

The best I've heard was John Scott here: http://nycago.org/Organs/NYC/html/StThomasEpisGal.html It was on YouTube but I can't find it anymore, but the prelude was a slowish, measured, almost but not quite rubato on clear soft flutes and exquiste expression. The fugue was clean and clear (I still can never phrase the subject correctly!) and all performed from memory. I had the great pleasure of being in NYC and managed to get up to the console for a quick peek through the very plesant and helpful Kevin Kwan. I hope this performance re-appears, because I think a large number of you musically intelligent people would also find it an amazing breath of fresh air! (My two-cents!) Oliver.

May I add my thanks also. I have a small photo gallery on my homepage which has 2 shots of the console and 1 long exposure shot of the south case. As the case shot was set up rather rapidly I had to guess the framing but I think I just got the right bits in! Regards, Oliver. www.biggestelk.com for the photos.

I can second that as he has just serviced my Wyvern. He like his tea white with a small sugar! Oliver

Yup, me too please! Oliver.

"Shurrly not, my dear Watson. Does that mean Mr Ravel also stole from the Knight of the Realm (cf Bolero/Memory) and Mr Mendelssohn (cf slow mov't vln conc/I don't know how to love him)? Perhaps Mr Lloyd Webber isn't as talented as we've all been led to believe....." Have you been listening to Kit & The Widow perchance?...... Regards, Oliver.

Go to: http://classicalorgansltd.co.uk/ I had the Ahlborn single manual H6 before I bought my Wyvern but it only had a synth key action so I have no idea what the big boys are like. But remember, most likely the keyboards will be made by Fatar (http://www.fatar.com/Pages/TP_8L.htm) as they seem to be used by most digital organ makers. Cheers, Oliver.

"Is it me, or is there something weird about pedal boards made by Content organs? I was just in Brighton practising on a pretty darned good Makin Toaster, and I was amazed.... clean pedal passages where there had been splodges all the way at home! Now I'm back at home we're back with the endless splodges again. Does anyone have experience with these pedal-boards?" Yes. My Wyvern Sonata (Content D4300 re-badge) has pedals which I'm sure are smaller than the norm, the sharps are only about an inch and a half above the naturals and they are quite short too and the whole pedal experience is rather narrow. If I am playing slow (read 'simple') then I can play in socks with no pain or problem, it is mainly with faster Bach style passages that I need to use the dance shoes I bought. Oliver.

Hi all. The eBay member is called jemsdoll121. It seems she has the shoes made for her as her name is inside them. They are about £40 inc P+P. I normally wear either size 9 or 10. I emailed the seller with my foot sizes (10" x 4") and she suggested the 10s which seem a good fit. As for returning them, look at the bottom of the listing which explains her returns policy. I hope I can attach a photo I took with this post.... Regards, Oliver.

Perfect timing! I've just bought a pair of suede soled dance shoes from eBay which have no welt and are very pliable. I'll let you know how I get on. Regards, Oliver.

Try Grado. www.gradolabs.com They're American and do colour the sound a little but have an amazing clarity. The cheapest ones are pretty OK, however I've been fortunate to work my way up to the £300 pair, which are stunning if a little heavy on the head as they have metal enclosures for the drivers. But I would certainly recommend open back 'phones as they seem less tiring to use over a longer period of time. Regards, Oliver.

I've went to Kings tonight to hear La Nativite played by Mr Cleobury. You could only just hear the thump of action during quiet solo passages on a single flute. Maybe the radio broadcast mics were in an odd place? Having not been into Kings for a bit, it struck me how squat and dumpy the case looks from the choir. I know it was deepened many years back, but it just looked like someone had sat on it. Maybe my eyes were playing up in the dim light.... Regards, Oliver.

"However, I would still maintain Elgar falls between the parameters given, due to the fact that, regardless of its title, it is (as has previously been stated here) an orchestral work that happens to be (mostly) playable on an organ." I have the Gordon Jacob orchestral arrangement by the RLPO under Vernon Handley on CD. For me, it just doesn't work. The grandeur of the opening chords are lost in the effort by the orchestra to sustain the wall of sound at the beginning and I don't feel the piece flows as freely throughout. I guess it's because I'm so used to it on the organ that the orchestral approach to performance sounds odd for the music. I'm sure there are those who having never heard the original organ version would probably not give its origin a moment's thought on hearing it the first time round. Ah well, to each their own. Oliver.

Kings, as I work a 45 brisk seconds walk from the chapel...... Oliver.

Moving further afield, the Kern organ at Toulouse Cathedral is pretty terrifying, requiring a trek along an open triforium and then a narrow traverse over a flimsily railed wooden bridge to reach a very cramped loft about 60 feet above the floor. Do you mean http://cathedrale.toulouse.free.fr/edifice/Orgues.html perchance? Gulp.... Oliver.

I saw this page of Cologne Cathedral http://www.koelner-dom.de/16955.html?&L=1 and the Klais mounted high up on the wall. I am ***** scared of heights and nothing on this planet would get me up there! Even St Michaels Croydon worried me quite a bit at first! Anyone else uncomfortable with heights and had to play with your fingernails digging into the top manual? Regards, Oliver.

I emailed Harrisons a while back: 'Thank you for your enquiry. One third of the RFH organ is back in place but there is no money at present for completion of the project. We are hoping that we can complete reinstallation in 2011-12, but there will need to be further discussions with the South Bank Centre before this is confirmed. In August 2005 the organ was dismantled and stored in a separate warehouse in Durham. The Hall has been completely reconstructed with improved acoustics; it reopened in June 2007. The organ is being reconfigured to suit the new architectural and acoustic requirements: its depth has been reduced by 1.1m but the basic principles of the layout have been respected. The Great and Swell Organs and the Pedal Principal 32ft (forming the left-hand portion of the organ) have been reinstated, together with the console, and will be followed by the central and right-hand sections at a later date. Yours sincerely Katherine Venning Harrison & Harrison' Hope this helps..... Oliver.