Paul Carr
-
Posts
256 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by Paul Carr
-
-
This is incorrect.
The church has not gone ‘happy clappy, it never did.
I left, after 13 years as DoM, in August 2016; my position became untenable but this was never to do with style of music or matters relating to music in worship. In fact after I left (followed by the entire choir) the traditional style, with use of the organ continued.
Following a very dark period, which could be the subject of a very readable book one day, the church finally had a fresh start with a Priest in Charge appointed about a year ago. He’s rebuilding the congregation (which stood at 3) and the place is slowly healing.
The organ is used for the weekly service, played by a RBC Organ Student, and also for concerts such as the run of Carols by Candlelight concerts presented by Ex-Cathedra each Christmas.
The organ is in fairly good condition considering its age, there were plans developed for a new organ using the historic pipework alongside new, and extensive surveys and research had been done to ensure that nothing of artistic or historical value was disguarded in the scheme. This had to be put on hold about 6 years ago when it became apparent that the building needed work first and this should have been the priority for any funding.
The building has had some emergency repairs after ceiling collapses, etc. but is still in need of about £1m to restore it, so any organ scheme is a long way off.
-
I have had the amazing experience of being at Saint Eustache today and hearing all of the candidates - 7 hours of pieces, improvisations and accompaniments on that awesome instrument. Once in a lifetime.
Two co-titulaires announced: Baptiste-Florian Marle-Ouvrard and Thomas Ospital.
Huge congratulations to them both! Bravo.
Paul.
-
OK, here we go........
Which is the best cathedral organ in the UK?
MM
Gloucester, St Chad's Birmingham, Hereford, Coventry, Truro, Liverpool (both - well, why not!?)
But each to its own job - in other words I wouldn't want to play choral evensong on St Chad's, but then registering some repertoire on Hereford can be challenging with the wonderful, but gentle swell division. The glory of Gloucester has to be the building and its position within it. And the understanding that it's not trying to be a H&H or Willis-style cathedral organ.
P
-
Saturday 25 June at 7.30 pm
St Michael's, Tenbury Wells, WR15 8PH
IAN BALL (Worcester)
featuring the wonderful 4-manual 'Father' Willis organ
J.S. Bach: Prelude and ‘St Anne’ Fugue in E flat, BWV 552
Matthew Camidge: Air and Gavotta (from Concerto No 2 in G minor)
Elgar: Sonata in G, Op.28
INTERVAL
Franck: Prière, Op.20
Vierne: Symphony No 3 in F# minor, Op. 28
Admission £6
Fabulous programme Ian!
I'm at Symphony Hall all day Saturday, playing for degree ceremonies, but just might make it if I have the energy left after two recitals and two Widors on the mechanical console!
Vierne played at Tenbury in the 1920s, I think - Michael Hart has newspaper cuttings from the time.
Symphony 3 sounds amazing on that organ - I did it there in 2009...
P
-
Fourth Presbyterian Church on Michigan Avenue in Chicago is where Dr John W. W. Sherer has been the Organist and Director of Music since 1996 and where 2,000 people worship each Sunday.
USA Today recently picked Fourth Presbyterian Church as one of top ten places in America to be “enthralled by heavenly music.”
The church has a 126-rank Aeolian-Skinner organ and nine choirs and instrumental groups including The Morning Choir, a twenty-six voice professional ensemble and Tower Brass, a professional octet. Dr. Sherer manages an active concert series at the church with over eighty events each year.
The Morning Choir and Dr. Sherer were in the film 'My Best Friend’s Wedding' the wedding being at The Fourth Presbyterian Church.
In addition to his work at Fourth Presbyterian Church he is a frequent guest conductor with the Chicago Chamber Orchestra, has done numerous lectures and clinics on church music and is a published author and composer.
Dr Sherer will be performing an all-American programme at St Chad's Cathedral Birmingham on Tuesday 21st June at 7.30pm. Tickets are £5/£3
Do come along. A chance to hear one of the finest instruments in the Midlands played by a top organist, and for just a fiver!
I heard John play at Wombourne last Tuesday - 'stunning' just about sums it all up!!
Come and hear for yourself!
Very best wishes,
Paul
-
Another 12 Organ Recitals have been commissioned by St Paul's Birmingham.
Thursday Live
Organ Recitals at St Paul's Birmingham
First Thursday of every month: 1.15pm – 1.45pm. Admission Free.
2011 - 2012
July 7th 2011
Paul Carr St Paul’s Birmingham
August 4th 2011
Paul Carr St Paul’s Birmingham
September 1st 2011
Tim Harper Birmingham Cathedral
October 6th 2011
Paul Carr St Paul’s Birmingham
November 3rd 2011
Henry Fairs Birmingham University
December 1st 2011
Paul Carr St Paul’s Birmingham
January 5th 2012
Paul Carr St Paul’s Birmingham
February 2nd 2012
Paul Carr St Paul’s Birmingham
March 1st 2012
Paul Carr St Paul’s Birmingham
April 5th 2012
Paul Hayward Nottingham City Parish
May 3rd 2012
Paul Carr St Paul’s Birmingham
June 7th 2012
Jon Payne St Thomas’ Stourbridge
Thursday Live Organ Recitals
by Paul Carr & Guests
St Paul's in the Jewellery Quarter,
St Paul's Square, Birmingham B3 1QZ
On the first Thursday of every month
1.15pm - 1.45pm
Admission free
Recitals last 30 minutes and are followed by light refreshments.
St Paul's is blessed with some of the finest acoustics in the city of Birmingham. It is a Grade I listed building, built in 1779 and set in a timeless Georgian square with beautiful rolling lawns and tree-lined walks; An oasis of calm in the heart of the city.
More at:
Websites:
http://www.paulcarr.co.uk/ThursdayLive.htm and http://www.saintpaulbrum.org/thursdaylive.php and http://www.organrecitals.com/1/recitals0.php?venue=spjq
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/paulcarr.organist
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/#!/ThursdayLive
Organ details:
http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi...ec_index=N07367
If you're in the area, please do come along.
All best wishes,
Paul
-
Only a few more needed and then we can print the teatowel!
-
I do not think it was a mistake. I recall someone telling me it was HNB saving money. They already had a console in stock and it was cheaper to reuse it than make a new one so fill in blocks of wood went where the extra 3 notes would have gone! Many commented at the time it looked terrible; and it still does! This was in the days when 61 notes were the norm, along with electric actions and most firms had a dedicated in-house console shop.
PJW
Wouldn't it have been better to put the keys in, even if the pipes ran out?
At St Paul's Birmingham (1964 HN&B console) the Great runs out at F, but the rest of the keys are there. It has caught me out though! At least it's more obvious, to those who don't know the compass of the soundboard, to find yourself playing on wood infill!!
I seem to recall Truro runs out of pipes before it runs out of keys too...
-
There are probably quite a few churches with a carillon, as Gillett & Johnson of Croydon were manufacturers of such things. Christ Church Beckenham had one some years ago. This was a row of levers struck by the hands, and could play any tune requiring no more than eight notes. Others had wires that would be pulled outwards to chime the bells, in both cases using a hammer to 'clock' the bells. Does anyone know of the famous 'Cadbury' Carillon at Bourneville? This seems to have had an organ-style 'console'.
CP
Yes, it does. It' housed in a 'shed' on the top of the tower with the bells.
It has a good organ connection - the resident carilloneur is also the organist at the parish church over the road.
-
===================
Sadly, the Peeters Concerto for Piano & Organ is out of print, if my understanding is correct.
I have a copy of it, I'm pleased to say, should anyone wish to play/record it again anytime.
MM
I only got my copy in 2007. It says that the HW Gray 1958 copyright was assigned to Cramer & Co in 1978.
P
-
=======================
...However, the one work which NEVER seems to be hear, is the Concerto for Organ & Piano, which is rather good. It was recorded many years ago by Ronald and Mary Perrin at Ripon Cathedral...
Michael Jones (piano) and I gave it a few airings here in the Midlands back in 2007. It's great fun, effective and not actually difficult. It went down well with the audiences too. Finding churches with both a decent piano, decent organ and a concert budget was quite difficult however!
We also included Franck Prelude, Fugue & Variation in its piano organ/harmonium duet form, a couple of jazzy works by Dale Wood, Benjamin Burrows' Variations and Marcel Dupré's Theme and Variations. The Dupré, however, is very difficult in places, especially for the pianist!
P
-
That's a useful summary Paul. Would you say easier or harder than Miroir (Ad Wammes) the only piece of minimalism I've delved into?
Sorry, I don't play that.
It's a LOT easier than Michael Nyman's 'Fourths Mostly' - very minimalist and gave me aches in muscles I didn't know I had!
Mind you even TT made a half page cut when he premiered it, that made me feel better about finding it so tricky... -
I quite enjoy certain aspects of the more minimalist end of the repertoire and indeed the music of Part (sorry - couldn't find the required accent!) generally - does anyone play this piece and how challenging is it technically please?
A
Hi,
I play it, not very often as it's an acquired taste, but I do like it. John Scott's recorded it on the Mander at St IL in New York.
It's not difficult at all, infact sight-readable because nothing happens quickly, so as long as you know where it's heading so that you can communicate the overall structure, it won't cause you any difficulties.
In a decent acoustic, with beautiful flutes and a nice clear principal chorus it sounds excellent and is indeed a unique piece of repertoire.
I do seem to remember that the copy was expensive though!
All best,
P.
PS Alt+0228 gives ä (I feel a little embarrased that I even know that though
) -
Has anyone else seen this article from Sunday's Telegraph?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics...ng-couples.html
At least the RSCM have responded and put a few things straight...
http://www.rscm.com/info_resources/wedding.php
...it's just such a complete distortion of a joint press release issued by the C of E and the RSCM, which is also available at the 2nd link above.
I do think that this part of the RSCM response is to the point:
"An additional point in the article concerned the question of an organist taking a fee even if a friend of the wedding couple wished to play for the service. Again, it comes down to the organist’s individual contract but one would hardly expect a couple to approach the hotel where the reception is taking place and ask for their friend who happens to be an expert chef to replace the regular salaried member of staff!"
It seems sad that of all the things for a wedding which have to be paid for it's organists who get picked on!
Collective scream?
P
-
A week!!!!! You have used HT and forgot to alter the memories back!!!!!!!!!
See you soon
B
Not me, not been in since last recital, August 1st... Perhaps someone else has my taste in registration!!!!!
-
Paul Carr,
I am relectant to bore Forum members with my comments on the Addington Service but if you'd care to let me have an e-mail address I would write to you.
Good wishes
David Rogers verdi6@talktalk.net
Thanks David - just picked up your email - will read it when I've ploughed through the others, have been away from the computer for a week!
P.
-
Thanks for all of your responses, very helpful.
Paul.
-
Paul theres a copy at Wordsley, look in the organ on the right. Let me know if you can't find it.
I had a quick look, but can't see it.
If you can put your hand on it on Sunday morning could you leave it for me as I'll be in for the recital later?
Thanks.
P.
-
If you have a search back then I'm sure we've had threads on this before.
I would certainly recommend the Thorne. I have yet to find a better congregational setting all round - its cheerful, not difficult to pick up but fairly interesting. It is universally liked at our church, and we use it for Christmas and Easter (and the periods that follow) plus other odd festivals. The choir have some descant-type bits which actually add to the setting too - having played it about two weeks for the first time without a choir I thought it sounded quite dull!
Dom Gregory Murray's 'New People's Mass' is also a classic for singability, but not for interest. There is some harmony for the choir but it is very dull and I tire of it quickly. Better for a congregation who don't have a choir to lead them but want to sing, perhaps.
Mathias (written for Series 3) is a good setting, but does need a strong lead. The organ part in the Gloria particularly is quite independent. They'll pick it up eventually, and it is a good sing.
I've never played/sung the Addington Service in church but I do have a copy. I like the Gloria and the Agnus, but don't care much for the rest of it.
The Martin How Parish Communion setting has a good Gloria, with the choir doing the majority of the work and the congregation singing a simple response. Pretty effective, but again I don't care much for the rest of it.
Lots of people seem to rate the Ives 'Salisbury Service'- personally I don't.
I have copies to hand of all but the Murray - PM me if you'd like some scans.
Thanks - PM sent.
-
I'm currently looking into settings for Common Worship Communion.
(Those of you who know where I'm DoM, please don't be alarmed - BCP isn't going anywhere!)
Does anyone have experience of Richard Shephard's Addington Service, reference to that seems to pop up all over the place. A scan of a couple of pages to look at would be even better...
And, what else is out there?
I'm particularly thinking of 'congregation friendly' which at the same time gives the choir something interesting to do.
Over to you!
P.
-
Don' have the score to hand at the moment - howver I will contact Paul again as he has the oroginal printing,
Peter
Hi, is it the 8/16 bar before the 11/16 bar? if so, my (also original) copy has D#s. Infact there are no D naturals until the tonality shifts in bar 47 as the 2nd inversion c maj chord in the left hand ends on the first quaver of the bar. If you send me an email address I have the whole original scanned and could send it to you 'for educational purposes'...
I didn't read your original post until the answers had already come in from, PD but have followed with interest.
P.
-
South African Vuvuzela Philharmonic Angered By Soccer Games Breaking Out During Concerts...
http://www.theonion.com/articles/south-afr...d-by-soc,17625/
Well, it made me laugh - a bit like the out breaks of relgion during organ playing sessions?
-
===========================
You could give up of course, but before you do, you could take a trip to Hungary and play to a predominantly Jewish audience in a synagogue.
MM
Wow, what a great way to start a Sunday morning!
-
...So many church musicians use a computer regularly and I wondered if anyone here has suffered similar difficulties; if so what remedies do they recommend? ...
I had a very similar thing a couple of years ago. tingling and an annoying ache. At school at that time we had small mice for the children, which resulted in a very closed and uncomfortable hand position for adult users. I started using my left hand to give the right hand a rest and I got a larger/normal mouse, kept it on the left and even now still only use my left hand for the mouse, even at home. The right hand is absolutely fine, and the left hand has never suffered from the complaint.
Using the hedge trimmer is another matter for both hands, especially when you attempt Duruflé Veni Creator later the same day... I speak from experience. The hedge does look good though!
P.
Mind you even TT made a half page cut when he premiered it, that made me feel better about finding it so tricky...
Notre Dame
in General discussion
Posted
Some news about the organ of Notre Dame de Paris today from organ builders Pascal Quoirin:
“After two hours of examination of the instrument I did not notice any damage that could have been caused by the fire. Simply dust, a clean, light brown dust a bit like sand, non sticky dry dust. There was a thermometer with memory inside the instrument, it indicates a temperature of 17 degrees the day of the fire. So no degradation of the pipes or all the electronic components. In a fortnight we will be able to turn the organ on to be able to make a more detailed diagnosis, in particular on the state of the wind chests, but frankly I am very optimistic.
The ideal will be to confine the organ in a well sealed and air-conditioned cage. Then do the dusting, rank by rank and play the organ regularly. And finally, dismantle the cage when the building restoration is complete and tune it.”
The fact that the temperature appears to have remained stable while the fire was raging above the vaulting is astonishing.