mrbouffant

... organ for sale on ebay. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHURCH-PIPE-ORGAN-MAJOR-RESTORATION-MAY-SWAP-4-YACHT-AS-MY-HOUSE-IS-NOW-FOR-SALE/264514069535?hash=item3d9644641f:g:yUgAAOSwCW9dLCbc

Ah. It's in the OUP Vaughan Williams Organ Album. I must get a copy of that too...!

My copy arrived today so fantastic service from Banks Music Publications! Thanks to Martin for sharing the details of this arrangement which is very nice indeed. It always struck me that RVW's Prelude to the 49th Parallel (part of his film score) would work nicely as an organ arrangement. Has anyone come across one? I think I chanced upon a copy of the conductor's short score many moons ago and it was laid out on three staves, so a transcription would be fairly straightforward.

First suspension since 1208?

I too would be interested in knowing about the availability of these arrangements. Thanks!

Yeah it crops up in the Toccata of the Plymouth Suite, but I've seen it elsewhere in Whitlock's oeuvre.

I've noticed the term "fix swell" in a number of Whitlock's organ works. I don't think I've seen this phrase anywhere else. What does it mean? Is it something that relates specifically to Whitlock's love of Compton organs?

I was looking through the recital portion of the FRCO examination and wondered what the easiest choice of programme might be, considering the rubric. The repertoire list is here: https://www.rco.org.uk/pdfs/ExamRegulations19-20.pdf#page=15. I thought of an all-German programme, of 24.5 minutes, in this order: Mendy 4 (movt 1) Bach BWV662 Hindy 1 (latter part) Seems straightforward enough. What do you think? What programme might be easier whilst still meeting the rubric?

According to the Western Morning News, Thursday 31 March 1932, Margery Moore was 25, putting her year of birthday as 1906 or potentially early 1907. (the 1911 census has the birth of a Margery Moore registered in 1907 in Plymouth, but - interestingly - the place of birth was Birkenhead!) The article mentions an opera she had written on the subject of Drake. Impressively, Margery Moore was LRAM at 17 and Bachelor of Music at 22. There are other organ works to be discovered, such as: https://www.prestomusic.com/sheet-music/products/7036006--margery-moore-english-march-organ and Five Little Organ Studies

Ah yes, but then you might end up with a nice big National Lottery plexiglas plaque attached to the organ (as is the case at St Mary Leatherhead and their 18th century Parker Organ)...

Sadly in unrestored condition - does have a 'pull out' pedalboard though - quite intriguing!!

I often play this one: http://www.npor.org.uk/NPORView.html?RI=T00222

The number of major and minor keys in the chromatic scale?

This Wiki page gives details - so it is hardly a secret...: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Griffiths_(CEO)

Fee is still the same.. it is £100, for two services...

Spotted on the excellent organists online 'temporary' list. A request for an organist where "FRCO Standard or above preferred". All for the handsome fee of £50 per service! Begs the questions: a] how would one be considered "above FRCO standard" b] are they having a laugh re: requirements vs. fee

I was struck by the following juxtaposition on the Durham Cathedral website, regarding two very different job vacancies. Now we know that, pro-rata, organists are less valued than plumbing and heating engineers. Perhaps there are additional perks available to the organist, but the advert does not make that clear... EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIESAssistant Organist Location: Durham Cathedral Hours: 18.75 hours per week Contract: Permanent Salary: £12,372.50 per annum ..... Plumber and Heating Engineer Location: Durham Cathedral Contract: Permanent Hours: 37.5 Salary: circa. £27,000

I was asked to visit and play an 1874 Forster & Andrews house organ recently. When I arrived I was surprised to see that the pedal organ listed on NPOR was not evident. However, it soon became clear that the pedal board pulls out from the casework and can then be played once it is suitably anchored to the floor. Afterwards, it slid back neatly into the case. Quite an ingenious solution when one doesn't want the instrument dominating the room in which it is situated. Is this a common feature of house organs in general? I had never come across it before and it struck me as novel.

Interesting points -- good job the cathedral is, literally, a 'broad church'

Oops, I was thinking of doing the Stonex F# min chant for Psalm 99 (blatantly copying Vol. 6 of Priory's Psalms of David series from Guildford Cathedral).. then again, it modulates so much it avoids the minor mode for much of the time...

Thanks for the advice. I am thinking about Psalms 98-101 inclusive. The changes will be between psalms and not within psalms (if that makes a difference....)

Hello Folks, I have been tasked with choosing the chants for a choir visit to a cathedral during July. Given that multiple psalms will be sung during some evensongs, is it usual practice to choose chants that are harmonically related, or should I not bother particularly? In my current post we only sing one psalm at evensong so I haven't come across this quandary before. Thanks for your wise words. --mrb

Come, O Creator Spirit by T. Tertius Noble is a very decent unaccompanied anthem for Whitsun...

Thanks all who were able to answer the question that was posed.

Dear wise ones, I was playing Ireland Jubilate in F yesterday and was struck by the metronome markings. The Jubilate itself is minim = 72 and marked Allegro. The Gloria is minim = 88 and marked Maestoso. Recordings I have heard take the Gloria slower than the Jubilate, so what is going on? Is the minim = 88 a misprint in the Novello edition? Hope you can help... Many thanks !