Colin Richell
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Posts posted by Colin Richell
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It was I who started this thread some weeks ago, when I asked if anyone had any information about the organ in Dover Town Hall, which had been out of use for many years.
no-one responded so presumably people are happy to allow it to die as with many other town hall instruments.
I cannot see that replacing a pipe organ with a Wurlitzer would change attitudes at all.
Colin Richell.
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I am delighted to hear from so many Carlo Curley fans, and this gives me great confidence for the Ally Pally Theatre event on the 30th May. Feedback has been very positive.
I can assure you that everyone at Ally Pally is delighted to welcome Carlo back after his very succesful concerts in the 1980's.
As people say, he puts bums on seats, and encourages people who are not normally into classical organ music.to take some interest.
It is understandable that he is not eveyone's cup of tea, and also that "toasters" are despised by many. Give me a pipe organ any day, but the theatre does not have an organ, so the only alternative is to hire one in, in the hope that the sound is comparable to a pipe organ.
Has anyone heard the new Allen organ, and if so what do they think of it, ?
Colin Richell.
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He is also very sincere and anxious to 'spread the word' (or rather music) - 'same as the rest of us in our different ways!
AJJ
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Well Nick they do say that one man's meat is another mans poison, and I do respect your view point.
Who is the organist who is very fast on his feet? someone sent me something on the computer, but I could not open it.
He is an American apparently.
Colin Richell.
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Sounds like something to be avoided at all costs.
Sorry, but I just don't see the attraction of Curley's million mile an hour playing.
Nick
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Thanks to Henry Willis, I have been reminded to advise all that on Friday the 30th May, Carlo Curley makes a triumphant return to Alexandra Palace, but not in the Great Hall, but in the unrestored Victorian Theatre, with the Allen organ, after an absence of 40 years.
Even if a "toaster" is being played, I hope some of you will attend, and certainly there seems to be much interest, considering the number of tickets sold already. All profits to the theatre restoration fund.
You may recall that from 1875 to 1890, the theatre contained a Willis organ.(see NPOR)
I would like to thank Stephen Smith for his help in publicising the concert under organ recitals.com, and to all the organ associations and societies who have expressed such enthusiasm for this unique event.
Finally, thank you to John Mander for allowing this thread to be resurrected.
Colin Richell.
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This one seems to have gone quiet for a very long time so....
May I draw to the attention of any members who are in (or who are likely to be in) the North West on Saturday that there is a Recital at Christ Church, Port Sunlight- a rarely heard instrument for many, many years.
Colin Walsh - 7.30:
http://www.willis-organs.com/port_general.html
DW
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I would suggest that it is the decision of John Mander as to whether to allow contributions on electronic organs on his web site rather than that of Barry Williams.
If I wish to make comments about for example the Allen organ played by Carlo Curley in a forthcoming concert at Ally Pally then I shall do so with the permission of John Mander.
Barry has every opportunity to discuss the pipe organ and its advantages which he does almost on a daily basis, so give someone else a chance ! That is not to say that I disagree with him.
If we wish to hear Carlo in a venue which does not contain a pipe organ, what are we supposed to do ?
Colin Richell.
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All of these comments relate directly to (and prove) the utter, complete and total inadequacies of the electronic industry to use their technology correctly, let alone adequately. The people who install the machines have no knowledge of what their systems can achieve. With very few exceptions indeed they lack the basic knowledge of acoustics that has been around since the nineteen thirties. None of them has pipe organ training in voicing and it shows, horrendously.
I do not agree with an extended discussion of electronic instruments in a pipe organ forum hosted by Mander Organs, so I shall refrain from further comment on this thread. This Board is about organs i.e. pipe organs and closely related matters.
I agree with Mr Carter's comments that it is not a matter for this Board and I hope that this will be the end of the matter.
Barry Williams
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Does anyone know what is happening to the organ in Dover Town Hall.?
I did speak to someone a year ago, who told me that the organ hadn't worked for many years, one of the problems being that the console was portable, and had to be wheeled out for concerts etc, and of course there was no money available.
He did not know the name of the organ builder
Colin Richell.
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Referring to Spotted Metal's comments about certain Allen organs, I hope that the Allen currently used by Carlo Curley is worth listening to, and would be appreciated by the audience.
Does anyone know ?
Colin Richell.
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I know that he has his detractors, but at the end of the day he puts bums on seats, and his programmes are always lively and vibrant.
His concerts at Ally Pally in the 1980's attracted thousands, even though he was playing an Allen organ, and he was the subject of a BBC TV programme. Recent concerts on the Willis organ attract very few people.
I have just booked Carlo for a concert in the Ally Pally Victorian theatre, and I can assure you that his fee is nothing like the £3,000 quoted. I suggest you contact his agent PVA Management to ascertain the current fee being quoted.
Colin Richell.
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This sounds great Barry. Did you build the organ yourself, or did you have assistance from an organ builder ?
Any photographs, and when are you going to hold your first concert?
Colin Richell.
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Dear All,
As promised elsewhere, I give the stop list and a few details of our House Organ as it will be in a month or two - slightly modified from the entry on NPOR.
Anyone contemplating building a house organ is welcome to visit. Please send an email and we will fix up a date.
Later this year the tonal finishing will have been completed and then perhaps we can arrange an Open Day for Board Members to visit.
The joy of having real pipes to play is immense. I am very fortunate that the project was driven by June (when she was not driving steam engines!)
I hope the details will be of interest and I apologise if anyone finds them otherwise.
Yours sincerely,
Barry Williams
Great Organ
Open Diapason 8’ 61 pipes
Stopped Diapason 8’ 49 pipes (1 – 12 from Lieblich Gedeckt)
Salicional 8' 61 pipes
Principal 4’ 61 pipes
Flute 4’ 61 pipes
Choir Organ
Lieblich Gedeckt 8’ 61 pipes
Keraulophon 8’ 49 pipes (1 – 12 from Salicional)
Lieblich Flute 4’ 61 pipes
Flageolet 2’ 61 pipes
Pedal Organ
Bourdon 16’ 30 pipes
Principal 8 30 pipes (Prepared for - borrowed from Great at the moment)
Bass Flute 8’ 12 pipes
Salicional 8’ Duplexed from Great
Octave 4’ 12 pipes (Prepared for - borrowed from Great at the moment)
Flute 4’ 12 pipes
Salicet 4’ Duplexed from Great
Couplers
Great to Pedal
Choir to Pedal
Choir to Great
Blower
Sine Qua Non
Four thumb pistons each to Choir and Great.
Reversible thumb pistons for Choir to Great and Great to Pedal.
Mechlin pedal board. There is no pedal light.
Compass: 61 and 30 notes.
Keys, stops and departmental labels are of ivory.
All wind trunkings of wood to avoid rustle.
Blower is 0.6 horse power but soon to be replaced with another of 0.3 horsepower.
There are two single rise reservoirs, one at 3" WP for the manuals basses and pedal pipes; the other is 2.75" WP for everything else.
The manual chests and bottom octave of Salicional all have direct electric pallet magnets, but are carefully grooved to avoid 'plop'. The bottom 17 pipes fo the Bourdon and the basses of the Open Diapason and Principal are on electro-pneumatic chests.
The action has a solid state microprocessor powered by a transformer/rectifier delivering 18 volts at 20 amperes.
Pipework is ex Gray & Davison 1868 (except Lieblich Flute 4' which has a date of 1790 on it.) Paul Isom (Organs Adviser in Rochester Diocese) told us about the availability of the pipes and advised about the design.
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Attempting once again to return to the theme of the thread, I no longer play, but I was bemused by the organist who could not play the pedals even though he had tried to learn.
I would have thought that the hard bit was also to learn to play the keyboard. but is it essential to use the pedals when perhaps just playing for hymns in a half empty church ?
Colin Richell.
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You may find that it is actually a case of a clause in the insurance policy or an insistence on the part of the insurance company of some of these churches. In such circumstances, there is unlikely to be anything that the church authorities could do - other than to risk violating the terms of their policies. With thefts and arson attacks on churches apparently increasing, many insurance companies are being much more strict in what they will and will not allow.
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Yes I also set my video recorder because I was attending a railway Society meeting. I was disappointed with the Blackpool segment, and I would have preferred just hearing the organs without the hymn singers.
Many years ago I contacted the BBC with the suggestion that a "Songs of Praise" programme could be recorded from the Great Hall of Ally Pally.
The series producer was at that time a Michael someone, (forget his name), and he duly visited the Palace. I understand that he loved the venue, but was not impressed with the appearance of the unfinished organ.
Sadly nothing ever happened.
I have always enjoyed the programme, just so I can hear the impressive pipe organs.
Colin Richell
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I seem to have ruffled someones feathers.
My response was to someone else who mentioned the poor condition of the Ally Pally pipes, so perhaps he should be given 100 lines. The person concerned knows what he is talking about, but we are quite prepared to listen to a organ builder who has been in the business all his life (ie not selling cars in his hey day)
All I said was that the pipes were stored in Liverpool, so I fail to understand why Petersfield was mentioned.
Please take breath and read the thread properly before writing a reply.
In fact I have contributed to quite a few different threads, but I guess that if you have plenty of work you would not have the time to read or contribute to them all.
Can I now ask for advice about damaged pipes, from someone who is not involved with the Willis organ at the Palace.please.
Colin Richell
Save the Ally Pally Organ Appeal.
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I am sure that when I operated a cigarette vending business many years, one of my best stainless steel versions was a Wurtlitzer, or am I wrong ?
Colin Richell
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The Ally Pally pipes have been mentioned in this thread, and we have the pictures of the pipes presently stored in Liverpool at Willises. The condition is absolutely shocking, and most could never be used again.
No doubt this is the reason that restoration of the organ becomes an impossible dream as time goes on but who really cares ?
Colin Richell.
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I would have thought that 1000 satisfied clients equals 1000 Christmas cards. I personally received 100 cards. Is that a record ? I doubt whether anyone is remotely interested, but I have also taken my cards down !
Colin Richell.
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Oh yes we do !
Colin Richell
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So why the concern? If all is above board then of course you have nothing to concern yourself over. I have always been able to put my head on my pillow and sleep at night as doubtless you do also. Do forgive me if I offended.
R
Oh Roffensis,(Richard) you remind me of someone else, who has the knack of upsetting good people. What pleasure do you gain from this ?
Best wishes
Colin Richell.
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Not making excuses for anyone, having been on the receiving end of this kind of behaviour (if you can indeed receive a non-acknowledgement!) - though not at the RAH
- but is it possible that the conductor considered the organist as part of the orchestra and thus not needing a seperate mention?Peter
You may be right Peter, but I cannot recall this ever happening before. I would not, for one, attend a RAH concert if the organ was not playing, and it is more surprising when you consider that many of the concerts are advertised as including the Grand Organ !
Colin Richell.
- but is it possible that the conductor considered the organist as part of the orchestra and thus not needing a seperate mention?
Municipal Organs Under Threat
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