Colin Richell

I missed the programme last night but I am listening to BBC radio I player whilst reading this message and I agree that it was a very entertaining programme. The Hull City organ sounded absoulutely great. This thread has gone very quiet recently !! Colin Richell.

As I have said before I have never seen the programme, but my Sunday papers were full of it ! very annoying when you are not interested. I won't mention the name, but I understand that the said lady did not do very well. I still question that if she has been a professional musician for over 20 years, why she would suddenly need to air her talents on a talent show presumably intended for recently discovered people who wish to become involved in show business ? Apparently the programme attracted 18 million viewers, no wonder no-one goes out anymore on a Saturday night, couch potatoes comes to mind is that right ? The reason that the music halls and many cinemas and theatres went out of business.? Promise not to mention the subject again. Colin Richell.

sorry just realised this has already been posted asume can be deleted. Colin Richell

also lots of love ! Colin Richell

Thank you MM for your sensible and reasoned response . Eventually I want to install an organ in the Alexandra Palace Theatre when restoration is complete. It would be prohibitive to even consider a pipe organ, so the only alternative is an electronic model suitable for a very large theatre, with a very high ceiling and great acoustics. At venues without an organ one has to be hired in costing something like £600. Presumably some of the new models are so small and light they can be easily transported to venues, unlike for example the Allen Organ which Carlo uses. The Allen organ is very close to a pipe organ, but you can tell the difference, and in my opinion will never be as good. Its a bit like cheating, recording a pipe organ and then relaying the sound through speakers, but it certainly seems to have caught on, especially for homes where there is not space for even a small pipe organ. Colin Richell.

I am a Reginald Dixon fan, as also of Carlo Curley, and I recall that Carrick agrees with me, and MM disagrees, and I feel that is fine. People may not like each other, but we should respect that having differing views makes the world go round. I did query earlier on in the thread, why the title of "The Organist Entertains" had suddenly become heated discussion on the merits of RD and CC. I find it interesting to learn peoples views and opinions especially if I respect them, but there is no need to be unpleasant to each other surely ? Colin Richell

Perhaps it is becoming EXCEEDINGLY boring but this kind of response is hardly helpful so why say it at all ? It is also time to cease the continuing criticism of Reginald Dixon. He has his fans and why not , so let him rest in peace? Colin Richell.

As I said previously I know nothing about the programme, but isn't the idea of the programme to give amateurs the opportunity to show off their talents ? It is quite obvious that Jean Martin is, and has been, a professional musician for many years so why is she taking part in a talent show ? Is her appearance going to make her a better musician ? I just don't understand. When the BBC ran talent shows professionals were strictly excluded, and rightly so. Colin Richell

I am not sure how a thread titled "The Organist Entertains" is discussing some programme called "Britains Got Talent" which I have never seen but mention is made of a Jean Martin who presumably plays an organ (not Hammond I hope) but does she play classical or light classical ? Personally I would have thought we had more than enough organists in this country already ! The mention of a female organist brought back memories of a lady called Cherry Rayner who played reguarly on TV. Am I correct ? Colin Richell.

Exactly, expecting us poor mortals to believe that an entire audience left at the interval. Probably a fire alert or a power failure, best to get the facts right before informing the world that you are not a Carlo Curley fan. I booked Carlo for an AP theatre concert and he was great, the audience of over 100 people wanted more, but he was not well at the time, but he did not let me down. I arranged for him to be interviewed on BBC RADIO ESSEX, and he gave the theatre some good publicity. My only confession is that Carlo played the Allen Organ, because unfortunately the Father Willis Organ was removed from the theatre in 1890, its present whereabouts unknown. So, carry on Carlo. Colin Richell.

Well that is your opinion and you are entitled to it. Colin Richell

I just cannot believe that Reginald Dixon would have suvived so long had he been guilty of the things suggested by MM. However I do agree with the comment regarding the increasing age of audiences, and I recall that in my AP days many years ago, many of the concert goers were in wheel chairs, or walked with sticks or zimmer frames. There were so many infirm people you did worry how long they would be attending, especially as AP was not easily accessible. I admired their loyalty for travelling long distances in all kinds of weather, and if we did happen to see a young person we would grab him and attempt to persuade him to take a permanent interest in the Willis organ. Perhaps Reginald Dixon attracted the younger element at his popular concerts. Colin Richell.

How insulting and snobbish to suggest that Reginald Dixon was sloppy, largely devoid of artistic ability and arranging skills, well, sorry I enjoyed his playing and style and so did the majority of the population, sttending his concerts in their thousands. I have most of his recordings and he made the Wurlitzer sound different. He is not even here to defend himself against such outrageous accusations. Even now when you mention Blackpool Tower the name of Reginald Dixon will come up after all these years after his death. He knew what people wanted and that is why he will still be remembered in a hundred years from now. If you wish to attend a concert where the artist is all the things that Reginald was not, you will be lucky to attract 100 people rather than thousands. As they say one man's meat is another man's poison. Colin Richell.

I bow to your superior knowledge and I am delighted that Manders have been able to supply the USA ! Colin Richell.

although you mention the Mander Organ in New York, to be honest how many churches, universities, schools etc in the USA would approach the UK for a new organ to be built, because they probably have a sense of loyalty to their own organ builders, which we don't have. Colin Richell.

Colin all I would say in reply is that you suggested that there was no money in organ building and perhaps a slender 10% but only if things went well, but thank you for responding. Many years ago I spoke to an employee of an organ building firm who suggested that they made their profits from tuning and not much else ! Colin Richell.

I was rather surprised to read that there was no money in organ building so presumably there IS money to be made in tuning and restoration. Does this relate to ALL organ builders in the UK, and must we assume that, to remain in business UK organ building will cease.? Surely the cost of the new instrument should reflect a reasonable amount of profit to at least cover the guarantee period for defects etc. Does John Mander have any comments on this ? Colin Richell.