Colin Richell

sorry about the two entries I understood that the first one wss rejected, my mistake. Thank you for the information. Colin Richell

After some years I decided to listen again to the CD entitled BACH THE ART OF MARCEL DUPRE, which features the Queen's Hall and Alexandra Palace Organs. I may be biased but I felt that the QH organ was dull and the acoustics in the Hall were poor whereas the AP organ sounded grand with brilliant acoustics regretfully lost when the Great Hall was rebuilt. Does anyone feel the same and did they visit the Queen's before Mr Hitler destroyed the building ? I have never discovered the site of The Queen's or the make of the organ. Colin Richell

After some years I decided to listen again to the CD entitled "BACH THE ART OF MARCEL DUPRE, which I used to sell at the Ally pally organ concerts (I still have plenty of copies left) and perhaps I am biased but I found the Queen's Hall organ very dull with poor acoustics. in the venue. I was listening to the CD in my car so I could not look on the label to see when the QH recordings had finished, but it was so obvious what a fine organ Ally Pally owned, when you heard it again with such wonderful acoustics much of which were lost with the rebuild of the Great Hall and it was tragic to think that this instrument was allowed to remain silent for so many years. Does anyone hold the same views about the Queen's Hall and did anyone visit the Hall before Mr Hitler destroyed it ? Which Company built the QH organ ? Colin Richell.

STEPHEN DISLEY will be appearing at; Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, 235 Shaftesbury Avenue at 4pm this coming Saturday. nearest tube Tottenham Court Rd. retiring collection. 020 7240 0544 Colin Richell.

My local paper informs me that a refurbished church organ will burst into life this weekend after months of hard work to raise money for the homeless. The organ, which is 100 years old sits at the heart of St Marys Church, in Lansdowne Road, Tottenham N17 and will be delivering light hearted music pieces from film and theatre in a concert from three organists this coming Sunday. The concert commences at 2-30pm and tickets are £5, all proceeds to Haringey Churches Winter night shelter scheme. On November 10th Simon Williams Director of The Royal College of Organists will perform. Colin Richell.

Oh I am sure you have many many times. Colin Richell (also my real name)

Many thanks for the explanation,I do now understand perfectly what Carlo Curley was saying. Colin Richell.

I am not an organist but I was rather surprised that Carlo Curley maintained that it was necessary to rehearse each day, as a concert organist. Isn't it like riding a bike, ie that when you have learnt you never ever forget ? Colin Richell.

Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church 235 Shaftesbury AVE London WC2H PHONE 020 7240 0544 Nearest tube Tottenham court Rd Welcome NATHAN LAUBE (USA) on Saturday 31st July at 4pm. retiring collection, buffet.

I am a great BBC fan, and most of the tv programmes I watch are on their channels (including freeview) because at least you can get away from the never ending commercials, so I am certainly not anti BBC by any means. All I am saying is people with minority interests should be entitled to have one 1 hour programme. Is that so much to ask ? The Archers is supposed to be for country folk, and that gets aired 7 days a week. I do not know how many listeners listen to The Organist Entertains, but it hardly helps to keep changing the broadcasting night(now Thursday rather than Tuesday) It is suggested that the programme is looking tired, so perhaps Nigel can make some suggestions, although I enjoy every programme, except the ones on those horrible sounding Hammond organs. I can certainly make contact as suggested, but I am not hopeful. Colin Richell

I always listen to this programme, and last week I was disgusted that having forcibly reduced the length of the programme from 60 minutes to supposedly 30 minutes, 3 minutes of the programme is taken up with the news and to add insult to injury, another minute is spent advertising a forthcoming programme. So, now we are left with 26 minutes of programme, and no publicity for concerts, other than on the internet. Obviously Radio 2 regard the organ loving public as minority enthusiasts. When the length of the programme was reduced I did protest but to no avail. There may be programmes on Radio 3 for classical music, but I and thousands of people also wish to hear light classical played on a cinema organ, and why not ? I just think it is disgraceful and is there nothing we can do to change things ? Colin Richell

Delighted John that your Company is so busy, long may it continue. Colin Richell.

My local paper records yet another historic organ requiring restoration. The organ is installed in the Parish Church of St Andrew in Enfield, Middx and is need of urgent repair. Any cash received will be used to repair and restore the organ's internal mechanism, which is still housed in its original 1752 case but has been ravaged by time and use and is now faltering. I do not know who the builder is. The female organist complains that she can pitch up on a Sunday morning and then be faced with a catalogue of faults, mishaps and malfunctions, including jammed stops. What is of concern is that the organist complains that restoration work completed in 1958 was not of a great standard, with components being installed which were already out of date. This is appalling and the company perhaps should be named and shamed, but surely the restoration work would have been checked before payment was made ? The pipes also need restructuring to improve the acoustics and quality of sound as they are so high up into the tower, so why did the rerstorers not point this out at the time of restoration ? I wish the Church luck in their fundraising, which they will need in these troubled times. Colin Richell.

On SATURDAY 26th June, David Aprahamian Liddle, the much missed ex Alexandra Palace Organist will be playing as follows; Bloomsbury Baptist Church at 4pm 235 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H, Details of programme on www.bloomsbury.org.uk Information 020 7240 0544. Admission free, retiring collection, buffet tea to follow. Colin Richell.

I have never seen or heard Cameron Carpenter live, but I never tire of attending a Carlo concert, because he is an interesting and lively person who loves his job, and does not play just for the money. Yes, too many recitalists play for themselves, and I do not know why they do not play requests as a DJ in a disco would do. There are plenty of competent organists and boring ones also, who do not attract large numbers even when their concert is free. Colin Richell.

On Saturday the 5th June, the long awaited repairs to a cherished Hill organ will be unveiled . The venue is ;St Mary the Virgin Church in Lansdowne Road Tottenham N17. There will be a blessing and organ recital followed by tours from 2pm. On the Sunday there will be a choral evensong from 4pm to give the public thhe chance to see the 1889 organ. Colin Richell.

Saturday 29th May concert at Bloomsbury Baptist Church at 4pm with Stephen Farr performing. 235 Shaftesbury Ave WC1H. PHONE 020 7240 0544.

As I said recently regrettably the funerals I attend do not have the organ playing, just recorded music which obviously saves the cost of an organist. as hymns are rarely sung. Should crematoriums insist on the organ being used and ban the cd's ? Colin Richell.

Presumably the maority of Church weddings ask for the organ to be used, although in a Church some years ago in Swansea I wish the female organist had taken early retirement.. Last week I attended a funeral in Eltham crematorium and although the organist was in attendance (I could see him on the balcony) he played for just one minute in between the ramblings of the vicar. No hymns were sung, and there was pre-recorded music so I wonder how much the organist would have been paid for 1 minutes work ? Colin Richell.