Colin Richell
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Posts posted by Colin Richell
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We ramble this way and that on the board. That's part of the pleasure.......
However, I wasn't the one who decided to take a sideswipe at a particular recitalist; possibly because I know just how musically and brilliantly he can play when the occasion demands.
Hector Olivera enjoyed similar comments from "the establishment" in America, but he could probably outplay 99% of them.
Each to his own......I would be delighted to hear Cameron Carpenter, if only to marvel at his technique and showmanship.
After Carlo Curley, the last showman I heard was the Late Sir George Thalben-Ball, and to brutally honest, his playing bored me.
I rarely attend recitals knowing what people are going to play.
MM
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well,twas a good concert, and love him or hate him, carlo can certainly put "bums" on seats, the place was packed, and hope some interest was given to the BOA. The only. i found a bit much, was the fact there was a 25 min intermission in the middle, ok, so CD and DVD's had to be sold sometime.
Was it me, or has CC mellowed a bit over the intervening years
peter
Absolutely, I love him and he does put bums on seats, and he does not suffer fools gladly.
How many concerts can be described as "packed" these days ?
Colin Richell
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Tonight's Evening Standard reports that the organ will be fully restored with the aid of a grant from The Heritage Lottery Fund, so they seem to be very confident.
Personally I can think of more worthy instruments, which will probably get nothing. It was more important to have completed the RAH organ.
Colin Richell.
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Thanks Handsoff.
I note that the Gray and Davison was a 1877 organ but that one was installed previous to that which is undated. so which organ are we talking about because many organs were manufactured well before 1877 so what makes the Church think that their organ is one of the oldest Victorian instruments ?
Help !
Colin Richell
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I agree, although the article did say the church needs the money to COMPLETE the overhaul, and that half the money has already been raised, but still that only amounts to £20,000 so perhaps the word MAJOR was incorrect !
Colin Richell.
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I read in an edition of "Weekly News" the following article ;
A church is fighting to save one of the country's oldest Victorian organs.
Bank Street Chapel in Bolton, Lancs, needs £10,000 to complete a major overhaul of the 130 year old instrument's worn out parts.
So far, half has been raised for the organ, which was bought by the Church for £140 in 1877, but it's future will only be secured when fund raising is complete.
It's an impressive organ and wil sound great when fully restored said Minister Stephen Lingwood.
Does anyone know about this, and who the organ builder was,and whether it really is one of the oldest organs in the country?
Colin Richell.
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Really? Super Diapason and all? I have played (knowingly) 2 instruments with his input, and chorus isn't a word one could use about either.
PS - It is a great honour to be in the company of Henry Willis. I hope he is keeping well.
Here Here, I also hope that Henry is keeping well. What a character ! I met him many times and he was a true genuine organ builder.
Colin Richell.
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As the contributor mentioned above in Colin Richell's response I don't recollect receiving a reply from Noel Bonavia-Hunt. Nor would I have expected one. Furthermore, as Henry Willis points out, my letter indicates that all this was a long time ago, 1964 to be precise. Besides, the primary purpose of the letter was NOT about the Alexandra Palace organ but to draw attention to the urgent need to restore the Grove.
Thank you Martin, at least your response was relevant to the subject.
You did mention the Ally Pally Organ as worth restoring, so you must have thought that at the time.
I am just mystified as to who Noel Bonavia-Hunt was because none of the people involved in the early days know the name.
Perhaps the real Henry Willis might know.
Colin Richell.
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The first paragraph of his message may give a clue! As his letter was to The Organ, from whom would he have expected there to be a reply?
Well it is obvious to me and many others that if you write to an organ perodical and express support for a project then the instigator (in this case Noel Bonavia-Hunt) would obviously respond, especially when a young enthusiast is involved.and offers support.
Sorry if I have caused confusion yet again, but to most my simple question which was addressed to the contributor,(ie did he receive a reply) and no-one else, would have been answered by the right person.
Keep taking the tablets as the vicar said !
Colin Richell.
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It was kind of Martin to write about the Alexandra Palace organ, and I would be interested to know when he wrote the letter, and whether he ever received a reply.
I am sure that this would have been before my involvement with the organ.
Colin Richell.
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Until now I have deliberately resisted commenting on the various observations about the Grove organ. However, in view those made by Contrabombarde (and others) I will quote from a letter I wrote, as 16 year old schoolboy, to The Organ and which was published in their July 1964 edition.
"Sir, May I support Noel Bonavia-Hunt's appeal for the restoration of the organ in the Alexandra Palace? May I also appeal for the restoration of another equally fine instrument, the Grove organ, built my Mitchell and Thynne, in Tewkesbury Abbey? For organ lovers fortunate enough to have heard this noble instrument it must have been a memorable experience. What aural excitement we unfortunates who have never heard this instrument are mising with that bold Schulze-type diapason chorus, those Willis style reeds and Mitchell and Thynne's own conception of string tone.
Where else is there so fine an example of the combined characteristics of three of the finest organ builders? This organ, together with the instrument in Alexandra Palace, should be restored: then England can once again boast about two more very fine organs!"
Please don't let the Grove deteriorate to such a degree that a similar letter will need to be written.
Incidentally, I wrote that letter whilst at a school which some years later puchased the Schulze organ from St Mary's Tyne Dock. Alas, by then I had long left!
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I am sure that Manders have quite enough work not to worry too much.
Colin Richell.
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All credit then to the Willis firm when it was run by the Willis family.
Pleased to see that Henry Willis is alive and well and still finds time to contribute to the threads on the Mander site. He must be very proud of the credit given to his Grandfather.
Colin Richell.
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Colin Walsh has asked me to put up the following on his behalf:
"I have played this magnificent instrument every day for 21 years: I never tire of the quality of the workmanship that is found in one of Father Willis's most noble works of art. That opinion is shared by Organists from all over the world who come here to play Concerts.
Reviews of many CDs which I have made on this instrument never fail to mention the quality of the tone. True, the organ does not have a great impact in the western regions of the Nave, but the building is huge. My dream would be to build an additional instrument near to the West end but at present there is little money and, in any case, I suspect that Architects and Heritage people may have a view on that!".
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I agree with the list but I would also include Cancer research.
Providing money for restoration of the nominated instruments would depend very much on which organ builder was chosen to undertake the work.
If the people involved with the nominated organs were insisting on a particular organ builder I did not approve of, for various reasons then sorry, no money. I feel that I would have that right.
Colin Richell.
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If I'd won the lottery I would do the following:
1. Donate to the British Heart Foundation
2. Donate to the Liverpool Cathedral organ fund
3. Get St Georgy Hall done too!
4. Set up a new and hopefully better British Organbuilding Institute that is geared to encourage younger members to join and partake in events FREE OF CHARGE until the age of 30. I would also encourage those firms who qualify as members to support and make available various courses in carpentry, electrician work and marketing and any other aspect of the Organbuilding trade. The institute would also allow funding for trainee organ builders to be paid a decent wage (I wasn't) and extra funding to travel in order to experience different cultures in organbuilding - have many of us has stepped inside a Cavaillé-Coll? As a result of this it would secure the future of organbuilding in the British Isles in the way in which we can be equally compared to the rest of Europe and the USA.
5. If I have enough left over I might get myself a pint of Real Ale - www.camra.org.uk for those who are interested!
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Do you have any episodes from Spetember?
sorry I don't think so. After a few weeks I normally re-record over the tapes.
Colin Richell.
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A most interesting notion, Jonathan.
Fundraising for one particular organ project currently occupies a lot of my time. I'd be intrigued to know just which non-traditional places we should be investigating.
JS
You might be lucky using the services of a good professional fund raiser, but even that is not guaranteed. in this day and age.
Colin Richell.
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PM sent.
I always record the programme because I am out on a Tuesday evening. I have last week's show, but when I reorded this week's programme I had left the pause button depressed in error, so I missed it.
You can of course hear the programme any time before next Tuesday's on BBC 2 listen again.
Colin Richell.
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In Cardiff we have the Green Willows funeral directos, which has an appealingly environmentally friendy ring.
Following on from this thread I read today that an angry vicar in Tunbridge Wells suggests that he feels like a lemon at funerals where they blast out Tina Turner songs and read bad poetry.
He suggests that his presence at funerals is pointless and he had better ways of spending his time.
(obviously he dos not need the fee !)
The vicar suggests that it is painfully obvious that many families have no desire for any Christian content whatsoever.
The vicar has stood in the crem wondering why he is present at the funeral of someone led in by the tunes of Tina Turner and sent into the furnace with "I did it my way" blaring out across the speakers.
He asks what point is there for him to be present if spiritually unwanted ?
At one time the Requiem Mass would have been the norm and not the exception. Mourners who opt for non-religious ceremonies are conned by "humanists" making money from death.
(so the vicar does not accept a fee then, otherwise he could be accused of making money from death !)
He also refers to humanist funerals, or hotel weddings and is reminded of the words "forgive them for they know not what they do"
It was a very long article and I have only quoted extracts, but the vicar does end by asking the question "what are funerals for ?"
I have attended many funerals where recorded music is played and others where there has been no music, and I do not mind either way.
But, have you all noted the ommission ? there is absoulutely no reference to the organist who is denied the opportunity to play, and indeed receive the appropiate fee. If the vicar feels so strongly I suggest he donates his fee to charity-some chance of that !
Colin Richell,
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Thanks Christopher
I will try and visit one day soon and perhaps we can have a friendly chat.
Best wishes
Colin Richell
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We haven't held organ concerts at Worcester for many many years, and so various aspects of this first series have been, to a degree, an experiment. We set the main ticket prices after a good deal of spade work looking at what was around both in our local cathedrals and Birmingham, and we're basically happy with how the budgeting has worked. We didn't advertise concessions (though that's one of the things we'll be discussing before publicizing next year's concerts) but its worth saying (as Ian suggested) that we've allowed a fair degree of discretionary concessions on the door when admitting children and/or families. Speaking purely personally, rarely with organ recitals (and indeed any concert) does the combination of performer, repertoire and venue make me jump with excitement. But when it does, I don't object to paying for the experience.
Encouraging interest in the organ amongst all ages, and making our instrument readily accessible is part of our regular work in the music department. I look forward to welcoming Colin here at some point (assuming he hasn't been already) perhaps to one of the many free opportunities to hear the instrument before, during and after daily services or to one of our forthcoming series of lunchtime recitals soon to be announced, or to one of the many visits made by organ clubs and societies as well as individuals to play the instrument. We're only a phone-call or email away.
Hope that provides a bit of helpful background,
Best wishes on a grey Wednesday,
Christopher
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I see that David Liddle (a fine ex-Alexandra Palace Organist) is playing on Sunday 11th October at St Benet Fink Church, Tottenham, N17.
Admission is £5 INCLUDING tea.
I rest my case.
Colin Richell.
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Perhaps I should have said 5 to 7 years rather than always.
I do not dispute that David Briggs is an excellent recitalist, but who decided the cost of admission ? I hope this includes the cost of a programme.
Look at Stephen Smith's web site and you will find countless organ concerts where admission is free (retiring collection) and where I consider that the recitalist is often as competent as David Briggs.
In my days as a concert organiser the recitalist fees ranged from £300 to £1,000 so I accept that the ticket price has to reflect these outgoings, and perhaps David Briggs puts himself in the higher bracket.
I agree that West End concerts attract a much higher ticket price, but we are talking about an organ concert often in a cold building with uncomfortable seats, and not always professionally organised. Is this why organ concerts are losing popularity.?
When I have sold tickets at concerts, my experience is that certainly the older persons, or indeed the younger students expect concessions, .
I could understand it if it was a fund raising concert, and included an attractive programme, but I think this is not the case,
I note a concert on this site on 6th October in St Mary the Virgin, Twyford, with admission at £10, and concessions £8, but this includes a glass of wine and refreshments, now that is value, and should attract the punters.
I maintain that the organisers of the David Briggs concert are arrogant, but this, is. of course my own view.
Colin Richell.
" Mystery " Programmes comments
in General discussion
Posted
I did respond to this post some months ago to say that with an artist such as Carlo Curley, I would happily attend any of his concerts without knowing what the programme would be because I know that I would have an enjoyable evening.
My only wish is that Carlo would sometimes include the tunes recorded many years ago at Ally Pally , but presumably his repertoire is immense !
I recall that when I was a concert organiser there were people who demanded to know what the programme was, beforehand and without this information they were not prepared to attend. I did point out that full details were contained with the programme which it was hoped would be purchased on the night to offset costs.
The problem here of course, is what do you do if the recitalist alters the programme ?
So, for my part I attend concerts depending on who the recitalist is, and I like the element of surprise as to the music I am going to hear.
Colin Richell