Colin Richell
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Posts posted by Colin Richell
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Just a note to remind everyone that David Liddle will be performing at Westminster RC Cathedral on Sunday 15th February at 4-35pm.
David is a very fine organist and is a former organist of Alexandra Palace, and many people wish he still held that position, but that is something for the future.
See you there
Colin Richell.
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Please add me to your list.
Many thanks
Colin Richell,
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When I organised my Carlo Curley concert last year at Alexandra Palace Theatre, I found BBC Radio 3 very supportive. and they agreed to interview Carlo live, which produced much valuable free publicity for the concert, so I can only speak as I find.
Admittedly they did not offer to record the concert, but perhaps next time !
Colin Richell.
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I have often visited Fairfields Hall for my annual Co-op meetings, probably because it is easily accessible and is cheaper to hire.
The centre is also used on a monthly basis for other Co-op meetings, and I think they will be disappointed if the venue does close
In the concert hall you can see some pipework, but not the console, and in fact I have never heard the organ, so I am not aware as to whether it is worth saving.
I await further comments with interest.
Colin Richell.
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I have just heard from a reliable source that the Fairfield Halls in Croydon is to close - the land being sold for housing. In surfing I see that Croydon Council was committed to keeping the place open in reports from September. If the rumours are true, this is an alarming state of affairs as a major concert hall bites the dust. More so as it has the Downes designed Harrison which may need a new home. I'm aware that this organ is not everyone's cup of tea, but I went to many concerts as a teenager there and it was part of the inspiration for me wanting to become an organist.
Does anyone know anything about this state of affairs at all? I am painfully aware of the problems created by members of this list circulating rumours - I'm just looking for confirmation.
Hector
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Carlo's concert at Bloomsbury Baptist Church on 8th October commences at 7-30pm.
Admission free-retiring collection
Colin Richell.
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Just a note to say that Carlo Curley will be playing at The Bloomsbury Baptist Church. 235 Shaftesbury Avenue London WC2H 8EP on Wednesday 8th October.
I will supply further details as soon as they are received.
www.bloomsbury.org.uk
Colin Richell
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Just a note to say that Carlo Curley will be playing at The Bloomsbury Baptist Church. 235 Shaftesbury Avenue London WC2H 8EP on Wednesday 8th October.
I will supply further details as soon as they are received.
www.bloomsbury.org.uk
Colin Richell
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Just a final reminder about the celebration concert at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church Saturday 13th September. at 2-30pm.
www.bloomsbury.org.uk.
Reconstructed organ by BC Shepherd and Sons in collaboration with J H Males
Colin Richell.
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OOOOOOOOOOOOOPS!
I can't believe I said that (thanks for noticing!!)
It's on FRIDAY!
DW
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There will be a celebration concert on Saturday 13th September 2-30pm at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, 235 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2 recognising Philip Luke's 25th anniversary as Church Organist.
There will be a varied programme of choral,instrumental and organ works.
Philip will be performing on the reconstructed organ by B C Shepherd and Sons in collaboration with J H Males.
www.bloomsbury.org.uk.
Colin Richell.
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it would have been 402, my friend, David Rogers and I were coming over for a few days R & R (thats recording and relaxation
)Peter
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I have read this thread with interest. All I can say is that the Allen Organ which Carlo Curley played at our recent concert in the Alexandra Palace Theatre, was well received by the audience, and it certainly sounded good in the acoustics of the theatre.
Personally I would have preferred a pipe organ, but that was not possible, but at least the organ remained in tune !
What is not clear to me is how many Carlo fans did not turn up because he was not playing a pipe organ ie the anti digital organ people !
If we ever reinstall an organ in the theatre(previous one removed 1890) it would have to be a pipe organ, nothing more, nothing less, but that is a personal opinion.
Costs are important today, but should we not be protecting our organ builders ?
Colin Richell.
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Because there are designated sites for all recitals in the Uk who do a fine job, and I would suspect that most contributors or readers of this thread would be aware of. them. The recitals mentioned are included in Stephen Smith's organrecitals.com.
He works very hard for this site, so I do not see the reason for duplication.
So, is the said organ builder going to inundate the Mander site with recitals held in all the venues where they maintain the organ, and if not how fair is that ?
Perhaps you can enlighten me as to how many other organ builders contribute to the Mander site in the same way ?
All the other events included under "recitals" have been submitted by individuals, I believe.
Colin Richell.
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Rather than being encouraged to attend recitals at a venue which a particular organ builder favours (this does not seem ethical to me)
please check www.organrecitals.com which is unbiased and includes all concert venues in the UK where many of the organs would have been restored by any of the major organ builders.
Colin Richell.
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I also wish Dr Jackson a speedy recovery.
In fact I, and probably others knew about this many days ago, through Stephen Smith and Steve Dunk, and I would like to thank them for letting us know so soon, even before the posting on this site.
Colin Richell.
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I would add my name to these; would it be possible somehow for the forum as a whole to send him a greeting message wishing him a speedy recovery (and return to the console)?
Peter
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Carlo Curley gave a very good account of himself on BBC radio 3, on Tuesday, and gave good publicity to his concert on the 30th MAY at Ally Pally theatre.
The interviewer asked him about his Birmingham Town hall concert, and he mentioned that Manders had worked on the organ, and that they had done a good job.
Did anyone make the concert ?
Colin Richell
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Further to my previous message regarding Carlo Curley's organ spectacular at Alexandra Palace Theatre on Friday 30th May, I have arranged for Carlo to be interviewed on BBC Radio 3's "In Tune" on Tuesday 27th May at 5-15pm should anyone be interested. Additionally I have arranged for an interview on BBC Radio Essex on 23rd May at 3-35pm.
Colin Richell.
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Would it be a good idea for forum members to advertise here recitals they are giving in the near future so that others in their area (or even beyond) could come along to offer support and maybe even raise a glass or two afterwards? Just a thought.....
Peter
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How many millionaires are there in the UK ? Are you telling me that not one of them is interested in classical or even light classical organ music ?
I know one who has bought 5 steam railway locomotives and still has money to spare.(and we are talking about millions) A professional fund raiser would find them, and the benefactor would regard this as just a hobby, but of course offer them public credit to make them feel wanted.and important. Whats wrong with that ?
Colin Richell.
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Perhaps a professional fund raiser might be able to help, for we all know that the money is out there somewhere.
At least the St Georges Hall organ is playable, unlike so many.Wish you luck.
A church near me, is looking for £250,000 just to clean and overhaul the pipes and refurbishment of soundboards and work on the console (It is a Harrison and Harrison), but when you visit the church and ask questions about how the organ fund is going, no-one knows anything, and they do not even offer you a leaflet or contact number. They just seem disinterested. Is this typical I wonder ? Would they rather buy an electronic I wonder ?
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Colin Richell.
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The problem with SGH is due largely to the fact that it has not seen an all out rebuild since 1931. The 1957 work was in essence a dollop and brushout, with repair to pipewrok and resetting of speech etc. The 1931 work was not good, and saw much revoicing and remodelling of ranks, but the Great and Swell remain incomparable. These departments were not really touched. In recent years the organ has been the victim of overheating, and there is a history of humidifiers in the hall burning out and so on, and so by now it really does need thorough work on it. Even the case is in a poor state, a moulding (a head) fell off years ago, and that has not been replaced, and the facade pipes look dirty and tarnished. The woodwork to the case is dry, and some of the gold decoration was crumbling years ago also. I well recall playing for recitals there and firstly having to ask a cleaner to clean up the many cigarette butts on the gallery.....all most reasuring. That's before we get into the state of the interior parts......
Of course the organ can sound magnificent even now, but it is a poor sound compared to what it was and should be. No one should judge it at all on how it sounds now. There is simply no comparison, the roar of the Tutti, the incredible ring and roll it had are not at all how they were, and although yes we should all dig deep into our pockets to see the job done and properly, the fact remains this organ is a civic organ, owned by the city, which us locals pay for in our Council Tax!....the maintenance and restoration of the organ should be seen as a responsibility and privilege the city council hold. That of course is another matter!
R
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Thank you Peter, having gone back some years, I now have more knowledge of the Dover Town Hall organ. I was certainly surprised that someone should have suggested that the organ was scrapped, because it was less than five years ago when i saw the organ pipes, There are, of course, two halls so it can be confusing.
I had already found out that it was a Hill Norman and Beard, and that the console was stored, but that was all.
So what happened to the Lady's bequest in respect of this organ ?
I guess it is up to the people of Dover to push for fund raising if they wish to hear this organ again.
I have enough to do in respect of a London organ.
Colin Richell.
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St Pauls Cathedral
in General discussion
Posted
I would wish to add my grateful thanks to Simon and John Mander for a fascinating evening. I would have not missed it for anything.
It surely proves that MANDERS are a very competent company, and I applaud them for their work at St Pauls and RAH.
How wonderful, for a change to hear an organ perfectly tuned.
Colin Richell.