AJJ

Their stance is indicative of quite a few on quite a few topics these days. Almost passive agressive! A

Thanks! A

Has anyone here picked up anything on the new Grenzing organ going into the cathedral in Prague? Would be interested to see a spec. but there seems to be nothing on line. A

There is a bit about Burton in the most recent booklet about music and organs at St Albans. A

Interestingly, having played ‘village’ type instruments such as this regularly for the last 20 years or so the last thing I would probably do to a 19th Century 1 manual would be to over tinker tonally. To add full compass mutations would probably be of less use than more full compass variety of tone. I do have problems, however with odd compass or strangely aligned pedalboards. In fact one such that I visit is to all intents and purposes useless unless I want to play sustained drones etc. being so short compass and out of alignment. I mostly play manuals only there. A

My little gem is this one - apart from tuning the Dulciana to beat with the Gamba as a Celeste it is surprisingly versatile as it is. The two 4’s do help though. https://www.npor.org.uk/NPORView.html?RI=N12535 A

A great loss! We corresponded on occasions and he was always a great source or advice, anecdote and information. A

The Southampton Compton was used for the continuo in a Messiah when I was there in the late ‘70s. It worked very well! A

The late Colin Norvall from Frome in Somerset did a considerable amount of work on Halmshaw some years ago. I am not sure how comprehensive this is but his widow Valerie might be able to assist you. PM me if I can help by putting you in touch. A

I seem to recall someone at Nicholsons writing that they had only moved the organ and installed it in the new site rather than anything like a rebuild in the larger sense. A

SL hits many nails nicely on the head regarding music in schools in his comments above. Somehow I have arrived at my 40th year of teaching Music in schools and I would agree whole heartedly with much he comments on the subject. The organ as far as the sort of students I teach are concerned is a musical instrument just like any other the only thing being that they can not put it in a case to carry home, practice on anywhere easily accessible or get involved with ‘social’ musical activity that does not involve church work. Furthermore it is hard to escape the fact that some in the so called organ world do themselves no good by cultivating a mystique around the instrument and its music which is largely and mercifully missing elsewhere. All the instrumental and tutors where I work have a healthy uptake of students the majority of whom participate in group activities in and out of school as well as ‘doing their own thing’. Moreover the tutors are adaptive to what makes the students ‘tick’ musically and are appreciated for this. If I were their age again I would not in the slightest be attracted for instance to a recent local organ concert performed by a reasonably well known player that consisted of a Vierne Symphonie, some Brahms Chorale Preludes and some lesser titbits etc. However, following a composing workshop with some of the GCSE students many then attended a concert of contemporary pieces by the workshop leader. Incidentally a similar lot sat through a whole opera having spent a day with the singers and producers finding out what they would be hearing etc. They need to be encouraged and to enthused not just somehow blamed for doing what they love and not what others think might be good for them. If a prospective organ student turns up at a local church and hears general musical dullness from someone who has ‘over protective console syndrome’ then they will be likely put off for ever. This happened not long ago to someone I know of at a church with a local reputation for good music making! After all they can also go to a Prom. and hear for example Jess Gillam doing wonders with her Saxophone and hear something that could conceivably set them off to try to do similar. it is in all our hands whether there are up and coming young players for the future, Latry by all accounts filled the RAH healthily and this is great but it would be interesting to see a breakdown of age etc. for those attending. Likewise it was interesting to see the number on various social media outlets who were upset by this concert being on a Sunday morning re their church commitments. It would also be interesting to see how many in the audience were also church goers. A

And shh...not only are the Wyvern ‘Hauptwerk’ set ups good, sitting in our front room is a new 2 manual... A

Totally in agreement! The organ is still the same one I first encountered 40 plus years ago but mechanically and tonally polished so to speak. It proves a point now that a decent action with decent voicing can make music sound good. OK it can not cope with too much high Romanticism but much of the classical and early repertoire works well and anything later requiring clear lines, warm foundations and characterful voices likewise. A

Last week I spent a happy hour playing the Collins at Orford and was mightily impressed. The sound is much more refined than it was when it was in Southampton and indeed the revoicing for the new acoustic has been most successful with former rough edges now lovingly smoothed so to speak. The new action is also all that one could wish for and the new balanced expression pedal and shutters enclosing the Brustwerk an added bonus. A

http://leicestercathedral.org/new-assistant-director-of-music-at-leicester-cathedral/ Exciting new appointment at Leicester Cathedral. A

From personal experience one has to take care with ‘all things to all people’ stoplists that what one actually needs to play actual repertoire does actually work. As an example I recently played a comprehensive two manual where everything ‘looked’ splendid but in fact nothing on the Great was quiet enough to accompany the Swell Oboe or 8’, 4’, 2 2/3 & 1 3/5 combination. The Swell Mixture was also too high to be used properly in choral accompaniment and also sounded decidedly weird coupled down to the Pedals in combination. Likewise deviously fiendishly put together stoplists can often often defeat their own purpose namely to play music or accompany liturgy...speaking as a frequent inventor of such in my misspent youth! A

Great - Make 4’ Flute ‘harmonic’, add 12th 2 2/3. Swell - Change 2’ to Flageolet, add 15.19.22 Mixture, add Cornopean 8, add Vox Humana 8’ add Clarion 4. Choir - Add Dulciana 8’, add Larigot 1 1/3 and maybe even enclose. Pedal - Add Violone 16’, add Flute 8’, take 4’ from Mixture and make independent 15th, add Contra Bassoon 32’. Couplers - Add Bombarde to Swell i don’t usually do these things...... A

Benjamin Sheen from St Thomas NY to be assistant at Christ Church Cathedral Oxford. A

I also learned at St. Mary’s Southampton for a year before the Collins at the university went in. A

Belfast https://www.belfastcathedral.org/news/matthew-owens-to-be-the-next-director-of-music-at-belfast-cathedral A

One can also access OR online via the ‘Pocketmags’ app.Handy for long waits in airports or such like. A

Just what you need for Blaenwern on a Sunday morning! A

Thank You! A

Maybe a long shot...I would like to get hold of a (however battered) second hand copy of Making Music at the Organ by PH. If anyone is downsizing so to speak (as we really should be) please PM. Thanks A

Maybe a look through here might help as a start if you have not already done so. Put Keates into the ‘builder’ search. https://www.npor.org.uk/ Paul Hale the former organist at Southwell Minster and source of much organ knowledge might also be able to help, google and you will find his website. A