AJJ

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Try also here - high quality production and some really nice pieces and attentive reception to emails etc.. http://michaelsmusicservice.com/ A

Pre Jubilee service: Walton - 3 Pieces from Richard III Then........ Jerusalem National Anthem Calypso type Jubilee song - the Rector did this one on the keyboard. Prepared after........ Walton - Crown Imperial Actual after....... A bagpipe playing member of congregation - 'found this out just before 1st hymn. A

I seem to recall once playing an electronic device titled' Vicomte' - or something similar....... A

It's very good!! A

Re Bruges - apparently there are two organs now - the famous one on the west gallery and another - an '1800s/1950s' Conacher from Bradford which Skrabl (according to my source at any rate) has now elecrified and installed nearer to the 'service action'. The Cathedral Organist Ignace Michiels could no doubt tell more - or perhaps one of our Bradford board members A

A very good excuse not to. A

Nice - and if we lean out far enough we could probably see and even hear Downside from our top floor too! A

What is the opinion here of a limited use of extension of pipework in a rebuild where space or siting options might be at a premium or funds not vast. I have in mind a couple of situations where this has worked well at the hands of a good builder with an broad minded consultant at the helm leaving the churches in question with versatile smallish instruments fit for today's purpose. Certainly of more use than - for instance - a Victorian 1 manual entombed in a chancel vestry. As far as I can gather the cost was about the same as an up-market electronic. Would it be considered going over to the 'dark side' to be thinking along these lines? A

One problem is if a very recognisable 'formula' (as opposed to musical 'form') for an improvisation is regularly used by a player. I have heard one such player ('first rate musician and very nice person too - I hasten to add) on a number of occasions and one can almost predict what they are going to do - made all the more obvious as said player also happens to issue improvisations on CD. I really agree with Nigel Allcoat in that improvisations should tease out musicianship and not just formulaic showmanship. Get hold of some of Nigel's CDs and you'll hear what he can achieve. I also like the idea of the player deciding on the theme or even structure to be used rather than the 'masses' in the audience - as the mood, inclination, season etc. takes. A

Some of us remember it - have the book and try at least to put into operation some of the wisdom therein! A

I think I tend to agree - interestingly the St Albans IOF is to recycle previous themes next time for its improvisation sessions. A

And a fine musician too! A

Indeed the player and organ were on fine form - the trouble is - I am really not good with Reger I'm afraid! A

Or even part of the 19th Century French fonds - Principal/Harmonic Flute/Stopped Flute/Gamba - dependng on how they are treated of course. A

It is the same - and thanks to those who have pointed out where it is to be found - The Recitalist's Repertoire Book 4 - published by Mayhew. A

Thanks A

I am trying to get hold of a copy of the above fine piece - not long ago recorded but currently out of print though possibly to be resurrected by the composer - please pm if you can help. Thanks A

Also - interesting - Iain Simcock now installed at St Mungo's Cathedral Glasgow - seemingly also continuing his work with the Maîtrise de l'Académie Vocale de Paris. 'Good for Glasgow! A

Sounds like a good idea - 'had often thought of doing this - Christmas also. There are also early arrangements of such oratorio movements that work really well as organ pieces. Bits of Bach, Handel, The Heavens are Telling from Haydn etc. and either in the 'Town Hall' style or as something more concerto like. A

Me too - and they still do! Though it's being restored at the moment so we have to use a keyboard - I only use the 'piano' voice though - the organ one is foul. We did some Lully with a 'visiting Trumpet' after, the St Thomas Mass (as ever - I quite like it) and the Johnson-Manning Easter Anthem (what was that all about.... musically at any rate?) together with various rising green blades etc. at other points. The place was packed, the heating set at tropical but a good time was had by all nevertheless. A

It pops out in the north aisle through a stone arch behind the organ and the pedal Trombone (extended from same) likewise. This gives a very odd perspective in the choir stalls or at the console - a decidedly muted and 'round the corner' effect. In the body of the church both tend to rule supreme. The recent work has made the organ work better and put in a more 'regular' console (the the NPOR for the old one) but left some of the typical '60s moves noted above and of course the good old Larigot on the Choir. A

True - though Frome has a more 'solid' sound to it and is much more bottled up in the chancel chamber of an acoustically difficult church - unfortunately it is not often used for services these days and is not kept in top condition. A

Interesting - I've not been over since the G & C work - there was talk at one time of a reconstruction - case back to what it should be with representative instrument inside - all on a west gallery - but this has obviously not been the preferred choice. A

Try also Sortie in B flat - from IMSLP and other places too - a truncated version of the original (4 pages intead of 12ish - from the 6 Pieces) but worth a bash through. A