Jump to content
Mander Organ Builders Forum

AJJ

Members
  • Posts

    2,702
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by AJJ

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. I wrote an article for the Organists' Review in the last century concerning this. Obviously some never read it. Others have forgotten it. Some might have been born after it. But that's no excuse.

    N

     

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

     

    A

  6. Indeed, most impressive. Good to hear a new Oxford organ with b***s: I can't think of (m)any other organs in the University that could do justice to the Mighty Max.

     

    JS

     

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

     

    A

  7. Yes - interesting organ - be interested to see how it comes out.

     

    Also interesting to see the 2 8ft flutes make an appearance on the Great organ again - this tended to be a speciality of Arthur Harrison.

     

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

     

    A

  8. I played the Rawsthorne arrangment of the Hallelujah Chorus, as usual.

     

    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

  9. I only have a 1M+P 7 so they can't expect too much!

     

    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

  10. Now that you mention it, I remember that Trumpet! You're right - I think maybe it was voiced (or revoiced) with an eye to its solo potential at the expense of contribution to the chorus.

     

    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

  11. Warminster - My memory of this (late 70s) was a very pleasant turn-of-the-century sounding organ, not unlike the N&B at Frome. This would accord with its Vowles parentage. I don't recall anything England-ish tonally.

     

    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

  12. Agreed. I saw it recently and can attest that the 1792 G.P England organ case survives, although only the frontage really survives - the rest and and the console are long gone in previous rebuilds. IMO, Blandford Forum is now a far better example.

     

    I would say "recently rebuilt by Griffiths and Cooper" - it is more of an update of the HNB 1960s rebuild with a new console, E-P action, etc. There is little to do with historic restoration in the work on this organ - it is more a story of ongoing development to keep up with the expectations and desires of the organist to have an up-to-date organ (even most recently), a story that has been perpetuated ever since the middle of the 19th century.

     

    I

     

    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

  13. 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

×
×
  • Create New...